A Grateful Foundation Looks to the Future

FOUNDATION

When Thompson Health staff members found themselves on the front lines of the COVID-19 response, the health system’s fundraising arm suddenly found itself in a substantially different position as well.

Virtually overnight, the F.F. Thompson Foundation, Inc.:

• Stopped all solicitations for funding
• Made a series of difficult decisions to cancel several longstanding fundraising events planned for the summer
• Created an ad-hoc committee to coordinate the overwhelming number of community contributions involving everything from pizza, to protein bars, to hand cream for skin damaged by frequent washing and use of hand sanitizer
• Created – in response to requests from community members – the Thompson Health COVID Emergency Fund for purchases of items offering critical support for frontline staff including ultraviolet disinfection devices and clear, protective barriers
• Set up a process to field offers of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• “Like many people within healthcare and within Thompson, we had to quickly pivot in order to respond to a rapidly changing situation. It was challenging, but every day, we were strengthened by the kind and thoughtful gestures of both businesses and individuals in our region,” said Development Specialist Heather Rickett.

Although a number of food donations were informal and spontaneous, the Foundation helped facilitate the delivery of 70 breakfasts, over 900 lunches and nearly 200 dinners, plus approximately 350 pizzas.

Many came through Canandaigua Cares, a local grassroots group whose mission was to help local healthcare workers in the Canandaigua community, with online fundraising supporting its efforts. Many more donations came from a number of area restaurants. In addition, vendors for the health system’s Nutrition Services Department donated a hot dog meal for each of Thompson’s more than 1,700 staff members.

“The wide-ranging support we received from our community was both humbling and inspiring. It united Thompson Health with our neighbors against a common foe, supporting and sustaining us during a very stressful time. We will always remember the generous spirit that lifted us when we needed it most,” said Director of Development and Corporate Communications Mary Schneiter.

With the possibility of an uptick in area COVID cases later this year, Schneiter said the Foundation is still accepting some forms of PPE as well as monetary support.

While grants and government loans will help lessen the blow, she said, the financial impact of shutting down many of the health system’s services for an extended period – and canceling several major fundraisers – is significant.

Thompson Health is a nonprofit organization, so all gifts are tax-deductible, and although the organization is an affiliate of UR Medicine, it raises its own funds and supports its own debt.

“For those who are interested in donating to Thompson, we gratefully welcome continued investment in our collective future,” she said.

To donate to the Thompson Health COVID Emergency Fund, visit www.ThompsonHealth.com and click on the “How to Help” button on the home page.

To support Thompson and help it remain vital despite the losses experienced during the pandemic, visit www.ThompsonHealth.com/Donate, call (585) 396-6155 or email foundation@ThompsonHealth.org.