Health

Last Updated on Thursday, 28 July 2016 20:35

The members of the Auxiliary of Mon-Vale Health Resources Inc. give their time, energy, and creativity year round to enhance quality patient care at Monongahela Valley Hospital. On June 27, at the 38th annual Auxiliary Appreciation Dinner celebrating the volunteers, the group collectively gave even more.

Auxiliary of Mon-Vale Health Resources Inc.

The Auxiliary made a substantial donation to MVH when its outgoing president Kay Blair presented checks totaling $55,000 to MVH President and CEO Louis J. Panza Jr. When combined with the funds the group donated to the hospital's annual gala in May and to the annual Volunteen Scholarship, the Auxiliary's 2016 donation climbs to $57,000.

This year's gift brings the Auxiliary's 38-year donation total to MVH to more than $3,297,000.

The group generated the funds for this donation through sales at the MVH Gift Shop and with a multitude of special events held throughout the year, including the Annual Strawberry Festival, clothes and purse sales, BBQ food sale, jewelry sales and the Annual Fall Apple Festival.

The Auxiliary's donation will be used for several enhancements that will benefit patients and their families. MVH will purchase new ultrasound units for the hospital and HealthPLEX Imaging. The new 3-D and 4-D units will reduce exam times and provide unprecedented image quality. They will allow our medical imaging teams to see more and do more in the diagnosis of our patients. A portion of the donation will be used as the final installment of the Auxiliary’s five-year pledge to the hospital's capital campaign.

Pictured in the photo above right are: (bottom row; l to r): Pat Mikula (treasurer); Marge Pennline (finance officer); Kay Blair (past president); Ruth Antonelli (president); Audrey Blangger (assistant treasurer); Dolly Gaudio (corresponding secretary); and Georgetta Wiles (assistant finance officer) and (top row; l to r): Dorothy Gallagher (recording treasurer); Ruthann Dulovich (vice president); and Mary Lou Mudrick (recording secretary).

During the celebration, awards were also presented to Auxiliary members who reached milestone hours of volunteer time at MVH. Recipients included:

• Kay Blair, Past President
• Mary Lou Lachman, Life Member
• Jean Haddad, 5,000 hours
• Betty King, 5,000 hours
• Gail Jericho, 1,000 hours
• Dolores Tegnelia, 1,000 hours
• Sherry Cramer, 500 hours

A moment of silence was held for member Diane Shepler, auxiliary awardee with 1,000 hours, who recently passed away, and Evalyne Ramsden, past president of the Auxiliary, who passed away earlier this year. The Auxiliary paid tribute to Mary Garris who retired from her position as the Auxiliary’s finance officer for the past 27 years.

The Auxiliary also presented volunteen scholarships to two outstanding young women who volunteered at the hospital for a combined 344 hours. The awardees were in the top one third of their graduating classes, volunteered at least 100 hours over two years and plan to pursue health care related careers.

Pictured are (l to r) Sarah Sepesky; Kathleen Molesky; and Bayley Clark.

Bayley M. Clark, a recent graduate of Charleroi Area High School, received a scholarship. Miss Clark volunteered 187 hours. A resident of Charleroi, she plans to pursue a major in psychology at Seton Hill University. She is the daughter of William and Beverly Clark.

Belle Vernon Area High School graduate Sarah Sepesky also received a scholarship. Miss Sepesky plans to pursue a career in physical therapy at Duquesne University. She has volunteered at MVH for a total of 157 hours. A Belle Vernon resident, she is the daughter of Dan and Ruth Sepesky.

After the awards presentation, Auxiliary officers were installed for the 2016-2018 term. They are: President Ruth Antonelli; Past President Kay Blair; Vice President Ruthann Dulovich; Recording Secretary Mary Lou Mudrick; Corresponding Secretary Dolly Gaudio; Treasurer Pat Mikula; Assistant Treasurer Audrey Blangger; Recording Treasurer Dorothy Gallagher; Finance Officer Marge Pennline; and Assistant Finance Officer Georgetta Wiles.

Mr. Panza also presented a gift box with a rendering of the hospital campus to Kay Blair in appreciation of her two years in office as president.