John Shirk is the owner of Allied Telephone & Data Corporation, a longtime partner of Sheppard Pratt. Allied has worked with Sheppard Pratt for over three decades, managing our telecommunications and other aspects of building infrastructure. But in that time, John’s relationship with Sheppard Pratt has grown much deeper than a contract could show. “In 1992, we came here to install cable. But we soon realized the great work occurring here. It aligned with our mission as a business. We really felt privileged to be associated with Sheppard Pratt.”
Over the years, Allied’s partnership with Sheppard Pratt has expanded significantly, providing communication, security, and technology systems. And their philanthropy has expanded too, from providing team-building activities for staff, to sponsoring races and events, to supporting major initiatives. “It’s a deep and trusting partnership,” John says. “Over these 32 years, I have seen so many life-changing care models. Sheppard Pratt helps people on the worst days of their lives. This kind of care is so needed. Even if I was not associated with Sheppard Pratt, I would still give.”
Allied was part of the team that designed and built Sheppard Pratt’s Baltimore/Washington Campus. One day, working in the lobby of the new building, John noticed another vendor in tears. He didn’t know him, but John went to comfort him. The man said, “I just can’t believe you’re building a place like this for people like my daughter.” It turned out that the man’s daughter had been in and out of Sheppard Pratt hospitals for a couple of years. “It stopped me in my tracks, as I was busy running around putting up technology,” John says. “It made me realize that what Sheppard Pratt does for people is tremendous. The care that was going into the building, the aesthetic touches, the beautiful windows and lines—it looks more like a 5-star hotel than a hospital for mental health. Sheppard Pratt cares that much about its patients.
“We are always looking for ways to give to Sheppard Pratt because we know it will make a real difference for people,” John says. “The leadership here walks the walk and talks the talk; they are truly in this fight. And they can count on us. We want Sheppard Pratt to be able to provide more services, more beds, and more care for people, for years to come.”