Anonymous donor gives $1 million to Dominican Hospital, allowing bonus for all employees

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) An anonymous local donor has donated $1 million to Dignity Health Dominican Hospital and will be dispersed entirely to employees.

Full-time staff will get $800 bonus checks and part-time staff will receive $600 checks, the AP reports. 

“To the heroes of Dominican Hospital: Thank you for standing up (and staying up!) to care for our community,” said the donor in a letter directed to hospital employees. “This humankindness is what makes you heroic. Please accept this donation in recognition of and with great thanks for all that you do. And please know that my heart is with you as we seek to protect and care for each other during this challenging time.”

A Santa Cruz County resident, the benefactor is a longtime friend and supporter of Dominican Hospital. It was the donor’s wish to provide employees with a check to thank and support them specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We cannot adequately express the depth of our gratitude for this gracious, selfless gift,” said Dominican Hospital President Nanette Mickiewicz, MD. “We are incredibly proud of the work our hospital family is doing in the face of such an unprecedented situation. This generous donation is a testament to their clinical excellence, their tireless dedication and, most of all, their profound humanity.”

All employees who have met a threshold number of hours worked before March 1, 2020 will receive the check within the next 30 days.

“We are proud to share that 100 percent of the donor’s gift is being distributed to Dominican Hospital employees,” said Drew Gagner, Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer of the Dominican Hospital Foundation. “We are humbled by this heartfelt thank you, and blessed to have such caring donors in our community.”   

The Dominican Hospital Foundation has established two funds in support of patients and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond:

• Dominican Emergency Preparedness Fund – This fund provides necessary resources to care for our patients during a crisis—such as the current COVID-19 pandemic—through medical supplies, medical equipment, testing, additional staffing, and other unidentified needs that may arise.

• Dominican Frontline Spirit Fund – This fund will be used to bolster the spirits of our community of frontline health care providers at Dominican Hospital, who put themselves and their families at risk each and every day they come to work.