Kaiser Permanente is broadening its efforts to expand the scope of what healthcare means as it addresses crisis prevention.
The Marshall fire — which occurred in Dec. 2021 — drove more than 1,000 families from their homes. It left thousands of people wondering what would happen next and was the worst day of many people’s lives.
Organizations like the Red Cross jumped in and provided assistance and comfort to its victims.
The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year, according to a press release from Kaiser.
This year, Kaiser stepped up with a $650,000 donation to the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program to help the agency have supplies, technology and personnel ready before a disaster occurs, according to the news release.
Kaiser also made a donation last year of $350,000 in the wake of the fire.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen the numbers of weather-related disasters increase in Colorado and elsewhere. And at Kaiser Permanente, we’ve seen the resulting immediate and long-term impact that disasters have on health and well-being,” said Mike Ramseier, regional president of Kaiser Permanente. “We make it a priority to invest in the health and resilience of the communities where we live and work. That’s why helping our neighbors who were affected by disasters like the Marshall Fire is the right thing to do, and we want to help get ahead of what’s next.”
To the nonprofit health provider, it is more than a donation, it is a way to broaden the scope of care and services it provides to Coloradans.
“ Improving health — a core part of Kaiser Permanente’s mission — is about more than just providing high-quality medical care. Good health starts in communities. Supporting disaster preparedness is one more way Kaiser Permanente can address unmet social needs and community factors that impact health. Having a safe place to live, access to healthy meals, and meaningful social connections are essential to wellness,” the news release states.
“Annual Disaster Giving Program members like Kaiser Permanente are truly extraordinary because they understand the importance of having vital resources in place before a crisis strikes — and that’s even more critical now as disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and storms are increasingly frequent and intense,” said Anne McKeough, chief development officer for the American Red Cross. “As we continue to see more severe disasters, more often, in the face of the climate crisis, we are extremely grateful for these forward-thinking donors who ensure we can grow our capacity to help people across the country in their darkest hours.”
