PETOSKEY, Mich.—McLaren Northern Michigan, the 202-bed hospital serving 22 counties and one of the region’s largest employers, has launched a seven-month program demonstrating its heartfelt appreciation for its employees, recognizing their dedication to their patients and wellness of their community during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent industrywide challenges.
Made possible by generous donations to the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation from the Offield Family Foundation, for the purpose of rewarding the staff’s dedication, the program features monthly raffle prizes of more than $10,000 and family events in the community.
“The challenges healthcare workers have faced since the pandemic have been well-documented, and, throughout it all, we were reminded of how fortunate we are to have an exceptionally talented team firmly committed to their patients and our community,” said Brent Mallek, vice president of human resources at McLaren Northern Michigan. “They slept at the hospital, sacrificed time with family and friends to be available during COVID surges, inclement weather and staffing challenges. In the face of these adversities, they continued to provide care and support, and this is our chance to provide them with give a huge thank-you.”
All activities are open to every employee — from new hires to the most experienced team member — and will culminate in August with the raffling off a donated new car.
“As a community member, and periodically a patient, I consider the staff to be McLaren’s greatest asset,” said Jim Offield, president of the Offield Family Foundation. “Without the staff, there’s no hospital. Health care seems to be an increasingly difficult field to work in, and I’m pleased to help thank staff for all that they do every day.”
Dates and plans are still being finalized, but celebrations kickoff with February’s $10,000-plus raffles and a day at the movies for employees and their family — tickets and refreshments covered by donor funds. A summer BBQ and special events are more planned activities for employees and their families.
“We are grateful to Jim and the Offield Family Foundation for their amazing support of McLaren Northern Michigan, and for their clarity of purpose and partnership to ensure our hospital’s success,” said Julie Jarema, chief philanthropy officer at the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation. “This initiative stands out because it was developed with the sole intent of celebrating the dedication of our employees, which is truly a testament to them and how they’re viewed throughout the northern Michigan community.”
Learn more about the many services and location offered throughout the region by McLaren Northern Michigan at mclaren.org/northernmichigan.
About McLaren Northern Michigan
McLaren Northern Michigan is a 202-bed regional referral center located in Petoskey, serving residents in 22 counties across northern Lower Michigan and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. More than 230 physicians represent nearly all medical and surgical specialties, enabling full-service care with an emphasis on cardiology, cancer, orthopedics and neurosciences. McLaren Northern Michigan is a certified Primary Stroke Center, as designated by the Joint Commission. The hospital has a network of primary care providers and specialty care clinics throughout the region, and an outpatient surgery center in Cheboygan.
About the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation
The mission of McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation is to receive and administer funds to support the mission of McLaren Northern Michigan and support programs that enhance the well-being of the community.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a $6 billion, fully integrated health care delivery system committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 15 hospitals in Michigan and Ohio, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 490-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 588,000 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. McLaren has 28,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 90,000 network providers throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Learn more at
mclaren.org.