Your time is a valuable resource with the incredible potential to help others. How would you like to make a personal investment of your time in a place that makes a difference in our community? Hundreds of men and women of all ages have found fulfilling volunteer positions and have provided much-needed services at University Hospital since 1949. University is blessed with an amazing group of volunteers. Since 2000, University Volunteer Services has contributed $2.8 million to the hospital, 343,903 hours to our patients and staff, and managed more than 500 Junior Volunteers. Whether assisting departments that support patient care or being involved in fundraising efforts, University volunteers make an impact on our community. Their efforts are priceless.
Service Opportunities
University offers more than 30 volunteer service areas. Available assignments are based on the volunteers' talents, abilities and interests, and on the hospital's needs. Certain volunteer positions require additional training. Volunteer areas include:
Adult volunteers must complete an application, attend an orientation, purchase a uniform and give at least six hours a month in a designated service. Volunteers are recognized annually for their service.
Volunteer Board
The Volunteer Board of University has donated more than $7.1 million to University since recording began in 1949. Hundreds of men and women of all ages have found fulfilling volunteer positions and provided much-needed services at University Hospital since then. They've provided almost 800,000 hours of service since 1970 when they began tracking their time. They are innovators who find creative ways to meet today's health care needs. Whether assisting patient care departments or being involved in fundraising and organizational efforts, University volunteers impact our community through their hard work and commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients and their families.
As always, they delivered another fabulous year. In 2009, their 60th anniversary year, the Volunteer Board saw an increase in membership and service hours. Their hard work covers many of our patients' "extras" such as the pillows for heart bypass patients, but they also provide funding for some of the special needs for our nursing units, such as the Spectra phones that many of our nurses carry so they can be contacted at any time while in the hospital. In the new needlework program, volunteers make lap robes for our elderly patients. This program has generated a tremendously positive response this year. In the retail area, the volunteers opened the Sunshine Express Gift Shop and the New Moon Café in the Heart & Vascular Institute this year, and added new volunteer positions in the Emergency Department and almost every area of the new Heart & Vascular Institute.
The Board also presented three $1,000 scholarships to Junior Volunteer Scholars. This is the second year they sponsored a scholarship program. Led by President Alice Outlaw, 329 volunteers, 224 of whom are members of the Volunteer Board, donated 35,505 hours to University Hospital. Other officers were: Janet Smith, President-elect; Christy Jones, Vice President; Robert Claussen, Treasurer; Alison Jeselnik, Recording Secretary; and Doreen Wetherington, Corresponding Secretary. They also donated the following this year:
$100,000 capital campaign payment
Additional $93,719 in donations including:
$33,000 for Clinical Pastoral Education program
$10,000 for Born to Read program
$10,000 for the Breast Health Center fund
$8,000 for Shumsky pillows for bypass patients
$8,000 for the Tree of Love to fund children's camps
$6,600 for Spectra phones
$4,000 for Special Care Nursery rocking chairs
$3,500 for diabetes testing supplies
Junior Volunteers
Teens age 14-18 may participate in our Junior Volunteer program. Since the annual program begins in early summer, interviews are held in April, with an orientation in early June. Junior volunteers are expected to serve at least one day (eight hours) a week during the summer, with additional opportunities available year-round. Interested young people should contact the office by April 1 of the year in which they hope to volunteer.
How to Volunteer
For an application or more information on volunteer service opportunities, contact Volunteer Services office at 706/774-8877 or e-mail the office.
Download and print an adult volunteer application here.
Go online to fill out an electronic application here.
Volunteer Board
$100,000 capital campaign payment
