[Skip to Content]

Advocates celebrate banner year in fundraising

Advocates celebrate banner year in fundraising

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- It’s been a banner year for membership and fundraising for Advocates for Upstate Medical University, the not-for-profit branch of the university dedicated to enhancing the quality of patient and family care, medical education and community health.

The Advocates’ grant-funding program has awarded $100,000 to more than 50 patient care, community outreach, and patient education initiatives at Upstate Medical University. These initiatives range from programs to teach young mothers good parenting skills, to help people to quit smoking for good, and to benefit the community through free, health screening programs, to name a few.

In addition to the $100,000 in grants, the organization has:
- budgeted $23,000 for scholarships this year to support employees and volunteers at Upstate’s downtown and Community campuses who pursue training and education in the medical field;
- paid $30,000, toward its 10-year, $150,000 commitment to the Upstate Cancer Center;
- made its annual commitment of $5,000 to Upstate’s Nursing, Recruitment and Retention program and to hospital employee events;
- presented $27,500 this year to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment and Research Center at Upstate;
- and provided $6,000 to support the creation of Upstate Golisano After Hours Care at the Community campus.

“Our 2011-2012 fiscal year has been a huge success, thanks to our signature fund-raising events, Mystery, Malt and Merlot and the annual golf tournament, which this year benefits Upstate’s women’s health initiatives,” said the organization’s president, Sharon Putney.

Upstate’s acquisition of Community General Hospital last July has added to the Advocates’ success, according to Putney.  “We doubled our membership when Community General’s Auxiliary was combined with our organization, offering us new friendships, new ideas for fundraising, as well as new contracts and other assets,” she said.

Revenue for the Advocates’ is generated through membership fees; fundraising events; and contracts with EspressOasis Coffee Bar at the downtown campus, Lori’s Gift Shops at the Downtown and Community campuses; Telehealth--the phone and television contract at both campuses; and Tim Hortons with Coldstone Creamery at the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

To learn more about the the Advocates,  contact Susan E. York at 464-5610.

Caption: Alison McCrone, M.D., director of Upstate Golisano After Hours Care, and Upstate Medical University President David R. Smith, MD, accept the Advocates’ donation of $6,000 to support the creation of Upstate Golisano After Hours Care, during its grand opening last spring.

Top