The SVS Foundation received an extra infusion of contributions in late 2020, thanks to more than 40 new donors and the generosity of four members who matched a portion of these donations.
The Foundation received $11,878 from new donors during the year-end Matching Gift Challenge, with the four—William Shutze, MD, Thomas Forbes, MD, Peter Nelson, MD, and Jens Eldrup-Jorgensen, MD—providing an additional $10,000 in matching funds.
The Greatest Need Fund garnered $9,910 from 37 new donors, with three members providing an additional $8,000 in matching funds. New donors also contributed $2,468 to the Awareness and Prevention Fund for community health initiatives, with a fourth SVS member providing an additional $2,000 in matching funds.
Shutze kicked off the matching challenge, hoping to help early- and mid-career surgeons develop the “giving habit.” He himself is a latecomer as a Foundation donor, becoming more involved when he saw that the Foundation and its projects—including patient education flyers and other community health initiatives—impact all SVS members.
That was his impetus for sponsoring a Matching Gift Challenge in late 2020, matching donations by first-time donors up to $5,000 for the Foundation’s Greatest Need Fund.
“In my early career I didn’t have a lot to give,” Shutze said. “I thought offering matching funds would be a way for early- and mid-career surgeons who may not have a lot of philanthropic funds to be more impactful; if they give $100, they’re really giving $200.” He hopes to repeat the challenge this year and is gratified by the response to the challenge.
Forbes, Nelson and Jorgensen are pleased with the success of the venture. “I’m thrilled that small donations kick-started this campaign, resulting in many donations in support of key SVS initiatives,” said Forbes. “Thanks to my SVS colleagues who took up the challenge in support of the SVS Foundation.”
Eldrup-Jorgensen reminded members that “many of our corporate sponsors measure our engagement by the percentage of members who contribute. So please contribute. Everything helps.”
