Excela raises $30,000 in financial contributions, supplies, to aid relief efforts in Ukraine

Excela Health raised about $30,000 in financial contributions and supplies to aid humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine, the health system said this week.

The two-week fundraising campaign allowed Excela to provide more than $6,000 in basic medical supplies, along with $25,000 in cash raised through various donations.

“We are proud to be part of a worldwide effort to help alleviate suffering and provide much needed aid and comfort to the Ukrainian people,” said John Sphon, Excela’s CEO. “Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of every life we touch, and while we may not be physically present in eastern Europe, we can do our part to assure needs can be met.”

The fundraiser kicked off March 15, marked by a Ukraine-themed menu at each of Excela’s cafeterias.

At the time, visitors and staff could choose from chicken Kyiv (butter-stuffed, breaded chicken), holubtsi (stuffed cabbage), varenyky (potato pierogies), deruni (potato pancakes) and nalysnyky (filled crepes). In addition to being an official start to the fundraiser, the goal of the menu was for employees to show solidarity with Ukraine.

The fundraiser ended Friday. The health system worked through Brother’s Brother Foundation in Pittsburgh to provide the medical supplies.

The organizations have an ongoing relationship to disperse excess medical supplies to help meet local clinical needs.

“We could not be more appreciative of both the spirit and generosity of the management and staff at Excela Health,” said Ozzy Samad, Brother’s Brother Foundation president. “Your thoughtfulness enables us to help so many in desperate need in these dire circumstances.”

The staff at Excela is “quick to respond wherever and whenever help is needed,” Sphon said.

“That level of commitment and caring is evident on a daily basis throughout our health system,” he said.