A few words from Carl Armato
This past year was unprecedented by all accounts. The coronavirus outbreak has challenged our nation, our communities and our team in a profound way. I’ve had the privilege to watch our team members unite to fight this battle and not only meet, but exceed the unexpected challenges with open hearts and ready hands.
The stories of heroism across our team are extraordinary tales of problems solved, unforgettable moments, fearless resolve and lives transformed.
Through it all, we knew that we were not alone. We had your support every step of the way. Your generous contributions helped us to stay focused on delivering remarkable patient care during one of the hardest years we’ve endured as an organization.
In 2020, our communities relied on our expertise to keep them safe, and our patients found comfort in the compassion shown by our team members. They were scared. They were unsure. We understood, and we were prepared to be there for them however they needed us.
Your generosity helped us be there for our own team as well. Many of our team members faced financial challenges as the pandemic took its toll on households everywhere. We created the Hope for Remarkable Team Aubergine Fund and contributed more than $10 million to help our team members and their families pay for necessities such as rent, utilities, gas and groceries. Donations from our parent board members, regional foundation boards, the executive team, our team members and many of you — our neighbors and friends — have further boosted the fund.
The Hope for Remarkable Team Aubergine Fund also gave team members access to child care and subsidized summer camps while schools and day cares were closed. Additionally, the fund helped pay for temporary hotel lodging for team members on the front lines who worried about exposing their high-risk loved ones to COVID-19. We also provided lunch and dinner for many of our teams at our hospitals and screening centers.
Long before the pandemic intensified the spotlight on health disparities, our organization had been working to close health equity gaps and address social determinants of health in the communities we serve. In our COVID-19 response, we took swift action to look after our most vulnerable populations.
Your commitment to our foundation has also helped us distribute thousands of free masks in our communities, deploy mobile health units to bring critical services to underserved areas, provide multilingual educational resources and ensure every person who needs to be tested or wants to be vaccinated can count on Novant Health. We know there’s more work to be done, and we have prioritized creating equity as one way we can improve the health of all communities, one person at a time.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our team, our patients and their families. COVID-19 won’t define our lives forever. As we look ahead, our focus on providing equitable care to everyone will ensure a brighter future for all we serve.
We will rise stronger, together.
Carl S. Armato
President and CEO, Novant Health