This Hospital Is Andre-Approved!
In last Sunday’s print edition of the Charleston Post and Courier, a rather large advertisement was purchased thanking the sponsors of the Roper St. Francis Hospital Foundation, which the day before had welcomed NBC icon Tom Brokaw to its annual “society gala” at the Charleston Place Hotel.
Well, in perusing the list of big money donors to the hospital’s foundation, we couldn’t help but notice that one of the eight names in the “President’s Circle” (i.e. the $100,000 – $199,000 a year club) stood out to us.
See if you can spot it, too … (fyi – clicking on it is helpful) …
Yup, it’s our good friends at the S.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging.
Of course, there is an asterisk by the contribution, which we assumed meant it must be either “honorary” or some sort of federal grant pass-thru or something, but no … it merely denotes that the Office on Aging is a “Continued Multi-Year Supporter.”
Hmmm …
Apparently the hospital did have some sort of grant relationship with the Office on Aging in the past, but it’s unclear whether or not that annual amount exceeded $100,000, or if the relationship is still in place. Our sources are providing us with conflicting information on both counts.
It’s also unclear whether or not Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer had a good seat for Brokaw’s speech, but our guess is probably so.
And while we don’t yet know who or how is paying the bill for the sponsorship, one thing we do know – Roper St. Francis is Andre-Approved, people!
Update – Oh, and we also know that Brokaw’s hotel room wasn’t anywhere near as pimp as Sic’s Charleston suite … because that’s just how he rolls, people.
Comments
By ChsScott on February 1st, 2009 at 8:23 am
I don’t understand this. He does not give money, but is treated like he does. So is the royal treatment (expensive meals, hotel rooms, speech tickets, and advertising) taxable income? Or is it a campaign donation that must be disclosed? Can a hospital corporation make a campaign donation?
Why is a hospital with a “public purpose†campaigning for Bauer?
But is does not matter as we know the Ethics Commission will not lift a finger.
By Cockfighter on February 1st, 2009 at 9:08 am
More tax payer money going to private industry! I call FRAUD, and from the elderly too!!!!
GO COCKS!!!!!!!!!!!! up for a little b-ball?
By DSA on February 1st, 2009 at 4:05 pm
This message paid for by Curtis Loftis
By James the Foot Soldier on February 2nd, 2009 at 12:28 am
Who wants to venture a guess as to how much this “not-for-profit” hospital system earned last year?
By lou on February 2nd, 2009 at 9:35 am
I believe it doesn’t look exactly right.
By Frank Adams on February 2nd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Funding provided to the Roper St. Francis Hospital Foundation (among others) by the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging was in fact part of a three-year federal grant to implement an evidence-based intervention program to fight chronic disease among the elderly. The funds in question, $700,000 statewide over a three year period, were all federal pass-through dollars that required a local match rather than the use of state funds.
The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, or Living Well as we call it in South Carolina, is a program that is showing results – healthier seniors. Since the average Medicare SC hospital discharge is nearly $25,000, it is prudent to spend some federal money on the front end educating seniors as to how they can make simple lifestyle changes to avoid the pitfalls of chronic disease. Participants spent fewer days in the hospital, with a collateral trend toward fewer outpatient visits and hospitalizations.
Evidence Based Disease Prevention Grant Program grant to Roper St. Francis Hospital Foundation:
Year 1 Federal $62,500 Local $20,833
Year 2 Federal $62,500 Local $20,833
Year 3 Federal $31,250 Local $10,417
For the record, neither Lt. Governor André Bauer nor a representative from his office attended the gala.