For Benjamin Orgel, caring for Memphis isn’t just a passion — it’s part of who he is. A lifelong Memphian, Benjamin has spent nearly two decades supporting Church Health as a volunteer, donor, and now as a board member and development chair. “I would do anything for this city,” he says. “And Church Health is an organization that means so much to me.”
His journey with Church Health began when he was just a sophomore in high school. One Sunday morning at Temple Israel, his synagogue, a guest speaker , Church Health founder, Dr. Scott Morris — told a story that Benjamin still remembers vividly. It was the story of a man named Nimrod, and how an act of compassion between two people ended up transforming both of their lives. That story sparked something in Benjamin. He started volunteering, and shortly after graduating college, he became a donor. Seventeen years later, he hasn’t stopped.
“When I think about giving, whether it’s time or money, I truly believe Church Health is one of the most impactful organizations in Memphis.”
What keeps him so committed is simple: impact.
“When I think about giving, whether it’s time or money, I truly believe Church Health is one of the most impactful organizations in Memphis,” Benjamin says. In his eyes, Church Health isn’t a handout — it is dignity in action. It’s a place where hardworking people can receive the care they need, no matter their background or circumstances.
One of the most meaningful experiences Benjamin has ever had was spending a day shadowing Dr. Morris. For three hours, he saw patient after patient walk through the doors — people he never would have imagined were struggling — and each one was treated with the same respect, care, and compassion as anyone with private insurance. “Everyone is treated as a fellow Memphian and as a human being,” he says. That left a mark on him.
Benjamin’s dedication is also deeply tied to his faith. While he worships in a synagogue and Dr. Morris in a church, Benjamin sees their values as perfectly aligned. “In Judaism, we are taught to help everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. That’s exactly what Church Health does,” he explains. The organization’s holistic model — caring for physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being — mirrors the principles he grew up with.
For anyone considering supporting Church Health, Benjamin has one piece of advice: come see it for yourself. “The staff love showing people what they do,” he says. “And seeing it firsthand will move you.” He often tells people, with a smile, that some patients at Church Health may receive better care than he does with private insurance. To him, that’s a testament to the extraordinary community of donors, volunteers, and clinicians who make the work possible.
Supporting Church Health, Benjamin believes, is supporting the very people who keep Memphis running. Many of the organization’s patients are part of the city’s large blue-collar workforce — people who work hard every day but lack the insurance needed to access traditional medical care. “These are the people who make our city go ‘round,” he says. “Without supporting them, our community wouldn’t function the way it does.”
Benjamin often reflects on something Dr. Morris says: sometimes what looks like a medical issue is really just a broken heart. And when someone takes the time to listen — to see them, to care for them — everything begins to change: their health, their hope, even their future.
“That’s what Church Health does every single day,” Benjamin says. “It cares for people in every sense of the word.”
Learn more about opportunities to support Church Health at Ways to Give | Church Health