Beebe Auxiliary celebrates history, future at annual luncheon
Beebe Auxiliary by the numbers: 232 active members, 85 new members this year, 28,500 hours contributed. And all at the young age of 82.
The Beebe Auxiliary has been contributing to Beebe Healthcare in a vast number of ways for its 82-year history, and these are just a few shared by outgoing Auxiliary President Nancy Tartaglione during the annual luncheon held May 2 at the Virden Center.
"Our volunteers are dedicated and hardworking," Tartaglione said. From the Treasure Chest Thrift Shop located beside the go-kart track at Midway to the Beebe Healthcare Auxiliary Gift Shop at the medical center in Lewes, you can't turn a corner without soon seeing an auxiliary member.
The auxiliary craft group makes items to sell; the book sale team hosts sales at Beebe locations to raise funds, and the events team plans the annual Plant Sale and Family Fun Fest at East Coast Garden Center, held May 5 this year.
Over the years, Beebe Auxiliary has raised funds for the Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing, the chapel at the medical center, the Georgetown Health Campus, two hyperbaric chambers at Beebe Wound Healing, special wheelchairs for patients visiting the medical center and Tunnell Cancer Center, new navigational bronchoscopy equipment, and much more.
In the past seven years, Beebe Auxiliary has raised more than $2.5 million for Beebe Healthcare. Last year, the auxiliary made a commitment to raise $1.8 million over five years for Beebe's services and facilities expansion as part of Beebe Medical Foundation's I Believe in Beebe campaign.
This year's check, which totaled $315,000, will go toward that campaign and allow Beebe to continue to serve patients throughout eastern and southern Sussex County.
"Our auxiliary is a huge part of creating the next generation of care," said Rick Schaffner, Beebe Healthcare executive vice president and chief operating officer. "They are assisting us in caring for our friends, our neighbors, and our family. We thank you so much for all you do."
The annual luncheon is also a time for Beebe Auxiliary to thank its outgoing officers and introduce new officers, who are elected every two years.
Officers for 2018-20 are: President Lesley Nance, First Vice President Patricia Barry, Second Vice President Nancy Almacy, Treasurer Patricia Sandy, Assistant Treasurer Lester Levin, Recording Secretary Rosemarie Vanderhoogt, Corresponding Secretary Eileen Thompson, and Member-at-Large Lois Rubinsohn.
Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people who live, work, and visit the communities it serves. The medical center in Lewes is a licensed 210-bed hospital with specialized service lines, including cardiac and vascular, surgical services, medical oncology/hematology and radiation oncology, women's health, and orthopaedic services. Outpatient facilities conveniently located throughout Sussex County provide primary care, walk-in care, lab, imaging, and physical rehabilitation services, in addition to Beebe's home care services.
For more information, go to www.beebehealthcare.org. To find out how Beebe Healthcare is creating the next generation of care for the community, go to www.nextgenerationofcare.org.
