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In This Issue:
Rebekah Machiela, Adrienne Rines, Maria DeFiglio
As a BWH social worker, Rebekah Machiela, LICSW, works with patients and families dealing with complex psychosocial issues and sees first hand the positive effects BWH outreach services have in the community. This spring, as a member of Team Brigham 2010, she is doing her part to make sure those services continue.
“The money we’re raising directly benefits my patients and the community resources I refer them to,” said Machiela. “I consider it a great honor to be part of Team Brigham and to serve the community and my patients in this tangible way.”
Machiela is among 116 members of Team Brigham who next month will tackle the 114th Boston Marathon and raise money for BWH community health programs and services. This year’s team includes 31 employees of BWH—a record high—and four from Faulkner Hospital.
Team Brigham is one of the largest sources of fund-raising revenue for community health programs including Passageway, Connecting Hope, Assistance and Treatment and the Student Success Jobs Program. This year’s goal is to raise $500,000.
“Along with the physical challenge of training for a marathon, our runners are diligently at work raising funds,” said Suzanne Leidel, director of Special Events for Development and the Team Brigham den mother. “So far, we have raised more than $210,000 but we need everyone’s help to achieve our goal.”
This year’s team again includes a mixture of first-time runners and marathon veterans. Adrienne Rines, a patient care assistant, is looking forward to her first 26.2-mile race. “When I heard that funds raised go to programs benefiting our communities, I figured why not help out where I am and where I can,” said Rines.
Maria DeFiglio will be tackling her second marathon. “I ran last year’s marathon and loved every second of the race,” said DeFiglio, an administrative assistant in the General Surgical Specialties. “It makes it more special when it’s for such an amazing cause.”
Since the Team Brigham program began in 1998, about 1,200 runners have raised more than $4.25 million to benefit community health programs.
To donate, visit www.firstgiving.com/teambrigham2010/