Michael Lombard, a long-time hospital supporter and past Trustee and Chair of the Board of Advisors, knew how critical philanthropy was to BID Needham, especially during the early days of COVID-19. “Having served on the board of Trustees for so long, I understand that there are constant funding needs for the hospital, and the pandemic prevented the hospital from generating revenue. Giving to the BID Needham Revival Fund was a wonderful way to support the hospital during its time of need since the hospital is always there in our times of need.”

The Revival Fund was established in 2020 to help the hospital return to financial strength and advance critical initiatives to meet the community’s evolving needs. In addition, in fiscal year 2020 the Healthcare Heroes Fund raised over $175,000 to alleviate unexpected financial challenges that our employees faced due to the pandemic. Lombard explains, “This was a critical initiative that I was pleased to support because it helped the frontline staff who were saving lives—and it reflected the community’s support.”

Lombard, who grew up in Needham and raised his family here, shared that his daughter embarked on a nursing career at the beginning of the pandemic and this gave him a new perspective on how hard the staff worked and how they performed beyond expectations. “Under the most difficult circumstances, the staff performed phenomenally, with dedication and professionalism, and it has not gone unnoticed. As a recent patient, I experienced that firsthand. My hope is that we can keep that going for others.”