Blue Jean Fridays Helps Local Causes
Contact: Karl Hertz
Fridays have gotten a little more casual at Memorial Hospital of Converse County. In exchange for a monthly $10 donation to charity, staff from Thunder Basin Orthopaedics and Memorial Hospital of Converse County are permitted to wear blue jeans to work on Fridays. The fundraising idea came from Vicki Litzinger and the staff at TBO. "I have heard of other places doing similar things to raise money and wanted to see it implemented at Memorial Hospital" said Litzinger. CEO Ryan Smith, thought Blue Jean Fridays was a great idea and a fun way for employees to raise money for local groups.
The hospital's CAREisma Club heads up Blue Jean Fridays. During the employee group's monthly meeting, members decide which organization Blue Jean Fridays will support for the upcoming month. The group also collects and tracks the money donated from individuals and from payroll deductions.
In an effort to encourage employees to participate in the fundraising efforts, CEO Smith agreed to match employee contributions up to $500 each month. To sweeten the pot even more, TBO's Dr. Mark Murphy agreed to match whatever funds CEO Smith contributes, and now other providers are contributing as well.