APRIL 13, 2020

Dear Friends,

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. These are trying times but I hope sharing the latest on how our organization is responding will be uplifting. Since the crisis began to unfold, the generosity of our donors has been amazing. Thanks to you and your commitment to SMH and our community, we have been able to provide the hospital with critical resources in this unprecedented time of need.

In my last email, I shared the news about the $1 million supplemental grant we approved to augment equipment currently in use at the hospital, enhance cleaning and infection control, and assist hospital staff in managing this pandemic. As you can imagine, the needs at the hospital to battle this virus are constantly evolving. Our COVID-19 Support Fund is providing critical funding to the hospital’s areas of greatest need. Gifts to this fund help ensure SMH can quickly respond to patient, clinical and staff needs as this crisis continues to unfold. We are so grateful to those who have already stepped forward to help. If you are interested in making a gift to the COVID-19 Support Fund, you can visit our website at smhf.org or contact our office at (941) 917-1286.

This brings me to some more exciting news. You may have heard that SMH was selected to participate in two national clinical trials related to the treatment of COVID-19. The first study is testing the effectiveness of the antiviral drug remdesivir. The second study evaluates whether antibodies in plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients can help newly infected patients. The Healthcare Foundation is thankful to be able to help support this research through the generosity of our community. Clinical research has always been one of the Healthcare Foundation’s key areas of focus. This is a great example of how philanthropy can play an important role in helping meet an urgent community need. If you’d like to learn more about the studies, I’ve included a link in the Important Information section at the end of this email.

Finally, I wanted to thank the frontline healthcare workers at SMH. We are all so grateful for their commitment to their work and the health of our community. As part of our participation in the upcoming county-wide GIVING CHALLENGE presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, we will be honoring our healthcare workers and providing our community an opportunity to show their appreciation for the hospital staff’s dedication and service. The 24-hour online event takes place from noon to noon, April 28-29. Watch our Facebook page for information leading up to the event and direct access to the Giving Challenge webpage on the day of the event.

Thank you for your continued support.

Stay well,
Mason Ayres
President
Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

SMH Clinical Trials

Giving Challenge

Sarasota Memorial Hospital is continuously updating information on the website smh.com

Below are important phone numbers, LINKS and resources to have at your fingertips.

Florida Department of Health Hotline
If you have mild symptoms or may have been exposed:
866-779-6121 (24 hours a day)

SMH Coronavirus Hotline
For information about SMH:
941-917-8799 (24 hours a day)

SMH Coronavirus Command Center
If you are a local health provider or a nursing home with a patient who may have COVID-19 symptoms, or, if you are a patient who is not currently able to speak to a physician about your concerns, call:
941-262-4000

CDC INFORMATION
CDC’S Q&A
FLORIDA HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S FAQ

Printable Resources
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FLYER (English)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FLYER (Spanish)

UPDATED HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION EVENTS SCHEDULE

The Golf Tournament Reception | September 30, 2020
The Golf Tournament | October 9, 2020
Rock the Roof | November 7, 2020
Corinthian Dinner | December 3, 2020
The Hospital Gala | January 9, 2021
1925 Society Reception | Feb 4, 2021
Women & Medicine Luncheon | March 26, 2021
Legacy Luncheon | April 15, 2021