The St. Francis auxiliary, now in its 35th year of service to St. Francis Medical Center, announced at its annual luncheon Tuesday that it is contributing $44,000 to the hospital this year.
In presenting the auxiliary's annual contribution to the medical center, auxiliary president Donna Magwitz said the organization has already given thousands of dollars to the medical center in recent months to support the hospital's Lifeline program, the medical staff library, the Womancare conference, the Skilled Nursing Facility, the pediatric unit playroom, the medical center's Caring Fund and other project.
"This check is for the balance of the $44,000 and the auxiliary board will designate its use at its next meeting," Magwitz said.
The auxiliary raises money through gift shop sales, bake sales, the annual Christmas Tree Gala and Phantom Ball.
St. Francis president John Fidler said he was impressed by the monetary contribution and also be the 64,975 hours of volunteer service given to the medical center over the past year by auxiliary members and other volunteers.
"It would take over a third of a million dollars to replace the work volunteers do at St. Francis," he said.
In addition to the presentation of the auxiliary's annual contribution to the medical center, the sixth annual Vernice Baumstark Award was given to Mary Margaret "Boots: Staley. The Baumstark Award is named in honor of the Auxiliary's first president. Staley has been a member of the auxiliary board since 1962. She has been president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and chairman of several committees.
"You name the office and Boots has been it," said Ann Drury, co-chairman of the auxiliary's Baumstark Award committee.
The auxiliary elected three new officers. Those installed in two-year terms were auxiliary treasurer Lucille Grojean, corresponding secretary Dorothy Ressel and recording secretary Fritzie Jenkins. Auxiliary officers beginning the second year of their two-year terms are president Magwitz, president-elect Fran Rediger and second vice president Celeste Nenninger.
Chairmen of various auxiliary committees were also announced. They include Martha Gugino, membership; Mary Yeager and Betty Wichert, gift shop; Ruth Moreland, scholarship; Anne Bradshaw, legislature; Elizabeth Bader, Sister Esther Fund; Sister Jane Kiefer, chaplain; Carrie Suedekum, regional liaison; Opal Perkins, flowers; and Mary Essner, newsletter and publicity.
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