BHS employees nap for good cause_40504
Posted: 4/02/04
BHS employees nap for good cause
SAN ANTONIO–Hundreds of Baptist Health System employees recently slept on the job with the blessings of their bosses.
Nurses, doctors and administrators took turns pulling shut-eye shifts during a “Sleep-A-Thon” to help raise money for a Habitat for Humanity house the health system's employees will build over the next few months.
“You could say they took catnaps for a cause,” said George Gaston, vice president of ministry at Baptist Health System.
Gaston, who heads the health system's community and faith-based outreach, served as the "sleep shepherd" for the event. "Sleep angels" at each of the system's five hospitals, regional office and HealthLink fitness center tapped "sleep sheep" at each facility to solicit funds for sleep shifts, which they took at sleep centers located on campus at two of the system's hospitals.
| George Gaston, vice president of ministry at Baptist Health System, and Baptist Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Phil Noel kick off a Sleep-A-Thon to benefit Habitat for Humanity. |
About 300 employees participated in the event, raising more than $19,000 toward the $50,000 Baptist Health System has pledged for the Habitat project.
“It's great to see our employees get excited about this,” Gaston said.
“With over 4,000 Baptist Health System employees, we have the ability to make a huge contribution, a very significant positive impact on our neighbors and the people we serve.”
The idea for the Sleep-A-Thon grew out of a desire to raise funds for the Habitat project as well as raise awareness about sleep disorders, event organizers said.
The sleep centers at Baptist Medical Center and Southeast Baptist hospitals normally are used to diagnose and treat sleep disorders. But during the two-day Sleep-A-Thon, they served as the base for the fundraiser.
“The Habitat for Humanity program allows our employees to get involved in a hands-on way, in making a difference in our community,” said Phil Noel, chief operating officer at Baptist Medical Center.
“They have really embraced this project, and in fact, we've had so many volunteers to build the Habitat House, we've had to turn employees away, with the promise that they'll be able to take part in the next Habitat House BHS sponsors.”
Over the current fiscal year, Baptist Health System expects to spend about $17 million on charitable care for those in need in San Antonio.
"With projects like Habitat, San Antonio is benefiting not only from a health care standpoint, but from a community perspective as well," said Gaston. "Community giving at Baptist through grants, sponsorships, events and other forms of outreach has increased by over 20 percent from previous years."