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2006 Winners--Wisconsin Awards for Volunteer Excellence (WAVE)
Category: Community Service Programs
Winning Program: "Community Health Screening Program," Bay Area Medical Center, Marinette
One goal of the Bay Area Medical Center Auxiliary is to provide free or low-cost health screenings to area citizens, as a way of assisting Bay Area Medical Center (BAMC) to reach their goal of "caring for our community." The auxiliary's Community Health Screening Program currently covers five screenings: skin, prostate and breast cancer, cardiac, and BAMC employee health risk assessments. Since 1998, the auxiliary's Love Lights program has raised more than $280,000 for the Oncology Fund, which provides funding for the cancer screenings. The auxiliary’s "Front Door Cafe" raised funds to purchase three portable cholesterol machines for cardiac screenings. Additionally, new in 2005, Employee Health Risk Assessment is offered to all BAMC employees, with auxilians utilizing their expertise and expanding their involvement by providing retired nurses to perform the employee screenings. Auxiliary members are involved in all phases of the screening, including planning, staffing the call-in registration center, data entry of participant information, and on-site staffing during screenings.
Category: In-service Hospital Volunteer Programs
Winning Program: "Pet Therapy Program," St. Mary's Hospital, Madison
The St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary;s Pet Therapy Program was developed in 2004, at the urging of a hospital volunteer who had participated in similar programs in other cities. While Madison nursing homes were regular stops for him and his dog, he learned that none of the area hospitals had such a program. The program started with a single volunteer team of dog and owner. Today, the program has 10 volunteer teams who visit about 85 patients each week, accommodating the needs of patients who will benefit from a pet's affection. Both human and canine are trained for the program and provide a slice of normalcy for the hospital-bound. The program's sole purpose is to help the patients--help them enjoy life in the face of illness or injury and assist them in their recovery. The St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary prides itself in assisting its hospital care for the whole person--body, mind and spirit--and this program is a welcome addition.
Category: Fundraising Programs
Winning Program: "Hats Off to Women," St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay
After much research, planning and stepping away from a long-time fundraising event, the St. Vincent Hospital Auxiliary held its first "Hats Off to Women" fundraiser, benefiting the St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center. The auxilians set a goal of raising more money, attracting a larger and more diverse audience, and educating attendees about an important health issue, and their "Hats Off" breakfast fundraiser accomplished all three. The breakfast was a celebration of women cancer survivors and included an educational session by a breast surgeon, a silent auction, and some laughter and motivation from a breast cancer survivor. More than 530 people attended, and the event raised more than $30,000 for the cancer center. This more than tripled the amount raised and attendees present at the prior fundraising event, plus added the educational component.
Category: Community Outreach and/or Collaboration Programs
Winning Program: "Cloth Diapers for Low Income Families," Waupun Memorial Hospital, Waupun
When the Waupun Memorial Hospital Auxiliary was approached by a member of their hospital's Mission Effectiveness Committee with a unique cloth diaper prototype and a request for the auxiliary's help, they jumped on board. Hospital employee Lorna O'Donovan designed the washable cloth diaper as a way to meet one need of area low-income families. The auxiliary donates the funds to purchase the materials, and the women incarcerated at the local John C. Burke Correctional Center cut and sew the diapers, which are then distributed through the Waupun Food Pantry to needy families. As an added benefit, the use of these washable diapers also has a positive impact on the environment. The owner of the Waupun-area landfill was so impressed with the project that he, too, has since become a financial supporter of the project.
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