Premier employees donate 2,400 hours of community service in Charlotte region

More than 600 employees from the Premier healthcare alliance donated over 2,400 hours of community service on March 31 at 18 locations across the Charlotte region.

Organized by local nonprofit volunteer service agency Hands On Charlotte, Premier employees participated in activities including: landscaping at schools; processing clothing and food donations; and gardening, painting and doing construction work at a ranch for special needs individuals.

Over the past seven years, Premier employees have donated more than 16,400 hours of service to the Charlotte community. Headquartered in Charlotte, Premier has had a presence in the region since 1969 and holds a company-wide volunteer day annually to benefit the community. Premier recently moved to the Ballantyne area in a LEED certified building due to employee growth.

"Giving back is core to Premier's commitment to social responsibility," said Susan DeVore, president and CEO of Premier. "Our vision for healthier communities requires a dedication to nurturing the areas where Premier employees live and work. With their continued efforts, we can further support those in need, both in the Charlotte area and nationwide."

Premier employees volunteer and donate to support the less fortunate as part of their corporate social responsibility program. The program encourages direct community service by both individuals and teams. Premier provides employees paid time off for volunteering, donating $100 to registered charities for every eight eligible hours an employee volunteers, as well as matching 50 percent of employee contributions to nonprofit organizations up to $2,500 per employee per fiscal year.

Additionally, Premier holds weekly "jeans days" to raise money for national charitable organizations; employees wear blue jeans to work to signify that they have made a contribution to such organizations.

Premier employees also participate in a wide variety of walks, runs and events, both for their own health and in support of programs and organizations working to improve health.

The corporate social responsibility program also recognizes innovative not-for-profit organizations that meet the needs of the medically underserved and those outside the healthcare mainstream. Established 20 years ago, the Monroe E. Trout Premier Cares Award program annually honors a winner and five runners-up with $190,000 in cash awards along with opportunities for publicity and knowledge-sharing.