WEST ALLIS, Wis., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurora Health Care held a celebration Monday to honor and thank the thousands of volunteers who contribute enormously to the high quality of care and service Aurora patients receive. The event helped kick off National Volunteer Week (April 27 - May 3).
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More than 1,600 people from throughout eastern Wisconsin attended the event at State Fair Park in West Allis. The celebration coincided with the beginning of National Volunteer Week, which recognizes people who freely give of their time.
"Our volunteers help to provide those important touches that make a world of difference in the experiences of our patients and their families," said Nick Turkal, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Aurora Health Care. "We are fortunate to have so many wonderful, talented people supporting the work we do in our communities, and we wanted to take time to say thank you."
More than 3,200 volunteers share their time and talents at 23 Aurora locations. Last year they contributed a total of 300,000 hours of volunteer time.
Among those attending Monday's event was Blanche Barta, 95, of Delavan, who has contributed a staggering 40,000 hours during her career as a volunteer. Barta volunteers at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn.
Other volunteers highlighted during the event included Kay Biebl, who volunteers at Vince Lombardi Cancer Center in Oshkosh; Don Leaman, 89, a discharge escort at West Allis Memorial Hospital; Bob and Pat Borucki, escorts at Aurora BayCare Medical Center; and Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center greeters Dick Lubinski and Eric Wagner.
The work of Aurora's volunteers is as varied as the people who are giving of their time. Volunteer activities include:
Those who attended Monday's events were welcomed by Dr. Turkal, West Allis Mayor Dan Devine, State Sen. Jim Sullivan and State Rep. Tony Staskunas. They also heard videotaped messages from Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan and U.S. Rep. Gwendolynne Moore.
According to research by the Corporation for National & Community Service, Aurora volunteers are part of a proud heritage throughout Wisconsin. Statistics show:
Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit Wisconsin health care provider and a national leader in efforts to improve the quality of health care. Aurora offers care at sites in more than 90 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin.
SOURCE Aurora Health Care
