Agnesian HealthCare Celebrates Volunteers

About 300 volunteers enjoyed a festive celebration – themed after the Kentucky Derby – during the Agnesian HealthCare Volunteer Services annual volunteer recognition luncheon in late April.

This year’s event invited Agnesian HealthCare’s volunteers to “A Run for the Roses” celebration.

While volunteers don’t end each shift with a trophy or blanket of roses like the Kentucky Derby race contenders do, their training, dedication and service does not go unnoticed.

In 2016, 700 Agnesian HealthCare volunteers logged more than 64,000 hours.

“Agnesian HealthCare is extremely grateful for the team of volunteers it has and believes that each volunteer finishes every hour of volunteer work in the winner’s circle,” according to Barb VanEgtern, Agnesian HealthCare Volunteer Services supervisor. “Our volunteers demonstrate the true meaning of giving, and caring for others to carry out the mission set forth by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes. We could not do all that we do without our dedicated volunteers.”         

           As part of the celebration, Michael DeGere, DPM, FACHE, Agnesian HealthCare vice president of Population Health, provided the keynote address. In addition, Agnesian HealthCare’s Volunteer Advisory Board members were installed, as well as rewarding annual Volunteer Services scholarships to area high school students.

Sharon Hertel, Dick Majewski and Ron VanNocker were installed as new Agnesian HealthCare Volunteer Advisory Board members. They join current board members, including Ken Becker, Sandy Binotto, Debbie Booher, Edward Gurno, Richard Jaeger and Cathleen Seffern.

Special recognition was also given to Norleen Haase, Gary Ring and Alex Rodriguez as outgoing Volunteer Advisory Board members.

The Agnesian HealthCare Volunteers also awarded six scholarships to high school senior recipients, including Kailee Simon, Anna Gardner, Marisa Strobel, Cassidy VandeBerg, Taylor Gelhar and Ericka Erdman.

In the photo: Ripon Medical Center volunteers dressed the part when they joined other Agnesian HealthCare volunteers for the annual recognition luncheon, which brought forward a Kentucky Derby theme, including Bev Cady, Sally Brewer and Barb Benkoski.