AUXILIARY PRESENTS ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER $100,000

St. Francis Medical Center received a $100,000 donation from its auxiliary Thursday during the volunteer organization's annual luncheon.

Also at the luncheon, which was held to honor the 544 auxiliary members and the 69,000 volunteer hours they have donated, Dorothy Ressel received the Baumstark Award.

Carolyn Wright, auxiliary president, presented the donation to St. Francis CEO Steven C. Bjelich. The money was given to be used for the Sister Esther Fund, a fund established for patient/family emergencies; a book purchased in honor of Doctors Day and given to the medical staff library; funds for sponsorships for Lifeline, an emergency call program; a Micro Temp II thermometer for emergency services; $1,125 for the Memorial Wall in the Healing Garden; and $20,500 for the renovation of the perpetual adoration chapel.

The Baumstark Award presented to Ressel recognizes an individual who volunteers regularly for patient-centered activities at St. Francis.

Ressel has volunteered 1,054 hours in the past year and 14,200 since she began volunteering in 1980. She works in the hospital's gift shop.

She is corresponding secretary on the auxiliary's board of directors, on which she has served for 13 years. She has initiated several projects, including the Phantom Ball, Christmas Tree Gala, Santas Calling, craft fairs and numerous food, flower and craft sales. She has served on the flower committee and delivered flowers to patients on holidays.

Ressel is also a volunteer at Red Cross blood drives, St. Vincent's Church and Chateau Girardeau.

At the luncheon it also was noted that the auxiliary members helped raise money for the Children Helping Children Fund, worked at flu clinics at the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, made quilts for pediatric patients and hosted numerous fund-raisers. Some of these fund-raisers were bake sales, raffles, a trip to Branson, Beanie Baby sale, Phantom Ball and the operation of two gift shops.