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H EALTHCARE A SSOCIATIONS

Let’s Connect:

ACHE of South Florida

Spotlight

Michelle Boggs, President,

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation

BY VANESSA ORR

There are a lot of challenges facing
healthcare administrators today, includ-
ing those who are tasked with raising
funds for hospitals and patient care.
Michelle Boggs, president of the
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Foundation, has found that having a
resource like ACHE of South Florida has
provided her with the tools she needs to
keep up-to-date on the latest industry
news.
“I’ve taken advantage of the education- Michelle Boggs
al resources that ACHE of South Florida
provides, which has helped me stay ception that children’s hospitals are not
active and informed in this industry,” affected,” said Boggs. “But on average,
explained Boggs, who joined the children’s hospitals across the country
American College of Healthcare are losing $1 million a day due to lost
Executives at the end of 2019. “If I have revenue, lower patient volumes and
questions, or want to understand how higher supply costs, so we still need phil-
things are evolving, I can tap into the anthropic support.
resources that membership provides.” “Corporations are scaling back on
Boggs joined Nicklaus Children’s budgets, and when and how much they
Hospital Foundation in September of can give,” she added. “Some of our annu-
2018 after serving in a number of devel- al donors have lost jobs and are strug-
opment roles at the American Heart gling to meet their families’ needs, so
Association for almost 13 years. like many other philanthropic institu-
“I was ready for a change, and was tions in our community and across the
looking for a place where I could create nation, we may see a marked decrease in
my own vision,” she said. fundraising revenue this year.”
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital With the pandemic likely not going
Foundation is the philanthropic arm of away anytime soon, Boggs, along with
the nonprofit hospital, where Boggs’ pri- her board of directors and executive
mary focus is raising funds to support team, has been exploring alternative
world-class pediatric healthcare for approaches to fundraising that support
patients in South Florida and beyond. the hospital’s greatest needs, such as the
“I’m charged with bringing in revenue Nicklaus Children’s COVID-19 Relief
to offset how expensive it is to run a chil- Fund. Boggs is also making connections
dren’s hospital, where approximately 71 wherever possible—including through
percent of our patients are covered by her ACHE membership.
Medicaid,” she explained. “My job is to “I joined because I wanted to be
encourage greater philanthropic support among like-minded hospital administra-
that allows us to continue to sustain and tors and professionals and to build
grow our care for children in South strategic relationships both inside and
Florida for generations to come.” outside the hospital setting,” she said.
Boggs says that typically, the majority “While I haven’t been able to network in
of private funding to the hospital comes person because of COVID-19, I’m look-
from individuals of high net worth, ing forward to my first virtual event this
along with support from corporations week.”
and community partnerships. Boggs adds that membership in this
“We’re also the Children’s Miracle type of organization can only help
Network partner hospital in South healthcare professionals in the long run.
Florida,” she said, adding that the foun- “If you’re an avid learner like me, it
dation receives support every year from provides a lot of resources that you can
point-of-sale donations in Walmart, use,” she said. “It allows you to take
Costco, Publix and other stores. charge of your career and the impact you
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic want to make in healthcare.
has created challenges for raising funds “With the uncertainty that COVID-19
due to the postponement of key events. brings to all of our lives, it’s good to have
Each year, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital this professional resource,” she added.
Foundation hosts several very successful “Knowing how things are changing in
signature fundraisers, including the the market lets you better position and
Diamond Ball gala, which raised a record advocate for yourself. The more connec-
$2 million last year. tions you have, and the more relation-
“Although children are not as severely ships you’ve established, the more it sets
impacted by the virus, there is a miscon- you apart from the competition.”

28 August 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News