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Student Spotlight: Timothy Boynton, MBA Student, Named to the 40 Under 40 List of International Philanthropy Organization

By Keith Morelli

TAMPA (August 23, 2019) -- Tim Boynton saves lives, though he鈥檚 not a doctor or a physician鈥檚 assistant or a registered nurse.

The 哔咔漫画 MBA student who is set to graduate in the spring is the vice president of development and chief public relations and communications officer at Lakeland Regional Health. Since his arrival there in 2013, the hospital鈥檚 foundation has raised more than $57 million to support various needs of the hospital. And by doing that, he has had a profound impact on the quality of the medical services offered at the hospital and affiliated health care centers and clinics.

He recently was named on the 40 Under 40 list of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, an international organization that specializes in fundraising for health care organizations, and he鈥檚 headed to Washington in October to receive the award. The organization鈥檚 4,300 members represent more than 2,200 health care facilities around the world. They collectively raise more than $11 billion each year for community health services.

鈥淭hese honorees are part of a select group of health care philanthropists who have demonstrated impressive career achievements, deep community involvement and the potential to be leaders in our profession for years to come,鈥� said Association for Healthcare Philanthropy President and CEO Alice Ayers, in a news release announcing the award winners.

Raising millions and overseeing the strategic communication goals of Lakeland Regional Health takes up only part of Boynton鈥檚 life. Education plays an important part as well.

鈥淚 love the MBA program at USF,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n fact, I am kind of sad that I am almost approaching my last semester. I wanted to get my MBA because it has always been a goal of mine to continue my education.

鈥淚 truly believe that the position I am currently in is because I have always set goals and have worked hard to achieve them,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his, to me, is no different. When I began looking at schools to obtain my MBA, USF was the first one I visited. And the last.

鈥淭he campus had me sold, along with the incredible staff and integrity of the professors,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he business program here was like none of the others I looked at and I knew from the moment I stepped onto campus that it was here I would one day graduate.鈥�

As chief public relations and communications officer, Boynton provides strategic direction for the organization鈥檚 media relations, advertising and marketing campaigns, internal and patient communications, brand management and marketing events. But mostly, his focus is on fundraising.

His fundraising capabilities in Lakeland benefits the health care services delivered at Lakeland Regional Health, an 850-bed hospital in which more than 220 primary and specialty physicians work.

鈥淪ince I鈥檝e been here,鈥� he said, 鈥渢he foundation received its single largest gift, initiated a successful annual giving program and conducted a robust campaign that culminated in the opening of the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women & Children and the Bannasch Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation Medicine, the region鈥檚 only inpatient physical rehabilitation center.鈥�

His fundraising efforts also have resulted in the renovation of the Lakeland Regional Health鈥檚 Hollis Cancer Center.

Boynton said he was born to do this kind of work.

鈥淚 grew up with my family very involved with human services and the not-for-profit world,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y dad was CEO of a large non-profit organization and ever since I can remember, I would always be in awe of the development office. They were always doing the 鈥榗ool鈥� things like telethons and walking events.

鈥淚n 2007, my mom was diagnosed with colon cancer and she lost her battle in 2009,鈥� Boynton said. 鈥淚t was then that I knew I needed to start the journey of health care philanthropy. I needed a career that allowed me to reflect back on being able to make a difference in the lives of people.鈥�

Prior to joining Lakeland Regional Health, Boynton was the manager of development for the Maine Medical Center, where his fundraising efforts focused on the Maine Children鈥檚 Cancer Program at the Barbara Bush Children鈥檚 Hospital in Portland.

Before he began his career in philanthropy, Boynton hit the stage, working with composer Mark Schoenfeld on 鈥淏rooklyn: The Musical,鈥� which ran for 284 performances on Broadway.

In the near future, Boynton plans to continue his work at Lakeland Regional Health.

鈥淚 love my job and I can鈥檛 imagine life without it,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ong term goals?  Hmm 鈥� although a nice break will be nice after graduation, I wouldn鈥檛 be opposed to a doctorate degree. I would love to one day teach students the culture of non-for-profit philanthropy.鈥�

Away from class and work, Boynton and his partner, Alvin, do a lot of traveling and spending time with close friends and family.

鈥淲e both aspire to continue facilitating our own philanthropy to special organizations with which we are involved,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ven at home, after a long day of working in fund development, philanthropy and giving back is always so important to the both of us.鈥�