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Up on the Rooftop / Hospital administrators camping it up as part of fundraiser
By Bryon SaxtonLAYTON -- Playing substitute Santa has three Davis Hospital and Medical Center administrators up on the rooftop of the hospital where they work.
And that is where the trio will stay for at least two days as they attempt to raise funds for the hospital's annual Sub for Santa program.
Starting Wednesday afternoon, the three began their campout in tents on the hospital roof, said Lora Kier, hospital director of community relations. With the exception of being allowed to crawl through a window into the hospital for scheduled bathroom breaks, the plan was for them to be there day and night.
Because the Santa team is co-ed, two tents, a his and a hers, were pitched on the roof, hospital officials said.
The time the group spends on the roof will be extended 24 hours for each additional $2,000 donated to the hospital's Sub for Santa program, Kier said.
As of Wednesday, enough funds had already been donated to keep administrators in tents at "Camp Davis" for at least two days.
The money raised will be used to provide up to 12 low income families in the Weber/Davis county area with Christmas.
Every year the hospital employees, about 850 of them this year, attempt to raise funds for needy families. The event this year generated the most money the group has raised, officials said.
The idea to put administrators on the roof came out of a concern that this year's economy has put more families in need, Kier said. The hope is the display will generate additional excitement for its fundraising efforts. The administrators' camp is near the employee entrance, where workers can see them.
On the roof is Mike Jensen, the hospital's chief executive officer; Dale Johns, chief operations officer; and Debbie Sprague, chief nursing officer.
"I'm actually pretty outdoorsy," Jensen said. In positions with the Boy Scouts of America, he has done some camping in the cold before.
"It's going to be fun," said Jensen, who will not only sleep on the roof, but is having his computer hooked up so that during the day he can work from the roof.
He won't be laying his sleeping bag over the hard, cold gravel roof, however. Jensen said he will sleep on a cot.
Hospital employees and medical staff were able to donate money to the program before the start of the campout, and will be allowed to continue to donate money to the effort during the event.
Those groups to be served by the donations include the Family Connection Center in Clearfield and the Safe Harbor domestic violence shelter in Kaysville.
"We decided to kick it up a notch," Jensen said of the stunt this year.
Those wishing to make a donation to the project can call 773-0712.
Add Your Comment
I have been a patient at Davis Hospital and received great care there. Don't be a hater towards individuals who are doing something nice for others. Maybe you should go to the vet with your dog for care next time.
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