Connect

This is the latest installment in our Connect article series “Hope at Work” — showcasing inspiring stories about how our team members contribute to UVA Health’s 10-year strategic plan: “One Future Together Health and Hope for All.” No matter where you work, you have an opportunity to inspire hope in others. These stories show how:

Pamper Me Pink is a longstanding partnership between UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center and Pepperberries, founded by Sharon Welch Clark. For more than 21 years, this collaboration has provided free mammograms and follow-up imaging for those in financial need. 

All Hands On Deck

Always looking for fun and engaging ways to raise funds, the Pamper Me Pink (PMP) team revived the beloved Basket Raffle tradition.  

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center team members hosted a popular hospitalwide raffle for the nonprofit. Departments would donate themed baskets, and tickets were sold both in-house and to the public. With the decision to bring back the raffle, it was all hands on deck. Time became of the essence — with a short turnaround — as social media, internal newsletters, and word of mouth successfully spread the word. 

Springing Into Action

Jennifer Norrod, PT, DPT, UVA Health Therapy Services Powell; Jennifer Branham, Clinic Administrator, UVA Health Cancer Care; and Ashleigh Brown, Volunteer Program Coordinator, created vibrant flyers to encourage basket donations. Behind the scenes, many other UVA Health team members also contributed — designing baskets; arranging, collecting, and storing the baskets; setting up; and rallying others to participate. 

A total of 19 themed baskets were donated, including: 

• A Day of Sports 
• All Things Baby 
• The Essence of Culpeper Basket
• Family Game Night 
• Food-themed baskets 
• Fun in the Sun outdoor essentials
• Outdoor coolers loaded with summer fun 
• Pepperberries Gift Basket
• Pup Love
• Spa Day self-care treats    
• Tea Time

Tickets cost $1 for 1, $5 for 6, $10 for 25, and $20 for 40. Photos were posted on the Community Engagement intranet page so night shift and off-site team members could participate. For three days, the baskets also were displayed in the hospital lobby, where team members and visitors could view them in person and purchase tickets. 

'YOU Will Save Lives!'

Volunteers played a crucial role in the raffle’s success — from Jeff Say, Manager of Community Engagement, to Sharon, who was heard passionately reminding donors, “Your donation saves lives. YOU will save lives!” as they sold raffle tickets in the lobby. Sharon even took the time to fill out the tickets for people in a hurry or loan her glasses to those who needed them.

Excitement filled the hospital lobby as the raffle drew to a close. Some team members said they picked a basket with hopes of gifting it to their moms.

Sparking Interest | Surpassing Goals

Jeff shares, “We had multiple community members donate because of personal connections to cancer patients. One young woman even drove from Manassas just to purchase tickets late one afternoon. Culpeper Medical Center departments and Pepperberries put such care and thought into each basket, which sparked amazing community interest. This project shows how we come together to positively impact healthy outcomes at UVA Health and our surrounding community.”  

In the end, this dedicated group of volunteers exceeded their fundraising goal, raising $3,291.25 — surpassing the original target of $3,000. With this year's success, renewed excitement, and more time to plan — organizers are aiming for an even bigger raffle next year!