Philanthropy helps team member rebuild after April storm

“I’m not typically one to ask for help,” said Denver, an IU Health team member. “I feel like I can handle most things on my own.”

But in early April, severe storms swept through Anderson, with winds reaching 120 miles per hour. The powerful gusts toppled four, 200-year-old oak trees on Denver’s property – one fell on a corner of his garage allowing water to damage the appliances inside, while the others reduced his family’s fence to splinters.

Thanks to the Team Member Support Fund, Denver and his family received immediate cash assistance to support them while they navigated the complexities of insurance. Repairs are now underway, more than two months after the storm.

Denver, a document specialist in IU Health’s utilization management department, works with Veteran Affairs to ensure IU Health receives appropriate payments for the veterans we serve. Normally a remote team member, Denver was without power for two weeks after the storm and had to commute to Muncie and Indianapolis to keep up with his work responsibilities.

A third generation IU Health team member, Denver was already aware of the Team Member Support Fund and he knew it was a reliable source of assistance.

“I’ve navigated the IU Health team portal quite a bit,” he said. “I’m into maximizing my benefits.” The financial support mattered, but it was the deeper reassurance that stood out to Denver. “IU Health makes sure people are being taken care of,” he said. “This organization has supported my family for around half a century. Because of this help, I could focus on taking care of my home, without worrying about anything else. That was reassuring.”

If you’re a team member experiencing an unexpected financial hardship, contact the Employee Assistance Program by calling 317.962.8001 or send an email to iuhealtheap@iuhealth.org.