Mission Health donates $15,000 to support Iraq and Afghanistan veterans

Press Release

From Mission Health

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 12, 2012) – Mission Health is proud to announce its partnership with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Mission Health contributed $15,000 to the IAVA’s Veteran Support Fund.

The Veteran Support Fund is a new initiative launched by IAVA that establishes a centralized platform where Americans can support IAVA and other best-in-class veterans’ organizations. The Fund was originated by three philanthropic families whose initial founding gift of $1.1 million was made possible in part by Mission Health, as well as Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pa., and Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Washington, D.C.

“The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have impacted the lives of 2.4 million veterans, and Mission Health understands the importance of supporting this new generation of heroes when they return from duty,” said Ronald A. Paulus, MD, President and CEO of Mission Health. “The Veteran Support Fund allows us to fund critical programs that support the overall health and well-being of our veterans and their families.”

The Veteran Support Fund challenges Americans to raise $30 million in support of critical nonprofit programs and resources for veterans and their families, including healthcare, employment, aid for the critically injured, emotional care and emergency financial aid. In addition to IAVA, the four partner organizations of the Veteran Support Fund include:

· National Military Family Association (NMFA)

· Operation Homefront

· Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)

· UCLA’s Operation Mend

To learn more about IAVA’s Veteran Support Fund, visit www.iava.org/vsf.

About Mission Health
Mission Health, based in Asheville, N.C., is the state’s sixth-largest health system and the region’s only not-for-profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in western North Carolina. In 2012 Mission Health was named one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems by Thomson Reuters – the only health system in North Carolina to receive this recognition.

Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates five hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers, and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 1,000 physicians and is certified in over 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women’s Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system’s flagship hospital and is licensed for 730 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care and is the busiest surgical hospital in North Carolina. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital– the region’s only children’s hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, McDowell Hospital in Marion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 8,800 employees and 700 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina.

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