Roper St. Francis marks largest gift ever with new Charleston projects

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The largest philanthropic gift in Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s history has spurred the completion of a major expansion project.

Parker’s Kitchen, a national convenience store and food service company, recently celebrated a ribbon cutting for the new Gregory M. Parker Emergency Department at Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston.

All six emergency departments throughout Roper St. Francis Healthcare were formally named in honor of Parker’s Kitchen founder and CEO Gregory M. Parker, whose landmark $5 million gift to the system will advance health care for generations to come, a news release stated.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare Interim President and CEO Dr. Megan Baker and Parker joined Roper St. Francis Foundation President Stacy Waters to cut a ribbon in front of Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital to mark the occasion.

The $5 million gift — the largest in the system’s history — established the Roper St. Francis Foundation Parker’s Community Impact Fund to support uninsured and underinsured residents throughout the greater Charleston area, as well as health care provider support initiatives at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, the release stated.

Related content: Parker’s Kitchen opens newest metro Charleston location

An accomplished breast surgeon, Baker said she has seen how philanthropy can transform a patient’s experience and positively affect the outcome, the release stated.

“Ensuring teammates’ success while serving our patients and community are central to Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s mission,” Baker said in the release. “This $5 million gift from the Parker’s Community Fund will help us advance that mission boldly. As a physician who sees the direct impact this gift has on patients and caregivers, Mr. Parker’s commitment is inspiring to us all.”

Parker praised Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s rich history of fulfilling its mission and said he hopes the gift will help expand access to emergency care for all.

“Parker’s Kitchen and Roper St. Francis Healthcare share the same commitment to excellence and serve the same community in Charleston,” Parker said in the release. “We know that the ER is the ‘front door’ to the hospital. According to the CDC, nearly 136 million patients go through emergency rooms in the United States annually, which is one-third of the U.S. population. Emergency rooms take care of everyone, regardless of their age, race or faith — and that’s true at Parker’s Kitchen as well. Like Roper St. Francis Healthcare, we are dedicated to serving all people.”

The Roper St. Francis Foundation Parker’s Community Impact Fund will continue to enhance existing system priorities, including:

• Roper St. Francis Greer Transitions Clinic, an outpatient clinic for the underserved.
• Assistance for uninsured and underinsured patients.
• Debt-free degree programs and career development for Roper St. Francis Healthcare teammates;
• Youth apprenticeships; and
• On-the-job training for historically marginalized communities.