Art is everywhere at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine, from the stunning Chihuly Sanctuary in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, to musical performances in the lobby, to artwork on display across campus.
“Being surrounded by art, whether that’s physical art or therapeutic programming, certainly creates a healing environment,” said Amy Jenson, executive director of the Healing Arts Program. “It lowers people’s stress levels. We know that it promotes a sense of calmness.”
The Healing Arts Program is one of many areas donors can support during For the Greater Good, March 27-28, 2024. UNMC’s and Nebraska Medicine’s 24-hour online giving event supports the future of healthcare in Nebraska. The event will begin at noon March 27 and conclude at noon March 28. Gifts may be made online at greatergoodgivingday.org.
At a campus event in March, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming campaign.
“The University of Nebraska Medical Center is a transformative force throughout the state,” Dr. Gold said. “For the Greater Good offers opportunities to support a variety of UNMC initiatives that positively impact the people of Nebraska and beyond.”
For the giving day, donors have established 69 challenges, totaling more than $571,000, to encourage alumni, friends and grateful patients to support their favorite college or area during For the Greater Good. The matches and challenges will be unlocked if certain giving goals are achieved. One of those is a $12,700 challenge grant from the Healing Arts Advisory Committee to support the program’s mission of providing hope to patients and their families and wellness for staff.
Giving day donors who make gifts totaling $66 or more will receive a UNMC/Nebraska Medicine custom travel pouch. The goal of the 2024 For the Greater Good event is to receive 1,800 gifts of $5 or more to support UNMC students, scholarships, research and the people, programs and patients of Nebraska Medicine.
“Nebraska Medicine is committed to providing the highest level of care in the region,” Nebraska Medicine CEO James Linder, MD, said. “Together, we can provide educational opportunities for our nurses, address the emergency needs of our patients and families and invest in many other important priorities by supporting For the Greater Good.”
The UNMC and Nebraska Medicine community can help spread the word on social media using the hashtag #ForTheGreaterGood. Several important causes will benefit, including:
- a variety of departmental funds within Nebraska Medicine, supporting fields such as nursing development, patient support and women and infant services;
- more than 40 registered student organizations within UNMC, assisting in reducing operational costs and enhancing student experiences on campus; and
- more than a dozen unique scholarship funds aimed at investing in the next generation of Nebraska’s health care professionals.
During the inaugural 2023 giving day, 1,542 gifts were made, raising $278,229 to support UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.