Hospital Corporate Naming Issues

In an article in The New York Times, several major corporate naming situations were described.

• $5 million from a local retailer to Columbus Children's Hospital
• $50 million from Nationwide Insurance for the Nationwide Children's Hospital
• Mattel Children's Hospital U.C.L.A.
• Hasbro children's Hospital of Rhode Island Hospital

These acceptable namings are compared to the highly controversial $10 million from Abercrombie & Fitch to name a new emergency department and trauma center at a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A coalition of 15 organizations and 80 individuals, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, is asking the hospital to reconsider acceptance of the gift. "It is troubling that a children's hospital would name its emergency room after a company that routinely relies on highly sexualized marketing to target teens and preteens."

For major gift fundraisers, the lesson is involve your board and volunteers in all naming opportunities to make sure the donor is acceptable to the community.

To see the full article, click here.

Tom Wilson
Author, Winning Gifts

Permanent Link: Hospital Corporate Naming Issues

http://majorgiftsguru.com/2008/03/hospital-corporate-naming-issues.html