History
The DCH Foundation was organized in September 1973. Since that time, approximately 150 community leaders have served on the Board of Directors. The DCH Foundation exists to support the health system’s mission, which is to provide the best possible healthcare to those served by the DCH Health System.
In 1923, the Tuscaloosa News pronounced Druid City Hospital (DCH) to be “the greatest achievement from a humanitarian viewpoint accomplished by the present generation.” The tradition of philanthropy in which DCH Health System is grounded has not changed since then – in fact, it has grown.
In 1990, The DCH Foundation was appointed to formally support the work of the health system by building relationships in the community that inspire the commitment and generosity of its citizens. Since that time, the Foundation has been responsible for putting many millions of philanthropic dollars to work on behalf of West Alabama’s healthcare through the health system. A few of the Foundation’s most recent accomplishments include:
- The 2011 Drive 4 the Cause event, which includes A Nite on the Green and the DCH Foundation Golf Classic, raised $200,000 to support uninsured women with breast cancer awareness and needs through the DCH Breast Cancer Fund. Since the inception of Drive 4 the Cause, over $1 million has been raised for its purpose.
- The M*A*S*H Fund for DCH Employees, which through the community raised $400,000 to support DCH employees who suffered losses in the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. These tornadoes devastated Tuscaloosa County and widespread areas across Alabama.
- The Help and Hope Capital Campaign raised $10 Million to support the building of the state-of-the-art DCH Cancer Center. The DCH Cancer Center is a proud affiliate of the MD Anderson Physicians Network®.
- The Lucy Jordan Ball, which raised $50,000 in 2011 to support updated fetal monitoring and infant warming equipment for DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center. For over thirty years, this black-tie gala has raised over $3.5 million to benefit various projects throughout the DCH Health System.
- BBQ and Blue Jeans, one of the Foundation’s most well-attended and well-loved events, benefits the Help and Hope Patient Assistance Fund. It helps cancer patients who struggle financially get emergency funds as well as condition-related supplies while they are under treatment. This fund currently provides over $100,000 per year to the Cancer Center for these needs.
As the system faces ever-increasing financial challenges from reimbursement, regulatory, and policy changes, the Foundation’s work becomes more critical. Every $100 donated to the system provides revenue for improvements that, if generated through clinical services, would require the system to provide $4,000 worth of services. This makes philanthropy a critical factor in the system’s ability to realize its vision: to be the best health system in the nation for patients to receive care, employees and volunteers to work and physicians to practice medicine.