BRMC Honors Volunteers

More than 200 Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) volunteers, many who also serve as members of Bradford Hospital Auxiliary, were honored Thursday during the Annual Recognition Luncheon at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

The luncheon also included the Auxiliary’s second $60,000 donation being made to the Bradford Hospital Foundation. This goes toward the Auxiliary’s overall five-year pledge of $300,000, its largest commitment ever. The donation is for the Foundation’s “Building The Future” capital campaign, which began in 2005 and has a $6 million goal.

Auxiliary President Beverly Gallup said to BRMC President/CEO George E. Leonhardt, “On behalf of Bradford Hospital Auxiliary and its members, here’s our second $60,000 donation toward our total pledge amount. We know you’ll put it to very good use for our hospital and community.”

In thanking the Auxiliary, Mr. Leonhardt said the donation would be extremely helpful in reaching the Foundation’s overall five-year capital campaign goal. Also at the luncheon, a total of five scholarships were awarded by the Auxiliary and the Foundation.

Receiving $2,000 Auxiliary scholarships each were Amy Anderson of Kane, Meagan Culver of Port Allegany and Charlotte Muckinhaupt of Bradford. All three are seeking associate’s degrees in nursing. Ms. Culver and Ms. Muckinhaupt are attending Pitt-Bradford while Ms. Anderson is getting her degree from Jamestown Community College. Two $1,000 scholarships from the Foundation, through the Doris Winship Newton Nurse Education Fund, were each given to Jamie Jo Colley, RN, in BRMC’s Surgical Services, and Kathy Simonowski, RN, of the hospital’s Emergency Department. Mrs. Colley is now taking healthcare classes at Chamberlain College of Nursing Online and will enroll in the fall semester at Slippery Rock University to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Mrs. Simonowski is enrolled at Gannon University in the Registered Nurse/Master’s of Science in Nursing Program. Both women are from Bradford.

Anyone interested in supporting scholarships to benefit nursing and radiography can call 362-3200 at the Bradford Hospital Foundation, where the scholarship funds are held for the Doris Winship Newton Fund and also Bradford Hospital Auxiliary.

In his opening remarks at the luncheon, Mr. Leonhardt said the Auxiliary members and volunteers are the people who feel connected to the community and understand the necessity to serve others. Clearly, the volunteers feel a sense of social obligation and the need to help and serve others for a common good, he said.

“The work done by all of you adds something very special to the Medical Center and to the experience that our patients have when they use our services. It is that extra measure of comfort and compassion that is so valued by our patients and that extra set of hands that is so appreciated by our staff,” Mr. Leonhardt said.

“Although you may or may not realize it, your actions say so much about who you are as individuals. We simply can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done in helping us support Bradford Regional Medical Center,” Mrs. Gallup said. The Auxiliary was founded 77 years ago by a group of community-minded, philanthropic women who wanted to make a difference, she said.

“Bradford Hospital Auxiliary, since 1932, has supported BRMC in any way it can, both financially and through its 200-plus volunteers,” Mrs. Gallup said. For example, since 1953 the Auxiliary has given over $200,000 in nursing and radiography scholarships. “In the last 42 years, the Auxiliary has donated over $2 million to BRMC through pledges, equipment purchases, patient televisions, Charity Classic sponsorships, Christmas decorations, and more,” she said. “Looking back, we’ve had many notable accomplishments and we truly hope to continue that trend in the future. I know with our volunteers and dedicated leadership that we’ll do everything we can to reach our projected goals,” Mrs. Gallup said.

At the luncheon, attendees also learned volunteers donated 26,574 hours to BRMC and the Auxiliary between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of 2008. “This has been a tremendous help. The time they provide is an incredible benefit and we greatly appreciate all that they do,” said Stacy Williams, Director of Volunteer Services and Annual Giving.

Those recognized for volunteer service were:
-- 30 years - Rev. Robert Brest and Virginia Hauser;
-- 25 years - Angela Monti and Dr. Holly Spittler;
-- 15 years - Tammy Comilla, Maggie DeStevens, Merritt DeStevens, Lois
Morehouse, Annabelle Newton and Adelaide Stanton;
-- 10 years - Dean Bauer, Marilyn Brown and Marge Grove; and
-- 5 years - George Bay, Kitty Colligan, Richard Gatesman, Jan Hendryx, Gerry Larkham, Bob Peterson, Susan Shincovich, Claire Slimick, Edith Urban and Martha Vecellio.

Pictured, Bradford Regional Medical Center President/CEO George E. Leonhardt receives a $60,000 donation from Bradford Hospital Auxiliary President Beverly Gallup during Thursday’s Annual Recognition Luncheon. This is the Auxiliary’s second donation toward its overall five-year pledge of $300,000. And, Receiving $2,000 scholarships each from the Bradford Hospital Auxiliary were Meagan Culver (left) of Port Allegany and Amy Anderson (right) of Kane. Jamie Jo Colley (second from left) and Kathy Simonowski, both of Bradford, each received $1,000 scholarships from the Bradford Hospital Foundation. Not shown in the photo is Charlotte Muckinhaupt of Bradford, who also received a $2,000 Auxiliary scholarship.
(Photos courtesy of BRMC)