Among Nicole Rivet’s impressive resume, two positions have had the greatest impact on her life: her time teaching high school English, and her current role as CEO of Valleywise Health Foundation.

“I think most people that go into nonprofit [work] want to make a difference. What’s guided me in the process is [knowing] that if I die tomorrow and have made a difference, I would have lived a good life,” she says.

Valleywise Health, formerly known as Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, is a community safety net healthcare system critical in providing care and services in low-income, medically underserved, immigrant and communities of color. Formed in 1877, it is unlike other health systems given that approximately 70% of their patients are uninsured, underinsured or on Medicaid.

Patients of all ages receive care at one of the 15 locations across the Valley. In April, a new hospital replaced the more than 50-year-old legacy hospital at 24th Street and Roosevelt in Phoenix. 

According to Rivet, the foundation’s primary role is to provide philanthropic support of the hospital’s mission: Exceptional care, without exception, every patient, every time. “No matter who you are, if you show up at Valleywise, you will be treated with kindness,” she says. “I know it sounds hokey, but it’s true. I’ve seen it.”

Rivet witnessed this firsthand when her mother-in-law was a patient at the hospital. “She said [the physicians and staff] were so kind and thoughtful; she felt welcomed.”

On another occasion, an unhoused person in her Phoenix neighborhood shared his recent experience as a patient. “He told me that if he needs help, Valleywise is where he goes, and he’s just deserving of treatment than any,” she says. “I like working for a place that provided exceptional care for him and for my mother-in-law.”

Since the foundation’s inception in 1995, it has supported the hospital in many facets. One area of support is through education and endowment. A public teaching health system with one of Arizona’s largest and longest-running physician training programs, more than 400 full-time resident physicians are trained each year.

“Valleywise is the biggest educator of doctors in Arizona, so pretty much anywhere you go, you’re going to encounter Arizona doctors trained by Valleywise Health,” Rivet says.

The foundation also supports the hospital through various initiatives including health education, preventative care, refugee health services and integrated behavioral health. Since 2008, the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic has been a medical home to more than 5,000 patients from various countries that speak 67 different languages. Cultural health navigators assist refugees with such tasks ranging from accommodations to medical visits to providing interpretation.

Through its burn survivorship care, the foundation also supports the hospital’s burn center. In April, Valleywise opened its new hospital, which houses the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center. As Arizona’s sole, nationally verified burn center, medical staff treat every type of burn ranging from those caused by fire to extreme summer heat, as well as patients with severe skin infections. It proclaims a greater than 98% survival rate for critically injured patients, the majority of whom come from Arizona, California, New Mexico, and northern Mexico.

Two of those patients garnering national attention were blogger and author Stephanie Nielson and her husband, Christian. In 2008, the couple were critically burned in a plane crash. Stephanie endured the worst injuries, with 80% of her body burned. As part of Valleywise Health’s “Night of Heroes” event in 2021, the Nielsons’ story was featured in a short documentary about their traumatic ordeal.

“There’s a place in my heart that’s reserved for my burn people…this was a group effort, I’m a group effort, and I’m here because of them,” Stephanie said, expressing her gratitude to the staff.

Since public dollars cover a portion of patients’ care, the foundation is essential. To date, the foundation’s ALL IN campaign has raised $54.2 million.

“I’d like to thank the community’s outpouring of support; it’s why we’ve been successful and surmounted our campaign,” Rivet says. “You can never thank people enough, but try to find the opportunity.”

In addition to hosting charitable events, monies are also raised by volunteer groups hosting events. One of those groups is Tri Sigma Sorority’s Phoenix Alumnae Chapter, a longtime supporter.

“There are many ways people can help. In my opinion, life is too short to not do for others,” says sorority member Mary Webster, who first learned of Valleywise from her niece, a nurse who encouraged the sorority to consider donating and volunteering to the foundation. “I took her note to heart.”

Since then, the chapter has contributed in many ways including their recent “Afternoon Tea for Valleywise Kids” event in Phoenix. “Some people believe social sororities are for themselves, but that’s not true. What makes our sorority…is doing good for the society,” Webster says.

Just like Valleywise Health Foundation.