For Health & Hope
As 2024 draws to a close, it is important — perhaps now more than ever — to rally around our shared mission to bring health and well-being to all. This year-end, “For Health & Hope” is a reminder that we are united in our commitment to a healthier future — that no amount of division or uncertainty is enough to overcome the power of giving we are capable of together.
Year-end truly is the season of giving — nonprofits can see up to 30% of their entire year’s donations come in during November and December. And you have the power to bring health and hope to people across OHSU, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
This toolkit contains ways you can be an advocate and champion for OHSU and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital throughout December. We’ve curated a list of stories, prepared tips and drafted sample language you can use on your personal, professional or community social media channels. You can also share in person with friends and family, text or email, whatever modes of communication feel best to you.
Stories can connect and inspire in profound ways. We thank you for sharing these stories and messages in support of our united mission to improve the health and well-being for everyone.
Here are some ways you can make an impact this year-end:
1. Share stories of impact with your personal networks
Inspiring stories happen at OHSU every day. Here are a few of our favorite stories from 2024 that you can share with your networks across social media, email, text or word of mouth. Feel free to browse the OHSU Foundation Story Hub to find even more stories to share.
Rosie
Rosie is a curious, clever 9-year-old who grew up facing numerous medical challenges — including eight surgeries — after she was diagnosed with spina bifida shortly after she was born. Rosie and her family have navigated their journey with the help of her compassionate care teams at Doernbecher.
Burt
Burt Rosen has two different types of cancer, but that isn’t what defines him. Those closest to Burt know him as a dad, husband, brother, son, blogger, marketer, friend and, most recently, skydiver. His experience receiving care at OHSU inspires his passion to advocate for the whole-person care of others living with cancer.
Ja'Kai
Ja’Kai, one of the patient-designers of Doernbecher Freestyle 20, has learned to not only live with type 1 diabetes, but help other children living with the condition, too. With the help of his mom, Ja’Kai uses social media to help educate, inspire and advocate for kids from around the world who also have type 1 diabetes.
Teshia
Teshia Wilburn was 8 years old when a medical emergency in her family ignited her passion for nursing. Her desire to help educate and advocate for patients has led her to OHSU, where she is currently in her second year pursuing her bachelor’s in nursing degree.
Jonah
For Jonah Sacha, Ph.D., the question isn’t if there will ever be a cure for HIV. The question is when. Jonah, a professor at OHSU’s Oregon National Primate Research Center, leads groundbreaking HIV research — insights that are illuminating the roadmap to accessible HIV-specific immunotherapies.
2. Share your story
Health touches all of us. Many of OHSU’s supporters have deep connections and personal reasons for championing their areas of passion at OHSU and Doernbecher. The most powerful way to encourage others to give is by sharing your personal story.
What is your OHSU connection? If you are comfortable, we invite you to share via social media. If you post, remember to include a photo (posts with pictures receive more views and engagement than those without) and be sure to tag OHSU and the OHSU Foundation so we can see your story and engage with you.
3. Encourage others to subscribe to our newsletter, which now sends twice a month!
The OHSU Foundation has a new newsletter! Our re-envisioned newsletter, “Impacts,” keeps you informed on the latest news, our favorite stories of impact, upcoming events, and more. Subscribe and be among the first to receive new stories from across OHSU.
4. Follow the OHSU Foundation and OHSU social media accounts
These accounts will be sharing stories of impact and ways to get involved all season long. Be sure to follow the accounts that connect to your area of passion and then share those posts with your networks!
Follow, set up notifications (if desired, so you don’t miss a post!), engage and share. It’s really that easy.
Here are a few of the many OHSU-affiliated social accounts:
Sample messaging by social platform
Instagram requires a picture for you to post. You can post a selfie, a picture of your donation or use any of the images above. On Instagram, you can use as many hashtags as you like, so if there’s one that’s really meaningful to why you donated, be sure to include it.
Sample posts for Giving Tuesday (Dec 3)
- Proud to support @OHSUDoernbecher this #GivingTuesday! giveday.ohsufoundation.org
- This #GivingTuesday I’m donating to @OHSUKnight in honor of [insert name of loved one]. Please consider making a donation so we can create a world free from the burden of cancer: giveday.ohsufoundation.org
Sample post for entire Season of Giving (Nov 29-Dec 31)
- @OHSUDoernbecher is one of the best children’s hospitals in the world, and it’s right here in Oregon. I’m grateful to them because [insert description]. You can join me in supporting them at give.ohsufoundation.org #seasonofgiving #doernbecher
Facebook doesn’t have a character limit, but the most effective posts tend to be concise. Posts that have a “See more” button don’t get as much engagement. You can use hashtags on Facebook, too. Be sure to tag the organization you’re donating to so others can learn more about it!
Sample post for Giving Tuesday (Dec 3)
- It’s Giving Tuesday and today I’m proudly donating to @OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Please consider joining me in giving a gift to this organization. Every gift makes real impact on the lives of those battling cancer: giveday.ohsufoundation.org.
Sample post for entire Season of Giving (Nov 29-Dec 31)
- This Season of Giving, I’m supporting @OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Join me by giving a gift to this amazing hospital. Your support helps save the lives of kids and keeps families together over the holidays. #seasonofgiving #doernbecher
LinkedIn is most effective for reaching professional connections. This is a wonderful way to spread the word about the OHSU Foundation and the difference your connections can make for Doernbecher, OHSU and the Knight Cancer Institute.
Sample post for Giving Tuesday (Dec 3)
- This #GivingTuesday I’m making a gift to @Oregon Health & Science University. Please join me in supporting OHSU’s mission to transform human health for all: giveday.ohsufoundation.org #ohsu
Sample post for entire Season of Giving (Nov 29-Dec 31)
- Giving back to the community makes all the difference. I’m choosing to create the change I want to see by donating to @Oregon Health & Science University this #seasonofgiving. Please join me in supporting OHSU’s incredible impact across Oregon. From finding new cancer treatments to treating rare pediatric diseases, I’m proud to support their work. I hope you’ll do the same. give.ohsufoundation.org #ohsu #doernbecher
Suggested hashtags
#OHSUGiving
#seasonofgiving
#ohsu
#doernbecher
Other ways to rally your network
Text: Send a message to five friends about where you’re donating and why. Be sure to include the donation link! give.ohsufoundation.org
Email: If your network prefers email, you can use any of the above sample posts, minus the hashtags and @ tags, to spread the word.
Have fun with video: Whether it’s Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook Reels or Facebook Live, video is the most popular form of media right now. You can share your personal reasons for supporting OHSU this Season of Giving and encourage others to learn more and donate.
Best practices
Always include an image
Studies show that social media posts with pictures get more views and more engagement on every channel! If you aren’t comfortable posting a selfie or personal picture, you can use any of the images above.
Keep your post short & sincere
People are less likely to read long posts. Keep your message simple, succinct and sincere. The goal is to get people reading your story and inspire them to give.
Be authentic
Do you have a personal story that inspired your giving? This is the perfect time to share it. People who connect with a cause personally are more enthusiastic about giving – and that enthusiasm is contagious.
Engage with questions
After you share, it’s important to check back on your post to see if anyone has asked you a question via comment or private message. They may want to know why you’re donating or how to learn more. Take a couple minutes to respond to them; it could make all the difference!
Tag us!
Tagging OHSU-affiliated social accounts allows your friends and followers to quickly view the profiles and learn more about the causes you support!
