Appreciating Our Einstein Community
Beginning in March 2021, human resources hosted an Einstein Appreciation Day Series, held once a month along the College of Medicine's Main Street, in Forchheimer. Each event offered free food and prizes for those in attendance, along with an opportunity to see other members of the Einstein community, even when masked and socially distancing to maintain COVID-19 safety.
Einstein’s Appreciation Day Series has offered free treats and fun prizes each month. Make sure to mark your calendar for the next one on Friday, August 20!
The series of "fun Fridays" will culminate on Friday, August 20, as it began--with an offering of free treats and some gifts that will be raffled.
"It's been a lot of fun to plan these special days and show our community how much we appreciate all they've done to stay safe and to protect one another during the pandemic," said Yvonne Ramirez, vice president of human resources and chief Title IX officer at Einstein. "This has been a truly challenging period for all of us and it's important that we remember the hard work and sacrifices made by our work family and students. We are stronger together.
Einstein community members spun the prize wheel over 850 times for a chance to win Einstein and Montefiore swag, gift cards, and more
The initial Appreciation Day, held on March 5, kicked off things with free ice cream treats and a raffle for Einstein swag. Linda Lally, grants and contract analyst in research finance, and Luz Leone, expenditure assistant in pediatrics, were the lucky winners among 275 participants (which included those still working remotely, who were able to email their participation in the raffle).
On April 9, 350 members of the community enjoyed free chocolate bars, while on May 14, 450 came out to sample Boom Chick-a-Pop popcorn. In addition, an anonymous donor committed $1 for each bag of popcorn given out and that money supported our Einstein Montefiore India Aid effort, to help address the devastating outbreak of COVID-19 occurring in India. (The overall fundraising by Einstein and Montefiore topped $20,000 and has provided essential equipment to help with care for the many affected patients. Watch Inside Einstein for an intranet update on the global expansion of this charitable effort, which entails initiatives to assist other nations in need.)
On June 18, the Appreciation festivities stepped up a notch, with free breakfast items and giveaways of Einstein tote bags and stress balls, plus a special prize wheel through which participants could win a $5 café gift card, free coffee, and the highly coveted Einstein and Montefiore t-shirts, an Einstein water bottle, or a draw string bag.
"The prize wheel was such a hit that we brought back in July," said Sheri Robertson, human resources events coordinator.
In June, 475 individuals took a spin to see what prize they might win. They also could learn about the celebration of Juneteenth through a display provided by the office of diversity and inclusion, and about new wellness offerings presented by members of Montefiore and Einstein’s wellness team.
Dean Gordon Tomaselli, Yvonne Ramirez, and Dr. Ed Burns turned out to greet community members and to thank all for what they do
Most recently, the Appreciation Series offered a BBQ lunch, with choices of hot dogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers on July 9. The event, which had been slated to take place in the central courtyard between Forchheimer, Ullmann, Block, and the Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, had to be moved inside due to the torrential downpour served up by Tropical Storm Elsa.
Not to be deterred by inclement weather, a deejay provided lively music and the giveaways focused on sunshine, with Einstein beachballs and sunglasses offered, along with hand sanitizer spray dispensers. This time the prize wheel included the chance to win popcorn, a $5 or $10 Einstein Café gift card, a $25 visa gift card, or Einstein swag that included tote bags, baseball caps, water bottles, and blue bags containing an Einstein t-shirt, sticker, face mask, and hand sanitizer. Eighteen individuals won the $25 gift card with over 850 prize wheel spins.
"It's been our pleasure to host these events," said Yvonne. "We're looking forward to seeing everyone on August 20.”
The Appreciation Day will take place from noon to 2 p.m., at the Einstein Cafe, with free ice cream treats. Watch our campus monitors and intranet for further details!
Posted on: Tuesday, July 27, 2021