Western Washington Medical Group (WWMG) has always believed in providing compassionate care for the community, so when the Oso tragedy occurred, it didn’t take long for the providers and staff there to find creative ways to collect supplies and raise money for the survivors.
Jerry Tillinger, CEO, made a phone call to the Mill Creek Country Club (MCCC). He asked if they would add to the donated supplies that WWMG was already delivering to Oso survivors. He didn’t expect Cory Carper, General Manager of MCCC, to do something that’s never been done before, but Tillinger was pleasantly surprised when Carper offered to open the club to the general public on June 1st for a fundraiser. Word quickly spread among WWMG employees, MCCC members, and the public, and on June 1st, free golf carts and green fees were provided by the club to all players who donated $100 to the Oso Mudslide Trust Account at Coastal Community Bank. In addition about 65 players and some members just stopped in to make a donation. MCCC raised over $8,800 for the Oso fund.
“Many of the victims at Oso are longtime patients of Western Washington Medical Group, including some who lost their lives in the disaster,” said Jerry Tillinger, CEO. “The staff of Western Washington Medical Group started organizing to help the victims of the Oso tragedy within hours after it struck. I am very proud of their generosity and the generosity of Mill Creek Country Club for supporting their efforts.”
The fundraiser at MCCC followed several previous deliveries and sizable donations made by WWMG, the first on the Friday after the tragedy and then another a week later. Staff from WWMG donated four large loads of blankets, clothing, food items, dog and cat food, as well as many other items in demand including over $600 in cash and gas/credit cards. The Orthopedic department also brought five truckloads of goods and Marysville Family Medicine also made a contribution.