Atlanta Medical Center Supports Employees Affected by Haiti Earthquake
March 15th, 2010
The staff of Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) recently rallied ‘round their own, opening their hearts, their wallets and—quite literally— their mouths, when 15 fellow employees were directly impacted by the recent, devastating earthquake in Haiti.
AMC supplied the food for a special Haitian-themed meal and bake sale, held in the hospital cafeteria in late January. More than 350 employees purchased meals and sweet treats that day to raise $1,800 for their co-workers with family members in Haiti. The financial assistance, augmented by a supplement from the hospital’s Golden Heart Fund, was distributed to the affected employees at a special ceremony on Wednesday, February 3.
“On behalf of the entire Atlanta Medical Center family, I'd like to express our sympathies to all those whose friends or family members have suffered a loss or an injury as a result of the devastating earthquake in Haiti,” said William T. Moore, Atlanta Medical Center president and chief executive officer, in his remarks to the assembled group. “Yet, as difficult as this situation is, I've personally been heartened by the response and generosity of time and money from both our employees and the general public throughout the country.”
Several AMC employees with ties to Haiti expressed their gratitude, not only for the financial assistance, but also for the outpouring of support from their coworkers. “Everyone in this hospital makes us feel like family members,” said one recipient.
Guilliano (“Guy”) Azor, AMC’s Assistant Director of Environmental Services, is one of those employees. His family members living in Haiti include cousins, uncles, nephews and nieces—some survived the earthquake and some did not. He is grateful that most of his surviving Haitian family can depend on other family members living in unaffected areas of Haiti and here in the U.S. to help.
“Fortunately, I can say that my family is lucky because they have us here,” Guy says. “They’re better off than those who have no one to call for help.”
Guy will send his share of the relief money raised by AMC to help his Haitian family members with their basic needs for food and shelter. Eventually, he would like to go to Haiti to see for himself what needs to be done. The oldest of his generation, he feels his responsibility to family keenly. He is grateful for the support his fellow employees have shown.
“I see the news and people I know there tell me what’s going on. They’re ashamed to tell you they have no food. But they have to tell you because you’re the only hope for them,” he explains. “It’s a blessing to have the hospital do something like this.”
Submitted by Angela Brown, Atlanta Medical Center
