St. Luke’s University Health Network has been identified by the Lown Institute for the third year in a row as the No. 1 health system in Pennsylvania for charitable giving.

St. Luke’s has a “fair share” surplus, meaning it spends more on charity and community investment than it receives in tax breaks, according to Lown.

No hospital in Pennsylvania had a greater surplus than St. Luke’s University Hospital, comprising both the Bethlehem Campus in Fountain Hill and the Allentown Campus. Three additional St. Luke’s hospitals – Easton, Miners and Upper Bucks campuses – were among the 14 hospitals in the state with a surplus.

“This report’s findings confirm St. Luke’s long-standing commitment to the communities we serve,” said St. Luke’s University Hospital President Wendy Lazo. “At St. Luke’s, our culture and values have resulted in meaningful investments and sustained engagement in our communities, from downtown neighborhoods to rural enclaves – which is why St. Luke’s has been widely recognized nationally, regionally and locally for our service and dedication.”

The Lown Institute calculated fair share spending based on 2021 IRS Form 990. Fair share deficits and surpluses for each system were calculated by balancing the estimated value of hospital systems’ tax exemptions against the amount systems spent on charity care and community investment - including community health improvement activities, contributions to community groups, community building activities and subsidized healthcare services.

According to Lown research, St. Luke’s University Hospital (Bethlehem and Allentown campuses) spent $8.8 million more on charity care and community investments than the estimated value of its tax exemption. The other three St. Luke’s hospitals’ surpluses totaled nearly $10 million: Easton ($4.6 million), Miners Campus ($2.7 million) and Upper Bucks Campus ($2.5 million).

Throughout St. Luke’s service area across 11 counties in two states, an array of other outreach projects is making a difference in people’s lives. An example is St. Luke’s and the Panther Valley School District partnered to begin holding a monthly food pantry to address food insecurity among families in the district. The food pantry provides eligible families with a consistent supply of nutritious perishable and non-perishable foods and beverages.