Hospital Auxiliary selected for Governor’s Community Service and Volunteerism Award

By Michael Ford
University News Services

The Medical College of Virginia Hospitals Auxiliary of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System has received the 2003 Governor's Community Service and Volunteerism Award for Outstanding Nonprofit Group.

The Governor's Awards recognize the selfless contributions made by businesses, families, individuals and organizations whose civic activities, volunteer efforts, and community service focus on building and strengthening the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"The Auxiliary is vital to our mission of teaching and research and vital to the citizens of the Commonwealth who seek the state-of-the-art care of our physicians, nurses and health care staff," said VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D. "I know first hand about the commitment of the members of the Auxiliary and completely endorse their selection for this prestigious community service award."

The 350-member Auxiliary has raised more than $1.2 million in the last five years and logged more than a quarter-million hours of volunteer time. Established in 1961, the Auxiliary offers grants to hospital departments each year to be used for special projects or to purchase a special piece of equipment. Volunteers staff the Auxiliary-owned Three Bears Gift Shop. All profits are returned to the hospital to pay for special projects to improve patient care.

"They are a dedicated group who use their time, energy and money to improve the quality of care for patients, families and staff of the only Level-1 Trauma Center in Central Virginia," said Patricia Peltier, Volunteer Services director. "We are hard pressed to even guess how many people's lives - patients, families and staff - have been touched by the work of the members of the Auxiliary."

"The Auxiliary is a wonderful organization of unselfish, caring men and women and I am honored to contribute to their efforts," said Jo Ann M. Burton, MCVH Auxiliary president. "Many of us have personal stories, but all of us are committed to doing what we can to assist this institution and the wonderful health care professionals who work to improve the lives of the people in this community."

The Auxiliary raised $250,000 from donations, gift shop sales and vendor sales to help establish the Community Health Education Center, one of the most comprehensive, reliable resource centers for health information in the state. Located on the ground floor of Gateway building, CHEC opened in February 2002 with a trained health sciences librarian, aided by a cadre of Auxiliary volunteers, to assist patients and their families find the most up-to-date health information.

In 1984, the Auxiliary founded the Hospital Hospitality House, 612 E. Marshall St., a 105-room property that has offered lodging and non-medical services to patients from area hospitals and their families. HHH has since spun off to be its own charitable foundation, but still has a close relationship with the Auxiliary.

The Pediatric Hospice Program, the Acute Care Cardiac Team, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and VCU Medical Center's Level-1 Trauma Center are among the numerous programs supported by the Auxiliary. But members also devote their time holding premature babies in the NICU, bringing in clothes for newborns and toys for other pediatric patients. And sometimes they offer a compassionate ear or shoulder to adult patients or their relatives.

Hosted by the Governor's Commission for National and Community Service, the Governor's Awards were presented at an Oct. 7 ceremony at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. Awards were presented to 15 groups, programs and individuals from throughout the state. For more on the commission, go to www.vaservice.org.

To inquire about volunteer opportunities with the MCV Hospitals Auxiliary of the VCU Health System, call Volunteer Services at 828-0922.