Shoppers should not be surprised to see Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System President and CEO Kevin Miller sacking groceries on a Saturday morning this Fall or Dillons President Joe Grieshaber working in the hospital cafeteria as a result of a friendly wager made as part of the 2013 United Way campaign.
Dillons and Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, both long time supporters of United Way, are competing for bragging rights to determine which group can net the most in pledges and contributions for this year’s United Way campaign.
The 2012 United Way campaign resulted in $175,000 in pledges from the combined giving from Dillons and Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System.
A final tally showed Dillons pledged about $2,500 more than Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System in last year’s campaign.
When results for 2013 are finalized, the company who raises the most for the United Way campaign will have a temporary employee for four hours, namely the leader of the losing company.
Should Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System be topped by Dillons, Kevin Miller, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, will spend a Saturday morning sacking groceries at the new Dillons Store and assume any other duties Joe Grieshaber, Dillons President, feels Kevin is capable of performing.
On the other hand, should Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System win the competition, Grieshaber will spend a half day working in the hospital cafeteria serving diners and, if they are short handed that day, making tea and coffee and cleaning tables. Also, a part of his temporary employment at Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System will include time spent delivering meals to hospital patients.
Miller, who serves on the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors with Grieshaber, said the Dillons President is imminently qualified to assume a leading role in the cafeteria based on his career in the food business.
“Our staff at Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System will be observing Joe very closely to determine if he might, at some point, have a future in the cafeteria business,” Miller said. “We know he can fry hamburgers and make turkey sandwiches, but the jury is still out as to whether or not he can make coffee and bus tables.”
“In all seriousness, Dillons has, since its inception, been a corporate citizen in the finest tradition of Hutchinson-based companies and the healthcare system has endeavored to do likewise,” Miller continued. “Our two organizations are long-time supporters of the United Way campaign and decided it was time to have a little fun with this year’s campaign.”
Grieshaber said, “There is so much more to bagging groceries, so our team at Dillons Marketplace will keep a close eye on Kevin while he’s in the store, to ensure he masters the technique. We are confident Kevin will be a natural with a little extra support.”
Both companies are sponsoring special events during the campaign to raise funds along with the corporate pledges from the employee groups and plan to conclude the 2013 campaign during the next two weeks.
The Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System includes Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County, Ray E. Dillon Living Center, Health-E-Quip, Horizons Mental Health Center, and they Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation.