HanesBrands awarded Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and its medical professionals with the company’s first Hanes for Good Champion Award for outstanding commitment to community service.

Hanes has partnered with the medical center since 2012 to conduct eight volunteer surgical missions to the Dominican Republic where Hanes has more than 8,000 employees. The medical center’s otolaryngology medical teams have performed more than 500 life-altering ear, nose and throat surgeries and have treated more than 4,000 patients.

Hanes, a leader in corporate social responsibility in the apparel industry, honored Wake Forest Baptist, its medial teams and two Hanes employee volunteers at the company’s annual leadership meeting being held in Winston-Salem and attended by more than 600 Hanes professionals.

The Hanes employees gave a standing ovation while Hanes Chief Executive Officer Richard A. Noll presented the company’s Hanes for Good Champion Award to Wake Forest Baptist Chief Executive Officer Dr. John D. McConnell.

“It is impossible to measure the magnitude of the life-altering contributions the Wake Forest Baptist teams have provided thousands of people in the Dominican Republic,” Noll said. “This is medical treatment that these people, including 150 children of Hanes employees, would be unable to afford without these medical missions. It is an honor and a privilege to award Wake Forest Baptist our first Hanes for Good Champion Award.”

Along with the award, Hanes is providing Wake Forest Baptist $25,000, which will be used to purchase additional medical equipment to be used for future medical missions, including surgeries for cleft palette and other ear, nose and throat treatments.

The Wake Forest Baptist surgical missions, conducted by more than 55 medical professionals, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses and medical students, and supported by hundreds of Hanes volunteers, are organized by the company’s Green for Good community improvement program that combines employee volunteerism with funding from sustainable environmental practices, such as recycling and energy management.

The Dominican Republic surgical missions use the only public hospital in the town of Bonao, which has had its surgical suits and maternity wards refurbished and updated through Green for Good projects.

Surgical mission volunteers from Wake Forest Baptist and Hanes receiving awards were:

  • Dr. J. Dale Browne, M.D., professor and chair of the otolaryngology at Wake Forest Baptist
  • Dr. Adele Evans, M.D., associate professor, otolaryngology
  • Dr. Jordan Wallin, M.D., associate professor, otolaryngology
  • Dr. Brett Nicks, M.D., associate dean, office of global health, and associate professor, emergency medicine
  • Frank Vasquez, Hanes director of corporate social responsibility, Winston-Salem
  • Sonia Almonte, Hanes human resources coordinator, Dominican Republic.

Hanes has conducted more than 75 Green for Good projects around the world, incorporating more than 195,000 volunteer hours.

“We believe in being a responsible corporate citizen and helping the communities where we operate meet their fundamental needs,” said Chris Fox, Hanes vice president of corporate social responsibility. “This unique partnership with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has been absolutely terrific and has allowed us to take our community commitment beyond what we could ever do alone. The medical teams that Wake Forest Baptist sends down in conjunction with the logistical support that Hanes provides on the ground genuinely make a difference in the quality of life for hundreds of people.”

HanesBrands brands include: Hanes, Champion, Playtex, DIM, Bali, JMS/Just My Size, Wonderbra, Nur Die/Nur Der, Lovable and Gear For Sports.