It is such a blessing to work for an organization where you don’t have to look far for inspiration. I find it every day in the 111,000 caregivers of Providence St. Joseph Health 

To everyone who is part of our diverse family of organizations, thank you for all you do to make your corner of the world a better place. Thank you for bringing love and kindness to every encounter you have with others throughout the day and for sharing your gifts with all of us and those we serve.

Because of you, Providence St. Joseph Health cared for more individuals in need in 2017 than ever before, and we are on track to exceed the $1.6 billion in community benefit we provided the previous year. Together, we brought hope and healing to people in the midst of vulnerable times in life.

This year, sadly, was marked by relentless tragedy. Catastrophic wildfires destroyed the homes of more than 150 of our caregivers, as well as countless acres of beautiful public and private lands. One of our communities mourned the unthinkable — the loss of young life in a fatal high school shooting — while another banded together to respond to the nightmare of a deadly train wreck.

In the midst of the heartbreak and shock, our caregivers didn’t miss a beat in any these situations and stepped up to be there for our communities as a beacon of hope in a time of sadness and uncertainty.

You were there for others not just in our local communities but for other regions in need, as well. You responded with incredible generosity to support the recovery efforts for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well the massive earthquake that rocked Mexico City this summer. Together, we raised more than $1 million to support our caregivers displaced by wildfires, as well as for recovery efforts in Houston, Puerto Rico and other communities destroyed by the spate of cataclysmic disasters this year. (You can see the full breakdown of funds raised here.) 

I also want to thank you for serving as a voice for the voiceless. Many of you joined us and spoke out to protect Medicaid coverage for our most vulnerable patients. My deepest gratitude to everyone who took the time to write to our members of Congress about how much of a lifeline the program is for millions of individuals in our communities. Our collective voice made a difference.

Thank you all for an amazing year and for being a lighthouse and a source of hope for our communities. You never cease to humble and inspire me. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. I hope you find time to unplug, recharge and spend time with your loved ones. And a special note of gratitude to those working over the holidays: thank you for being with our patients and their families in their time of need.