9.14.2006 - 09:01am ET

(CSRwire) CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 2006-- More than 700 employees of the Premier Inc. healthcare alliance will participate in a volunteer event in Charlotte on September 27 in conjunction with Premier's annual Values Conference.

Such volunteerism is a hallmark of Premier, where employees contributed 4,279 hours volunteering in their communities in fiscal 2006. Employees also donated thousands of dollars to national charities this year as part of Premier's Social Responsibility program.

"Premier's employees make every effort to willingly serve our communities," said Richard Norling, president and CEO of Premier Inc. "This aligns with one of our core values to focus on people by showing concern and respect for all and building collaborative relationships with the community, our customers, colleagues and business partners."

As part of Premier's Social Responsibility program, Premier encourages direct community service by both individuals and teams. Premier provides employees paid time off for volunteering, donating $50 to registered charities for every eligible four hours an employee volunteers, and offering a corporate match for employee United Way contributions. Employees volunteer for organizations and activities such as Charlotte's Arts & Science Council; disaster relief efforts, such as assistance provided during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; Habitat for Humanity; Hands on Charlotte; Communities in Schools; Lifespan; blood drives; Crisis Assistance Ministries; Second Harvest Food Bank; Operation Christmas Child; Classroom Central; Kindermourn and Charlotte Community Health Clinic. Each month, Premier holds a "Jeans Day" to raise money for national charitable and disease-fighting organizations; employees wear blue jeans to work to signify that they have made a contribution to such organizations.

Premier's Corporate Social Responsibility program also recognizes not-for-profit organizations that are innovative in meeting the needs of the medically underserved and those outside of mainstream healthcare through its Monroe E. Trout Premier Cares Award program, established 15 years ago. Through application and independent judging, Premier selects a winner and five runners-up, providing $190,000 in cash awards along with opportunities for publicity and knowledge-sharing.

"At Premier, we are working to make a difference in our communities," said Craig McKasson, Premier's vice president of Corporate Financial Services and Social Responsibility co-chair. "Our employees volunteer all over the country, with most of our efforts focused in the cities where our offices reside: Charlotte, San Diego and Washington, DC. Our goal is to improve the health of the communities we serve."

About Premier Inc.

An alliance of 1,500 hospitals and more than 41,000 other healthcare sites, Premier Inc. helps its members accelerate both clinical and financial performance. Premier offers group purchasing and supply chain services, performance measurement and benchmarking, and insurance programs. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Premier has offices in Charlotte, NC, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.premierinc.com.

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