ON NATIONAL CORPORATE PHLANTHROPY DAY

HCA kicked off "Forty Years of Caring", a year-long celebration of its commitment to community service, on National Philanthropy Day, February 25, 2008. In commemoration of this milestone, the company announced its 50th Habitat House build, which will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

DETAILS

Since 2000, nearly 10,000 HCA employees have taken a work day, paid for by the company, to contribute nearly 80,000 volunteer hours to help hard-working familites achieve the dream of home ownership. As part of HCA's "Build a Hospital, Build a Home" program, the company has joined local Habitat chapters across the nation to construct six homes per year in local commuities where HCA hospitals have significant capital improvement projects. The total investment is over $2.9 million.

HCA's core mission, the care and improvement of human life, extends beyond its patients-first culture to include its employees and the communities in which they serve. The Habitat House builds are reflective of that mission. After the severe hurricanes and the flood of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, HCA established the HCA Hope Fund, which helps employees in distress with financial assistance. Although the primary function of the Hope Fund is "employees helping employees" through personal donations, the company to date has provided over $5 million in grants through the Hope Fund to almost 6,000 HCA affiliated employees and their families facing unexpected natural and personal disasters.

Through the HCA Foundation, the company provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in a wide range of community service areas that includes health and well-being, childhood and youth development and the arts. Since 2003, the HCA Foundation has provided over $60 million in grants to organizations that serve one or more of these community needs.

The 50th Habitat House build announcement will be made at the company's annual CEO Summit, to be held this year in New Orleans. HCA owns ten hospitals in the Delta region, and has a joint venture partnership with Tulane that includes Tulane Hospital and Clinic and Tulane Lakeside Hospital.