Volunteers Honored with President’s Volunteer Service Award
June 24, 2011
Orange Park, FL – Today, Orange Park Medical Center (OPMC) awarded 20 volunteers the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service. Three volunteers were recognized with a silver pin and certificate from President Barak Obama for giving 500 hours of service to the hospital in 2010. The 17 other awardees were recognized with a gold pin and certificate from the President for giving 1000 hours of service to the hospital in 2010.
Established in 2003, the President’s Volunteer Service Award is available on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering. As one of thousands of Certifying Organizations participating in the award program, OPMC confers the award to recognize the outstanding achievements of its volunteers.
“America’s volunteers work to make our communities stronger and safer,” says Tom Pentz, CEO, of Orange Park Medical Center. “Orange Park Medical Center is proud to be aligned with this prestigious volunteer award program as a newly recognized Certifying Organization, and we are especially proud of our volunteers who have made volunteer service a central part of their lives.”
Volunteers have long played an important role at OPMC. More than 180 volunteers perform many valued duties that assist the hospital’s patients, visitors and employees. These include: staffing the information waiting areas; operating the shuttle service; serving as spiritual care volunteers; performing clerical services; and providing indirect patient care activities such as delivering blankets, pillows and assisting with patient meal trays.
“Our recipients of the President’s Volunteer Service Award are role models for all Americans,” says Wanda Sharp, OPMC Director of Patient Relations/Guest Services, Spiritual Care & Volunteers. “More than ever in today’s economy, there’s a call for volunteerism. As the President has said, we’re in a new era of responsibility, and I know our volunteers are called upon to do more and more. I encourage everyone to contribute to our community by volunteering. Volunteers bring us closer together as families, as communities and as a nation.”
The volunteers recognized for their 500 hours of service at a ceremony today were: Geraldine Bailey, Serena Gibbens and Stephen Willett. The volunteers recognized for their 1000 hours of service were: Lois Battisti, Bonnie Beeson, Esther Brauer, Lyman Brauer, Benjamin Clayton,Beverly Feltz, Margaret Jansen, Joan Johnson, Harriett Kicklighter, Marguerite Kloter, Robert Kloter, Beulah McLane-Carter, Helen Musielak, Dolores Stahl, Jerry Trumble, Lorraine Tyler, and Ede Watson.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award is an award for volunteer service that every American – from every age and every walk of life – can aspire to achieve. To be eligible to receive the award, individuals, families and groups submit a record of their annual volunteer service hours to participating Certifying Organizations, such as Orange Park Medical Center, that will verify the service and deliver the award. Award eligibility for individuals and groups is based on hour requirements that vary by age.
For more information about volunteering for Orange Park Medical Center, contact our Volunteer Services office at 904-276-8558.
For more information about how to qualify for the President’s Volunteer Service Award and to find out how to identify additional volunteer opportunities in this area, visit www.PresidentialServiceAwards.gov or call 1-866-545-5307.