1. Emiley Zinz:
I’ve always donated to Campus Campaign, but for the past year I’ve donated to the Talbot Hall
Addiction Medicine Program because of my close friend Aaron. Years ago, Aaron had a great
job, a house, and a good girlfriend. Eventually he would lose them all thanks to an untreated
heroin addiction. I invited him to live with me for a year, hoping that a change of scenery and
constant encouragement would help, but instead it became the hardest year of my life and he
didn’t change. I eventually packed up his things and made him leave, which ended up being the
wake-up call that he needed. He got treatment with a great program similar to that at Talbot Hall,
and now he’s been sober for six months, has a job, a car, a new puppy, and helps take care of his
grandmother. As an Infection Preventionist in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology I see
patients in the Addiction Medicine Program frequently and I feel an immediate connection to
those involved. Some might dismiss the patients as weak, but I know first-hand that addiction is
a very real and hard to control disease. I feel good knowing that my donation will help someone
get their life back.
Terre Lausin:
For a year and a half I have donated to the Ohio State fund for the Veterinary Medical Clinic
after what happened to my sweet little dog Bella. She saved me, coming into my life at a time of
extreme emotional duress and for two and a half years we were inseparable. Then, on June 7th,
2013, Bella got into my purse and ate some sugar-free gum – ironic, since I almost never buy it.
A day later it was clear that she was sick and after some research I discovered that the gum
contained Xylitol, which is deadly to dogs. I took her to the Small Animal Emergency and
Critical Care Service at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Center. They what they could, but eventually
it sunk in that I was losing my baby girl. I asked to take Bella outside one last time before she
was euthanized, and we sat together in the shade of a tree outside of the main entrance of the
clinic. Eventually, a young Veterinarian came out and sat with me. We talked for a while and he
offered to euthanize her out there under the tree, which I appreciated because Bella loved the
outdoors so much. I held her as she took her last breath and he sat there with me while I cried.
He didn’t have to do that, but you cannot put a price on that ending. I hope I never need them
again, but I am glad to know the Veterinary Medical Clinic is there.
Tameka Hairston:
I am the Associate Director for the Patient Care Resource Managers and Social Workers and I
donate to the Patient Emergency Fund. A case comes to mind when I think of how we use this
fund: Our team works to get patients transitioned from the hospital to their next level of care,
making sure that all resources are in place to have a successful transition. A patient who had

2. been hospitalized for more than a week was discharged and it was recommended that he be
discharged with oxygen. The patient informed his social worker that their power was being
turned off, and power was needed to use O2. We were able to request money to pay his utility
bill for a month, allowing the patient to return to a safe environment with the medical equipment
he needed, which also decreased the length of his stay and his hospital bills.
Angela Finnegan:
I have been a social worker in the East Emergency Department of Wexner Medical for almost
five years and for the past year I have been donating to the UHE Patient and Family Emergency
Fund. To me, this fund means giving, helping, reaching out to our fellow people and treating
them equally. I believe these funds can assist those who need help from our community,
addressing the barriers and needs of those we see every day. I wanted to help the community in
any way I could and with the funds from Campus Campaign we have been able to use these
funds to purchase clothing for our homeless population to keep them warm and dry in the winter
as well as providing clothing to our sexual assault victims when they come in, giving comfort
and support at a time when they desperately need it.
Nutrition Services:
Our staff at the NutritionServicesDepartmentfoundoutaboutthe Care Bears and ComfortRobes
Fund—whichmakesteddybearsforchildrenreceivingradiationtreatmentatThe JamesCancerHospital
and robesforolderpatients—backin2005 and we all askedto give tothat fund.I guessyoucan say that
we informally“adopted”the Care BearsFundbut itreallyjustcomesdownto the fact that we liked
whatthe funddidandit resonatedwithus.Aboutfifteenof usdonate tothe fundbecause itgoesto
cheeringupsickchildren.We like itbecause of the non-traditional wayitgoesaboutit.
The entire nutritionservicesdepartmentadoptsthe Care Bearfundandprovidesall CampusCampaign
donationstothisfund. The actual fundprovidesteddybearstochildrencomingtoThe Jamestoreceive
radiationtreatment.
Notsure if there ismuch here fora testimonial. It is justour staff foundout about the Care Bear fund
that makesbearsfor kidsandrobesfor patientsandtheyall askto give to that fund. Iguessyou can say
theyinformally“adopted”the Care Bearfundbut itreallyjustcomesdowntothe fact that theyliked
whatthe funddid andit resonatedwiththem.
2. About10-15 people donate toCare Bear
3. Staff just likedthe fundbecause itgoestocheeringupsickchildren. Don’tknow muchelse
aboutthe fundbutthe fact that it helpskidsina non-traditional wayiswhatstaff likedaboutit