On Wednesday, March 29, Methodist Hospitals Foundation announced that it has received a $100,000 donation from U.S. Steel Gary Works in honor of Methodist Hospitals’ 100 years of service. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Northlake Campus, where community leaders and representatives of U.S. Steel and Methodist gathered to celebrate Methodist Hospitals’ contributions to the community, and its partnership with U.S. Steel-Gary Works.
The donation was the largest single corporate donation the Methodist Hospitals Foundation has ever received. Heather McCarthy, President of Methodist Hospitals Foundation Board, expressed her gratitude for corporate partners that care so deeply about the community and about the Hospitals’ success.
“This is just such a big deal. It really demonstrates the commitment that U.S. Steel-Gary Works has to the health and well-being of the community,” said McCarthy. “The partnership between Methodist Hospitals and U.S. Steel Gary Works is already making an immeasurable difference in the community.”
McCarthy explained how, recently, many hospitals are being asked to go even further for their communities--a daunting challenge when many hospitals have already been pushed to their limit throughout the last few years.
“Today’s hospitals are increasingly being asked to reach beyond their walls to confront critical issues that threaten the health of patients and citizens in the community. There are many problems such as food insecurity, infant mortality, diabetes, heart disease, and interpersonal violence. We need to become more focused on these things and tackle these issues,” said McCarthy.
U.S. Steel’s donation will go specifically toward the Methodist Hospitals Vision Fund, which will accelerate Methodist Hospitals’ ability to address these issues and improve community health.
This isn’t the first time U.S Steel Gary Works and Methodist Hospitals have partnered with one another. The two organizations started working together at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic--Methodist Hospitals was in desperate need of more personal protective equipment (PPE) when U.S. Steel lent a helping hand.
The two organizations have been working together ever since, growing and learning more about each other’s missions and goals. It didn’t take long for the organizations to realize how similar their commitment to health and safety is. As Methodist Hospitals’ 100th anniversary approached, Dan Killeen, vice president of U.S. Steel, knew he wanted to find a way to ensure Methodist Hospitals was able to keep serving the community for many years to come.
“We’re just really proud to see the commitment that this foundation has to staying here and serving the city of Gary. It’s been tough--there are many areas around here that have had their hospitals leave, so it’s really important to keep Methodist Hospitals here. We’re proud to support them and help them move on to their next 100 years of service,” said Killeen.
“Methodist Hospitals is the frontline of defense and care for the 4,800 men and women working in our facility. We never want to call on their services, but when we do, we know our folks will be treated with a lot of care and passion. That’s why we are honored to be here today,” said Killeen.
The day was a celebration of partnership and commitment to the community’s well-being, with Methodist Hospitals and Gary Works vowing to continue collaborating for the benefit of the citizens of Gary.
“Gary Works has been such a wonderful partner. This gift was beyond our expectations, and we’re just so happy we can continue to do what we do,” said McCarthy.
To learn more about Methodist Hospitals Foundation and its commitment to the community, visit methodisthospitals.org.
