Press Releases: Mid-Atlantic States
February 4, 2008
Mid-Atlantic Residents Rebuild Gulf Coast
Kaiser Permanente Employees Continue Post-Katrina Reconstruction
ROCKVILLE, Md. – Three Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States employees flew to Biloxi, Miss., last month to work on various recovery projects including home rehabilitation, community resource renewal, and environmental restoration following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
"I look forward to this opportunity to support Katrina victims. You forget that it's the largest natural catastrophe in our country's history – until you go down and see the destruction first hand. It's a slow rebuilding process," said Deborah Grinder, an Indian Head, Md., resident and lead registered nurse for Kaiser Permanente's Largo Medical Center.
Grinder, Vonnie Jones and Lynne Moore were chosen from almost 700 Kaiser Permanente physicians and employees who applied to volunteer for the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. Volunteers are willingly using their vacation time to help people in need.
Jones, an Oxon Hill, Md., resident and medical assistant for Kaiser Permanente's West End Center, is participating in the program as a group leader this year. "There is nothing like it," Jones said about last year's trip. "I worked beside doctors, managers, and IT professionals building houses, picking up trash and truly working together – our commonality was that we all wanted to help."
All three volunteers continue their dedication to service in their local communities. Moore, a Laytonsville, Md., resident and Application Manager for KP HealthConnect™, works closely with Habitat for Humanity building homes in Silver Spring, Md. "I had a good friend who lost her home in the Katrina event," said Moore, who volunteered for the Gulf Coast Volunteer Project last year as well. "It was such a wonderful time of service. I am happy to help again and have volunteered to be a project leader."
Kaiser Permanente has made a long-term commitment to assisting with disaster relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region. The organization pledged $2 million to immediate relief efforts in 2005 and $1 million for long-term recovery.
"I really like being a part of a company that gives back to the community, such as Kaiser," said Grinder. "It's very rewarding." Grinder continues her commitment to service at home by providing CPR to her community and volunteering with the local fire department.
Kaiser Permanente was recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the 1006 CDC Foundation Hero Award for leadership and understanding of the important role that governmental public health teams play in disaster response situations, and for acting quickly to bolster the efforts of public health workers serving storm victims and evacuees.
Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is a total health organization serving approximately 500,000 people in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Kaiser Permanente is composed of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., and the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C., an independent medical group that features more than 900 physicians who provide or arrange care for patients in our community.
