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UMA staff delivers gifts to less fortunate by Cindy Abole Public Relations No office group does Christmas like the employees from University Medical Associates (UMA) Patient Accounting and Cash Controllers Office located at the Parkshore building in West Ashley.     Each year, employees commit to spreading joy and good cheer to others during the holiday season. Each year, the employees focus on a single thought—providing a fun and memorable Christmas for needy Lowcountry children and their families.     This is the fourth year the group has participated with the MUSC Angel Tree and the 15th year they’ve collaborated on their own Needy Families Project. So when organizers met to plan for this year’s employee holiday giving project, they didn’t realize the lives and families that would be impacted with the small acts and contributions that would ultimately add up to something extraordinary by December.   For the Needy Families Project, employees raised more than $2,600 to support 25 school-aged children and nine needy families living around rural John’s Island.   “All kids are special especially during the holidays,” said Telethia Middleton, finance clerk. “Every child deserves to have a good Christmas on Christmas morning and all of us are happy to somehow be a part of that.”   The staff supported students and families from Mount Zion Elementary School in John’s Island. Middleton communicated the idea with school nurse, Abby Beckford, who also works part-time at Charleston Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room. Beckford provided a list of children who were in need this holiday season.   The school, located at the outer edge of Charleston County, supports rural families—many who live at or near the poverty level. For example, the school provides a 98 percent reduced lunch program for a majority of their 200-plus students, according to Beckford.   “We were so excited and relieved to receive that call of commitment from the MUSC-UMA Parkshore staff,” said Beckford, who struggled to find another community partner to help them this Christmas after their regular business partner was unable to commit their help for the holidays. “It was like providence intervened in this situation. Thanks to everyone involved for making this happen.”   To supplement their team giving, the office coordinated several fundraising activities throughout the year to support the Needy Families fund. Each month, UMA employees chose to participate in monthly and theme office dress down days, which contributes to the fund. Just this year, management approved the purchase of an office vending machine, stocked with sodas and snacks and located in their break room. Profits also supplement the fund.   “We consider ourselves a close group of employees and wanted to be involved in a holiday project,” said Carol Currie, a cash controller with UMA Finance Department.  “It’s natural for us to want to see other people happy especially during this time of the year.”   In December, employees worked in teams to purchase toys, clothes, household goods and other necessities spending about $100 for each child. For families, they bought canned goods and purchased gift cards. Working with Beckford, they delivered their gifts door-to-door to John’s Island families Dec. 20.   Additionally, the group contributed to MUSC’s annual Angel Tree program and Lowcountry children via the Salvation Army. In November, they took about 50 angels to share with staff. On Dec. 18, Middleton and other UMA  employees delivered s “We treat our angel tree project the same way we treat our needy families project with the same kind of love and caring,” said Middleton.   “Our employees understand the real meaning of the holidays through support of these projects and the value in helping others year round,” said George SeBlonka, executive director, UMA Patient Accounting. “They know that their efforts adds up at the end to be something special for children and families. This year, like previous years, they’ve gone above and beyond everyone’s expectations. We only wish we can do more.”     Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.