St.FrancisHospital has received the national Spirit of Excellence-C.A.R.E.S. Award for its Caring Hospital Employees Envision Real Success (CHEERS) employee-giving program. The award was presented by Sodexo Health Care Services to the CHEERS board of directors on March 27. C.A.R.E.S. stands for compassion, accountability, respect, enthusiasm and service.

“To get 93% of any group of employees to participate in something shows incredible commitment to the community and hospital staff,” said award judge Becky Zuccarelli, OhioHealth System vice president.

In 2006, CHEERS topped $1 million in employee-giving since the program’s inception in 1994. Ninety-three percent of the hospital’s staff participated in last year’s campaign.

This was the 14th year that Sodexo, in cooperation with “Modern Healthcare,” has held the Spirit of Excellence awards. 

St. Francis received $5,000 for winning the award; the funds will go to CHEERS to provide:

            * Medication and supplies for patients unable to afford them

            * Scholarships for students pursuing careers in health care

            * Emergency support for individuals and families in crisis

Below, CHEERS 2006 campaign chairman Andy Rodriguez accepts the 2006 Sodexho/Modern Healthcare Spirit of Excellence-C.A.R.E.S. Award from Mary Rohde and Gary Beck of Sodexho.