Ochsner – Westbank EVS Assistant Director Spearheads Part-Fundraising, Part-Recycling Program Benefiting Local Youth Athletics
November 3rd, 2010
Joseph Ward, Assistant Director of EVS at Ocshner Medical Center - Westbank in Gretna, Louisiana, has gotten the entire facility involved in a community fundraising program. An active member of his local booster club, Ward is always looking for new ways to raise money to support the youth sports program in his neighborhood.
Ward and his family have resided in Woodmere since 2002; with 6,000 residents, Woodmere is the largest subdivision in Louisiana.
The booster club is tasked with raising funds to support the Woodmere Playground, which is home to youth sports programs for the entire community, including soccer, football, track, and cheerleading. Ward's eight-year-old daughter, Taylor, is involved in track and cheerleading, and his eleven-year-old son, Myles, has won championships in both track and football, and also plays basketball.
When another booster club member suggested the idea of collecting and recycling toner cartridges, Ward had a flash of inspiration. During his next morning kick-off meeting with the EVS team at Ochsner - Westbank, where Ward has served since 2006, he asked team members to keep an eye out for empty toner cartridges as they made their way around the hospital.
Before long, Ochsner - Westbank staff members in a wide range of departments got wind of the part-recycling, part-fundraising program and began reaching out to the EVS team to let them know when they were changing out their toner.
"I had no idea people would be this supportive of the program," Ward says. "We have easily collected hundreds of toner cartridges at Ochsner - Westbank alone."
Recycled toner cartridges fetch anywhere from $0.40 to $4.00 apiece, depending on the size, and Ward says that the cartridges collected at Ochsner - Westbank have generated between $75 and $100 per month for the youth sports program. These funds go toward uniforms, trophies, and other awards for the hundreds of Woodmere children who participate in youth sports.
"The proceeds from Mr. Ward and Ochsner - Westbank have helped the booster club purchase much needed awards and uniforms," says Woodmere Booster Club Vice President Nicole Briscoe.
The program was initially intended to last for just one year, but the booster club has decided to make it a permanent addition to their fundraising efforts.
Georgia Gafney, Director of Telemetry at Ochsner - Westbank, says she is glad the program will continue into 2011; "It is a pleasure to be able to make a difference with the youth in our community, and to help put smiles on children's faces."
Ward says he is proud of the success the program has had, and honored by the support he has received from the Ochsner - Westbank community.
"This is such a great initiative," says Ward. "Not only are we helping to provide and enhance athletic opportunities for kids, but also, from an environmental standpoint, we're keeping these toner cartridges from ending up in landfills-it's the definition of a win-win situation."
"Through Joe's efforts and time, he's made a major difference in the lives of these children in New Orleans," explains Craig Oats, Vice President of HHS's Central Division, which includes Ochsner - Westbank. "Personally, I've been very impressed with Joseph's work in the local community. It's an honor to have him on our team."
