Celebrating Service
Employees and physicians volunteer their time and talent throughout the year to help improve the community
At Kaiser Permanente, thousands of committed employees and physicians – along with their families and friends – eagerly volunteer throughout the year and participate in a wide range of projects to improve the community. From painting school murals and packing groceries at food banks, to tutoring children and cleaning up parks, volunteerism seems to be a natural extension of their desire to make a meaningful difference at home and/or abroad.
After all, giving time and talent to improve the lives of others can be rewarding. Many Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians appreciate the opportunity to make an impact beyond their daily routine, and enjoy spending time with and getting to know their colleagues outside the work place. Some people also like to volunteer because they value feeling part of their community, learning a new skill, or making new friends.
Volunteerism supports Kaiser Permanente’s focus on creating healthy communities as well as a culture of engagement. Volunteerism also provides additional benefits for the work environment. For example, it has been demonstrated that:
- Employees who volunteer are happier and more engaged in their work
- Teams that volunteer together show improved collaboration
- Physicians who volunteer through community clinics or international medical missions often apply their learnings to their practice
How to get involved
Whether offering a skill, contributing gently used clothing and household items, doing manual labor, or donating funds, volunteers can participate in projects sponsored by Kaiser Permanente at the local and regional level, including:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (January)
- Month of Big Sundays (May)
- Collection drives for back to school, holidays, abuse victims, recycling, and the homeless population
- Adopt-a-family programs during the holidays
To get involved, please check out the following helpful tools and resources.
Kaiser Permanente Southern California employees and physicians:
KPCares.org: This online portal provides an easy way to find, share, and participate in volunteer activities in communities where people live and work. Users can post a new project and recruit volunteers, as well as manage and track volunteer hours. The portal also helps to match appropriately skilled volunteers for disaster relief, including medical specialties, languages spoken, and certifications.
Community Giving Campaign: This campaign is a simple way to make a positive difference in the community and give to a cause that is personally significant. In 2018, the campaign will run from Oct. 1 through Oct. 26. During this time, those interested may donate to local nonprofit organizations to help improve the quality of life for the people in the community.
Creating Healthy Communities: Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit has long supported improving community health and eliminating health disparities through its valued partnerships with numerous nonprofit organizations, government entities, and academic institutions. To learn more about how Kaiser Permanente collaborates with others to put inspiration into action, please visit https://community.kp.org.
Thank you to all our amazing volunteers whose generosity, compassion, and commitment to helping others are a source of inspiration for us all!
“Volunteerism has always been at the center of my commitment to medicine and the community. I was struck at our last volunteer event by the pride of our community in Kaiser Permanente as an organization. So many of our patients stopped to share their stories about the care their families receive; it has made me even prouder to be a Permanente physician.”
- Shreya Chandra, MD, Physician in Charge, La Mesa Primary Care
“I enjoy volunteering because it’s how I keep a pulse in my community and meet people with similar values. It’s important for me to feel connected to my community’s social needs and try to make an impact. As an IT Total Health Champion this year, I’m partnering with local homeless shelters and foodbanks to host events that focus volunteer activity on food, nutrition, and hunger.”
- Andrea Martinez, MHA, IT Consultant
“Volunteering is part of the value system my parents instilled in me at a young age. Helping patients outside of Kaiser Permanente in community clinics – many of whom do not have health insurance – makes my medical experience that much more fulfilling. I highly recommend getting involved.”
- Michael Takehara, MD, rheumatologist, Fontana Medical Center, and lead physician for the Physician Engagement with Community Clinics Program