 About Us > Community Relations Initiative
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"It's obvious what a great job Team Medford does. They take what is in the hospital - and the great quality of the service that is up there - and bring it out into the community…They fill a void that no one else can fill. We are very grateful for this volunteer service and the work that they do," says Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn.
"To pour all of your strength back into the community in a variety of different ways is totally the reason why you should be nominated for 'Business of the Year.' And I'm so glad the community agreed with me," says Maurene Campbell, executive director of the Malden Chamber of Commerce.
"Lawrence Memorial Hospital - and Hallmark Health - is coming back to Medford and making the hospital an integral part of the community," says State Representative Paul Donato.
"I really see the hospital system right now as an organization on the move. Things are really headed in the right direction," says Senator Richard Tisei.
"Really that award was given to them because of the amazing, renewed commitment to the community," says Beth McNelis, executive director of the Melrose Chamber of Commerce.
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Thanks to a unique community outreach program completely driven by employee volunteers, Hallmark Health System is being recognized as an important community leader and resource.
Five community outreach teams -- named for Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham and Wakefield-- work to boost institutional involvement, identify sponsorship opportunities and otherwise reach out to local organizations in their respective towns. Their efforts have won Hallmark Health three major awards from local chambers of commerce and ensured that Hallmark Health is the organization that local communities look to when they face a health-related challenge or need.
Chaired by hospital leadership and comprised of staff from a variety of disciplines, the teams meet regularly to identify outreach opportunities and develop ways to increase visibility in the communities Teams work to increase institutional involvement, identify sponsorship opportunities, events to participate in, and organizations to reach out to. Sixty percent of Hallmark Health staff live in our primary or secondary service area. And over two hundred employees, volunteers and physicians were involved in a team or a team-sponsored event this year.
Teams solicited input from key community leaders including; superintendents of schools, state representatives and local health departments. In 2005 the community teams logged over 2,397 hours as active members in over 35 civic groups and service organizations throughout the North Suburban Region. Highlights of projects sponsored by these teams include a donated defibrillator to the Melrose Middle School, holding a health fair at the Wakefield Rotary's Breakheart Road Race, and co-sponsorship of the Last Call performance for alcohol awareness for middle and high school students in Malden.
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