NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HCA (NYSE: HCA) today announced the recipients of the 2002 Frist Humanitarian Awards. Employee of the Year, Danny L. Cavett, a Chaplain at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., and Volunteer of the Year, Priscilla G. Flanigan, a volunteer at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, N.J., were honored today during a ceremony in Nashville.

The awards, created in 1971, honor individuals for their outstanding humanitarian and volunteer activities. The Humanitarian Awards are given each year in recognition of the caring spirit and philanthropic work of the late Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr., a founder of HCA. Employees and volunteers who demonstrate extraordinary commitment and dedication to caregiving and their community are selected around the country and honorees are recognized at the local and national levels. The two national winners are selected from the local honorees.

The highest honor HCA employees and volunteers can receive, the Frist Humanitarian Award includes a $5,000 donation to the charity of the recipient's choice, $5,000 in cash and $1,000 in HCA stock.

As Chaplain at OU Medical Center, Cavett spends his days counseling the families of ill children. His calm demeanor and reassuring ways have also helped during times of national crisis, apparent in his tireless efforts following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and during his service as a grief counselor in New York City after September 11. In addition to his work at the hospital, Cavett's fundraising efforts have allowed him to establish and operate more than four camps for terminally ill children. As a cancer survivor who has been through chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and a bone marrow transplant, and after losing everything in 1999 because of a devastating tornado, Cavett's enduring strength has made him a hometown - and now national - hero.

"Danny's dedication as Chaplain to both his community and nation make him an inspiration to all of us at HCA," said Jack O. Bovender, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HCA. "His selfless devotion to others, even in the face of his own adversity, exemplifies our company's values. Just as clinicians heal bodies, he gives so much of his time and efforts to bettering the human condition by healing spirits."

For the past 50 years, Flanigan has been a dedicated volunteer, leader, and goodwill ambassador for Portsmouth Regional Hospital. As one of the first faces to greet patients and guests, her graciousness and gentle style put everyone at immediate ease. A founding member of the Hospital Guild, Flanigan has served Portsmouth in numerous capacities -- from fundraiser to gift shop volunteer to Chairman of the Board of Trustees. With enough energy and enthusiasm to rival the younger volunteers and staff members, she is among the Hospital's greatest assets. In addition to her many hours at Portsmouth, Flanigan has volunteered on a regular basis with The Red Cross, St. James Catholic Church, John Paul Jones Historical Home, and the Girl and Boy Scouts of America. Her volunteer efforts date back more than 60 years when she worked at Camp Langdon as a Grey lady, providing comfort to injured soldiers.

"Priscilla Flanigan has created an unparalleled legacy of volunteerism, gifting Portsmouth Regional Hospital with her dedication and spirit for over five decades," said Bovender. "It is a privilege to honor her for a career of service to patients and staff that has likely touched more lives than any other at Portsmouth, and perhaps anywhere in the company."

All references to "Company" and "HCA" as used throughout this document refer to HCA Inc. and its affiliates.

SOURCE HCA