Spring Volunteer Tea Held at Lod Cook Alumni Center
(Baton Rouge, La.) Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBPCC) honored its many volunteers at a Spring Volunteer Tea at Lod Cook Alumni Center on Sunday, March 11. “I am so glad to be here to share in this wonderful event celebrating volunteerism and you, our everyday heroes,” emcee Donna Saurage, Chair, MBPCC’s Board of Directors, told the volunteers in attendance.
In addition to honoring all volunteers present, several special Volunteer Awards – named after individuals who set the standard for volunteerism at MBPCC – were presented.
The first award, The Anna B. Lipsey Memorial Volunteer Service Award, was presented by Richard and Susan Lipsey to patient volunteer Trudy LeBoeufof Baton Rouge. Named after Richard Lipsey’s mother, this award honors the men and women who volunteer daily and who best exemplify the volunteer spirit and dedication for which Anna B. Lipsey was known. Upon receiving her award, Trudy said, “Volunteering at Mary Bird has brought tremendous joy to my life.”
The Hillar C. Moore, Jr. Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, recognizing a significant and unique service contribution to the philanthropic initiatives of MBPCC or its Foundation, was presented by Hillar Moore to Dudley Coates. “I consider Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center to be one of the most superbly managed businesses in our community, and any recognition I receive from the Center is very meaningful to me,” commented Coates.
The Louis D. Curet Volunteer Fundraising Awardwas, for the first time, presented to a company, Rubicon LLC – represented by Mark Dearman, Rubicon’s vice president and general manager, and Craig Nuckolls, Rubicon’s Human Resources Specialist and a member of MBPCC’s development committee. This award recognizes a significant and unique service contribution to the Center’s philanthropic efforts. “It is our privilege and honor to continue partnering with such a wonderful organization and cause as Mary Bird Perkins, and to continue the mission of lessening the burden of cancer in our community,” Dearman said in accepting the award.
Saurage then turned the program over to Renee Smith, MPBCC Volunteer Services Coordinator, to present two new volunteer awards. “As Donna mentioned earlier in the program, Center Volunteers who help our patients together volunteered almost 8,000 hours of their time last year,” Smith said. “A volunteer at our Covington Center, Yvonne Seal, is being recognized for going above and beyond by volunteering an astounding 418.75 hours last year!” Unable to be present, Smith accepted the award on Seal’s behalf for the Most Volunteer Hours for 2011.
Continuing, Smith explained a special award recognizing student volunteerism. “We have an outstanding student, Ross Roshto, who was a patient volunteer for a short period of time before becoming a volunteer in clinical research where he gave of his time for more than a year.” Smith described Roshto as having an amazing work ethic and a ‘get it done’ attitude who is currently attending Southeastern Louisiana University where he is majoring in biological sciences.
Todd Stevens, CEO and president, MBPCC closed the program. “We are here to congratulate all of you for helping Mary Bird Perkins deliver its mission across five centers and 18 parishes in southeast Louisiana,” he said. “Today we celebrate the many forms of volunteerism and honor our everyday heroes – every single one of you present this afternoon.”
In conclusion, Stevens said, “Community volunteers started MBPCC more than 40 years ago and volunteers remain the cornerstone of the organization, serving on boards and committees, assisting with fundraising, and comforting patients and families every day. Your services help provide better cancer care for the communities we serve. You have made a difference to thousands of patients and their families and we can’t thank you enough.”
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 40 years. With five centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma and Gonzales, its service area encompasses 18 parishes across southeast Louisiana.