It’s hard to believe that 140 years have passed since Julia Johns brought together a group of forward-thinking women to open a hospital in Alexandria. Much has changed over the last century and a half, but one thing remains constant: the overwhelming support Inova Alexandria Hospital has received from our dedicated community.
Giving back is both a privilege and a perpetuation of the good we see all around us. Whether it is programs within our hospital, or partnering with local organizations on community health and wellness initiatives, we are involved in a wide range of opportunities to advance healthcare for those who need it most.
With Thanksgiving approaching, it’s a good time to take stock of some of the ways we brought this commitment to life in 2012:
October’s Walk to Fight Breast Cancer, which we sponsor in partnership with the City of Alexandria and the Inova Alexandria Hospital Foundation, attracted 900 participants. Proceeds benefit the Alexandria Breast Cancer Walk Fund at Inova Alexandria Hospital, which provides mammograms to uninsured women or those in financial need. Since the walk began in 1994, more than 7,000 women have been helped thanks to the generous support of sponsors, walkers and their pledges.
More than 700 people turned out for the 2nd annual Emergency Management/Preparedness and Safety Fair in August. Alexandria police, fire, health and safety officials shared simple precautions to help families be ready for a wide range of emergency scenarios. We co-hosted this event with the City of Alexandria.
At our Annual Health Expo in October, we provided health screenings, information and lectures for 450 community members.
In March, we teamed up with Senior Services of Alexandria to offer health and fitness lectures as part of National Nutrition Month.
We partnered with Alexandria Public Schools and Project Search to give students with disabilities training, career development and employable skills for the future.
At Inova Alexandria Hospital, we know that healthy communities are essential for a healthy future. It is an honor to give back to the wonderful community that supports us, day in and day, and that we are proud to serve.