Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center Hosts Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Jean Wilcox named 2018 Anna B. Lipsey Volunteer Service Award Recipient

 

(Baton Rouge) Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center honored those who generously give of their time and talents at its annual volunteer appreciation luncheon at the Baton Rouge Country Club Tuesday, May 8. The prestigious Anna B. Lipsey Memorial Volunteer Service Award was presented to Jean Wilcox of Baton Rouge, who has volunteered at the Cancer Center for nearly 20 years.

Susan and Richard Lipsey hosted the celebration and presented the Anna B. Lipsey Memorial Volunteer Service Award, named after Richard’s mother, to Wilcox. Anna B. Lipsey was a founder of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and served as secretary-treasurer of the board from 1968 until shortly before her death in 1985. The award, started in 1986, is presented each year to the volunteer(s) who best exemplifies the volunteer spirit and dedication for which Lipsey was known.

“Susan and I have been volunteers at the Cancer Center for more than 45 years and this organization is still the best at preventing and treating cancer – and taking care of patients,” said Richard Lipsey. “My mother worked with the volunteers back in the organization’s earliest days and believed in greeting people with a smile, giving hugs, holding their hands and getting them cups of coffee. She wanted the volunteers to do whatever they could do to help patients and their families. I’ve been to a lot of facilities across the nation and there is nothing like the compassion found at the Cancer Center; I hope you realize how amazing you are,” Lipsey said in thanking the volunteers.

Throughout Wilcox’s 20 years of volunteerism she has followed in Anna B. Lipsey’s footsteps, saying she has enjoyed meeting patients, delivering snacks, lending an ear and providing hugs in their time of need.

“As a cancer survivor myself, I know what it’s like to have the bad days. I always encourage patients and their loved ones to persevere and show them that there is life after cancer,” said Wilcox.

“The Cancer Center has grown tremendously over the years and the evolution is constant, but what stays the same is that volunteerism is still at the heart of what we do,” said Todd Stevens, president and CEO of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “We will keep advancing the fight against cancer through research and the most advanced technology and treatments, but the close-knit relationships volunteers develop with patients will always be a cornerstone of care.”

In addition, Leslie McArdle, the Cancer Center’s guest and volunteer services manager, recognized Cheri Sevier, Jack Stokeld, Jenny Conrad and Trudy LeBoeuf for their 200 plus hours of individual service in 2017.

Linda Lee, Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center administrator, thanked volunteers for their contributions and reminded them that their generosity is appreciated by patients, physicians and team members alike, saying, “Always remember that you are a positive role model in our community and the impact you make is visible to many people. Not only are patients seeing and benefiting from what you do, but your grandchildren, children, friends and neighbors see how you are helping those who are going through a very challenging time in their lives. You are demonstrating what giving looks like and feels like—you are inspiring countless people.”

Also speaking during the program was Bill O’Quin, Mary Bird Perkins board chair, who said seeing volunteers’ smiles every day at the Cancer Center makes such a difference for patients and their families and it is an honor to celebrate these amazing folks.

 

About Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center
As a premier destination for cancer care, Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center offers the most advanced technology and services provided by a dedicated team of nationally-recognized oncology experts. MBP-OLOL provides best-practice, comprehensive care at every stage of the cancer journey, including disease site-specific multidisciplinary care teams, a robust clinical research program, extensive supportive care services and is the first facility in the Gulf South to offer the revolutionary Leksell Gamma Knife®Icon™. The American College of Surgeons has named MBP-OLOL a recipient of its prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award for three consecutive survey cycles. As a nonprofit organization, donor generosity is essential to sustaining the mission of improving survivorship and lessening the burden of cancer for so many throughout Southeast Louisiana and beyond. For more information on MBP-OLOL, and how you can become involved, please visit marybirdlake.org.