Caring Coworkers Fund

How do I get assistance through the Caring Coworkers Fund?

Contact a Caring Coworkers Representative to start the process. Reps are designated for each affiliate, but you can contact any of the people listed below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who decides if an employee receives Caring Coworkers assistance?
Employees will discuss their needs with a Caring Coworkers Representative. If a request for assistance is approved, the rep will work with Methodist Hospital Foundation on the employee’s behalf.

Are all employees eligible for assistance through the Caring Coworkers Fund?
Employees who have worked for Methodist Health System for at least six months are eligible for assistance. Employees working for Methodist Health System less than six months will be directed to Best Care EAP for professional guidance.

What kind of assistance is available?
The Caring Coworkers Fund provides assistance up to $1,000. Employees will not receive cash. Bills or invoices are submitted to the Caring Coworkers Fund Representative who forwards them to Methodist Hospital Foundation. The Foundation makes payment on the employee’s behalf.

Can an employee be helped more than one time?
Employees are eligible to seek assistance once every three years. Employees can contact Best Care EAP for professional guidance at any time.

Can employees offer contributions to benefit the Caring Coworkers Fund?
Yes! Gifts from employees make the Caring Coworkers Fund possible. Methodist Hospital Foundation is proud to accept your contributions at any time. During Caring Campaign, our annual employee giving campaign, you can support the Caring Coworkers Fund through ongoing payroll deductions, a one-time payroll deduction or cash. Paid time off (PTO) hours can also be converted into a donation. See below for the PTO conversion information. One hundred percent of your gift will benefit the Caring Coworkers Fund.

How does a gift of paid time off (PTO) work?
Donating PTO has proven to be a very popular way for employees to make a gift. PTO hours are converted to cash and taxes are subtracted – at approximately 38 percent by IRS rule. The balance benefits the Caring Coworkers Fund.

Please note: PTO hours are NOT transferable directly between employees. By IRS rule, you may not donate any “banked” PTO hours.

What is a Caring Coworkers Special Funded Effort?
A Caring Coworkers Special Funded Effort (SFE) is an opportunity for employees in a certain department/affiliate to rally around a specific co-worker-in-need. To begin the process, the employee-in-need will visit with a Caring Coworkers Representative. If the rep believes an SFE would be helpful, he or she will coordinate with the employee’s supervisor and begin the gift collection process. Individual gift amounts and the names of donors are kept confidential. Again, no cash will be disbursed. Methodist Hospital Foundation will pay bills on the employee’s behalf. The employee-in-need is encouraged to use all of the dollars generated on their behalf within one year of initiating the SFE.

Why did we change the name from Family Crisis Connection?
Your gifts during Caring Campaign make this assistance possible – up to $1,000 for employees facing urgent, unexpected expenses. The new name is a tribute to your support. It’s about all of us pitching in to take care of each other – because we all need help sometimes.