It’s often said that it’s better to give than receive. Since 2007, participants of the Pacific Communities Health District Foundation’s Giving Circle have collectively been doing both.

The Giving Circle offers a unique opportunity for participants to receive information about health care and philanthropy as well as give to a fund, said Karla Clem, executive director of the PCHD Foundation. The collective fund is then used to award grants, primarily benefitting children and people who identify as women, within the scope of patient care provided by Samaritan Pacific Health Services.

Community members wishing to learn more are invited to attend the next Giving Circle meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Center for Health Education. The featured speaker, Linda Carden, will share how Samaritan Health Services advances the professional practice of nurses and other health care personnel. RSVPs are required. To reserve a seat, call the PCHD Foundation office at 541-574-4754.

How the Giving Circle Works

Giving Circle participants are people with strong ties and deep care for our coastal communities who want to make meaningful investments in rural health care, explained Clem, who is also a Giving Circle participant.

Participants make an annual donation of $250, which can be paid in installments, to the PCHD Foundation’s Giving Circle Fund, and they attend semiannual meetings to learn about health-related topics and local critical needs. This information guides their decisions about how to apply the pooled fund.

“Where else can my $250 gift buy an infant mannequin for staff training or an adaptable wheelchair that ensures patients with limited mobility or strength can receive a mammogram? Participation multiplies my impact and makes a winning investment all the way around,” Clem said.

“They are not only making our community stronger together but are also deepening the social connections and friendships with other participants,” Clem said.

How the Giving Circle Helps

Since it formed, The Giving Circle has collectively awarded more than $130,000 in grants for facilities, equipment, programs and services.

They’ve protected children with a safe place to sleep, proper car seats and bike/skateboard helmets.

Through scholarship awards, they’ve helped hospital staff gain education, skills and confidence to advance their professional careers and serve our communities.

They’ve improved access to care with ambulance services and state of the art equipment for patients of all ages who’ve needed cardiac, respiratory or physical therapies within their community.