In December of 2009, donors to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center contributed $10,137,227 through new pledges and outright gifts. This is the largest amount secured during the month of December in any year in the Medical Center’s history. The previous record was set in December 2008 when more than $8.1 million in pledges and outright gifts were received.
“I attribute this record support to the widespread confidence the community has in our Medical Center,” said Harold L. Paz, chief executive officer at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, senior vice president for health affairs at Penn State and dean of the Penn State College of Medicine. “Our patients, friends, local businesses and organizations want their giving to make a difference in people’s lives. They recognize the outstanding patient care, research and education taking place at the Medical Center and know that private philanthropy is essential to our ability to expand the programs and services that are making such a positive impact in central Pennsylvania and beyond.”
While the Medical Center received several gifts of $1 million or more, the majority of support resulted from smaller gifts.
“The large gifts and pledges we secured certainly helped make this record-breaking total possible,” said Kristen B. Rozansky, associate vice president for development and chief development officer. “But every gift, regardless of size, has the power to transform health care and education when combined with the medical and research expertise at the Medical Center. We feel incredibly fortunate that so many individuals and organizations have continued to support the Medical Center despite challenging economic times.”
The Medical Center also enjoyed a record-breaking year in receipts, securing more than $6.4 million in December alone. Receipts represent actual dollars in-hand through outright gifts and through payments on existing pledges.
“This number exceeded our expectation because some of the Medical Center’s donors with five-year commitments to the institution, and to priority projects like the new freestanding Children’s Hospital, were financially able to fulfill those pledges ahead of schedule,” Rozansky said.
To date the Medical Center has raised $22,385,703 in commitments from nearly 22,000 donors, and $17,847,841 in receipts in fiscal year 2010, which runs from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010. The medical center’s fundraising success is part of larger philanthropic success experienced University-wide by Penn State, which set records in December for both receipts and commitments.