Steel company presents gift to VCU Medical Center’s Trauma program foundation

By Malorie Burkett

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Trauma program foundation has received a gift of nearly $11,700 from Gerdau Ameristeel.

Kim Edwards, senior operations administrator for Gerdau Ameristeel, presented the gift to the program this week. The money was raised during a golf tournament that benefited the Trauma program foundation.

Also present during the presentation was Alan Bridgman, an employee of Gerdau Ameristeel, who was injured last year on the job. The VCU Medical Center’s trauma surgery staff treated Bridgman after his injury and as a result, Gerdau Ameristeel wanted to give back to the hospital that has been supportive of one of its employees.

“I don’t know if I can ever put into words how thankful I am,” said Bridgman. “The care I received from trauma was very exceptional.”

Bridgman’s wife, Amber, and daughter, Riley, also attended the presentation.

Members of the Trauma program plan to use the gift in support of other trauma victims and to raise trauma awareness by hosting a fund-raising gala in the spring to benefit trauma support groups and injury prevention programs.

The gala also will highlight the many entities that contribute to trauma care and will feature the story of one patient’s survival against all odds. Health care providers who directly impacted this patient will be honored and will join the patient on stage to be recognized. 

According to Edwards, the VCU Medical Center has been very helpful to Gerdau Ameristeel. Last year, the company presented a gift of $14,000 to the Evans-Haynes Burn Center.

The VCU Medical Center's Trauma Program is the fastest growing and one of the largest Virginia state designated Level One Trauma Programs. It is one of two Trauma Programs in the state verified by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.