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UHS among top heroes at heart celebration

May 09, 2019

Team UHS was honored as the top Southern Tier Heart Walk corporate sponsor and fundraising team when the American Heart Association held its annual “Heroes of Heart Celebration” in Johnson City May 8.

The employees of UHS were recognized for raising $29,488, the largest amount of any corporate team this year, and UHS was the No. 1 corporate sponsor of the annual event.

UHS and its people received other honors for strengthening heart health in the region.

“We at UHS are committed to engaging with our community and supporting efforts that lead to better health and well-being for people of all ages,” said John M. Carrigg, president and chief executive officer of UHS.  “I am personally very proud of Team UHS and our employees’ dedication to the Heart Walk and other heart-wellness endeavors in our area.”

Mr. Carrigg will chair the next Heart Walk, to be held in 2020.

In addition to the top-team recognitions, UHS received a special distinction for having earned an American Heart Association “Get with the Guidelines Quality Improvement Award” for the inroads it has made against heart disease and stroke.

It was praised for being the top local fundraiser of the most recent “Wear Red Day,” part of the AHA’s national “Go Red for Women” heart awareness campaign.

And it was lauded for its major participation in “Little Hats, Big Hearts,” an effort that gives heart-health awareness knit hats to babies born at UHS Wilson Medical Center and UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital.

Individual awards went to UHS leaders Kim Pilarchik and Megan Farmer.

Ms. Pilarchik, director of Cardiac Services, UHS Hospitals, was recognized for being a member of the AHA Leadership Team and for her fundraising achievements.   

Ms. Farmer, RN, Stay Healthy, was honored for her individual and team fundraising support and for her work as co-chair of the AHA Logistics Committee; she will chair the committee in 2020.

The annual celebration is an American Heart Association event that honors organizations throughout the community and their employee volunteers who support heart-health endeavors and contribute to the fight against cardiovascular disease.

At the event, held at Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, AHA leaders announced that this year’s Heart Walk in April raised more than $300,000 community-wide in support of the AHA’s charity mission.