Each year, Greenwich Hospital hosts an Auxiliary Luncheon to honors its volunteers from Fairfield and Westchester. These volunteers play a key role in the hospital’s ability to provide an exceptional patient experience, and contribute more than 46,000 volunteer hours between them. During the luncheon, which was held at the Greenwich Country Club, hospital key players and several volunteers shared their experiences at Greenwich and spoke to the strong bonds between volunteers and patients. Sharon Gallagher-Klass, Auxiliary president, thanked the volunteers for their commitment.
Norman G. Roth, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer, said volunteers make or break patient experiences.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude for all that you do, each and every day, to make Greenwich Hospital number one in patient care and patient safety,” he said. “You are what makes our hospital a place where patients feel welcome and safe.”
The hospital is home to more than 500 adult and youth volunteers. At the luncheon, a few spoke to the camaraderie, sense of family, and personal satisfaction that comes from volunteering. Some volunteers began at Greenwich in high school and are now in college, like Brandon McClean, while others have been volunteering their time with the hospital for more than 30 years, such as Miki Mikols. They serve the main hospital campus on Perryridge Road, the Smilow Cancer Hospital’s Greenwich Hospital Campus at Lafayette Place, and the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop on Hamilton Animal.
Stacey Green, the director of Volunteer Services, spoke to the bond volunteers develop with patients, families and hospital staff.
“Volunteers come to healthcare organizations to help patients and to give back to their community. But what keeps them coming back is the personal connections they make with the patients and the way they are embraced by Greenwich Hospital,” said Green.
Main Image: Greenwich Hospital honored its volunteers at a luncheon at the Greenwich Country Club as part of National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Pictured here (l-r) Patricia Marshall (Rye, NY), Mary Anne Cipolla (Greenwich), Brandon McClean (Riverside), Judy Ruttkamp (Greenwich), Debbie Krautheim (Greenwich), Elizabeth Vecchiolla (Rye, NY) and Lavern Mezo (Greenwich).
