MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Friends of WVU Hospitals Board held its annual volunteer recognition luncheon on April 9. The group supports patients and their loved ones in many functions across WVU Hospitals and raises funds to support patient care and comfort.
“The dedication of our volunteers to improving the quality of life of our patients and their families is inspiring,” said Kimberly Hartsell, WVU Hospitals Volunteer Services director. “’The annual volunteer luncheon is just one way that we can recognize them. We are grateful every day for their contributions to WVU Hospitals.”
The “Butterfly Brunch” themed event recognized the 195 adult volunteers, 214 student volunteers, 39 junior volunteers, and 30 therapy dogs who served 20,356 hours in 2023. Volunteers also delivered 9,450 ecards and 2,645 pieces of mail to patients and participated in 14 No One Dies Alone (NODA) vigils.
“We are always impressed to see the number of hours our volunteers serve each year,” Hartsell said.
Volunteers were honored for 100, 500, and 1,000 hours of service to WVU Hospitals.
100 Hours
Marie Burleigh
Brad Calandrelli
Kim Calandrelli
Gary Chivers
Jennifer Ernest
Karin Gateless
Dan Gurash
Denise Knoebel
Bob Lilly
Elizabeth Nelson
Melissa Raber
MaryAnne Rowan
Bernadette Rush
Rebecca Summers
500 Hours
Nancy Beckner
Carolyn Chiasson
David Keers
Jenny Liu
Brenda Stiles
Ali Yilmaz
1,000 Hours
Anne Bolyard
Elizabeth Kanosky
Dolores Sobolewski
College Students
100 Hours:
Zoe Belknap
Audrey DelGaudio
Zohra Feliachi
Jay Jackson
Farah Kisto
Kennedi Lewellyn
Nicole Pedro
Mary Ritchie
Laci Sears
Abigail Tillema
Mia Walters
Natalie Wonsettler
Junior (Ages 16-18)
100 Hours
Waad Firegoun
Dayanita Saminathan
Therapy Dogs
100 Hours
Titan McMillan
500 Hours
Nutmeg Turner
Bernadette Rush was awarded Volunteer of the Year. Since 2022, Rush has contributed more than 300 hours of service by receiving and delivering patient mail, cuddling babies in the NICU, making fidget aprons for the Neurology unit, and, most recently, as the Patient Ambassador for the Wig Boutique at the WVU Cancer Institute Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center. She also is a member of the Friends of WVU Hospitals board, serving on the fundraising committee. She is known for not saying “no” and always looking for ways to fit volunteering into her busy schedule.
Adrienne Davis was awarded the 2023 Lesley Klishis Life Membership Award. Since 2008, she has served more than 1,300 hours and has held many positions on the Friends board of directors, volunteered at many events and fundraisers, and was instrumental in starting the Friends of WVU Hospital annual golf tournament.
Therapy dogs Nutmeg Turner and Titan McMillian also were honored for improving the spirits of patients, staff, and visitors.
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