Each year, the WakeMed Foundation’s Community Campaign offers an opportunity to support hospital programs and services. We caught up with Alex Bean, a local business leader and Community Campaign Volunteer, to talk about why serving WakeMed matters to him.  

Within a few years of moving to Raleigh, Alex Bean had learned about WakeMed and its work in the community through colleagues and peers, but as a young single professional, it didn’t go beyond that. Fast-forward a few years to 2018 and Alex was married with a one-year-old son who suffered an extremely rare ear issue; WakeMed became practically a member of his family.

“Because of our positive experience, I feel an emotional connection to WakeMed and a strong desire to help support it in any way I can,” he says.

Personal Touch

Back in 2018, Alex was traveling for business when the family pediatrician sent his wife and son to the WakeMed Emergency Department. While he caught the quickest flight home, his wife navigated a rare mastoiditis diagnosis, a type of ear infection. When left untreated, mastoiditis can be life-threatening, but when caught and managed properly, it can be resolved. As new parents, it was especially daunting to navigate, but Alex says WakeMed was reassuring from the first moment. “When my wife walked into the emergency room they addressed her by name. Every possible thing they could have done to make the experience less nerve-racking for her, they did. That personal touch made such a huge difference, and we remain grateful.”

By the time Alex arrived, he could tell his family was in good hands. “I can’t imagine having a better experience in a tough situation,” he recalls. “On the emotional side, they were personal and compassionate. On the medical side, the care was fantastic. To this day that continues and all of our follow-up ENT appointments have gone well.”

‘The WakeMed DNA’

Not long after his son’s incident, Alex’s friend asked him to join the WakeMed Foundation Community Campaign. For Alex, it was perfect timing. “The WakeMed mission resonates with me, especially after what our family went through,” he says. And he knows his experience was exceptional but not unique. “Part of the WakeMed DNA is to have a personal touch and make things a little bit easier for the patients receiving care and their families.”

Sharing the WakeMed story with others is easy for Alex because he often shares his own. He says he feels good about asking people to donate because he knows exactly where the money goes — right where it’s needed most. “All the dollars donated to the Community Campaign go towards programs and the needs of the foundation and hospital system.”

Alex’s son is now a healthy and happy four-year-old and he and his wife have a second child, as well. The whole family talks about the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community, and WakeMed is a big part of that. “Everybody I’ve met at WakeMed, from doctors to fellow campaign volunteers to the nurses who cared for us, are passionate about what they’re doing. When WakeMed comes up, you see it in their face — you see a combination of love for what they’re doing and gratitude for the WakeMed system. We are lucky to have WakeMed in Raleigh.” 

About Alex Bean

Alex Bean is a partner with Plexus Capital, a financial firm based in Raleigh. He has been involved with the WakeMed Foundation Community Campaign since 2018. As an active volunteer, he solicits donations from fellow community members and attends regular meetings with other volunteers to hear impact stories and learn more about WakeMed.

About the Community Campaign and How to Get Involved

Each year, the WakeMed Foundation Community Campaign offers an opportunity for the community — for you — to support hospital programs and services. Foundation board members and volunteers raise donations and sponsorships of every amount from existing and new donors. One hundred percent of donated dollars go directly to fund programs and services to support patient care in all areas of the hospital. Creating healing environments. Providing innovative programs. Investing in skilled and compassionate caregivers. Supporting the urgent needs of our patients and families. Donations make it all possible. Your gift truly helps save and transform lives. To join our group of volunteers, email Ashley Stallings at astallings@wakemed.org. Make a gift now.