During National Volunteer Week, April 12-18, we celebrate the very special people who dedicate their valuable time, effort and talent to help fulfill our hospital’s mission to provide the best nurturing care for our patients.
Our volunteers are important members of the Stanford Medicine Children’s Health community and play an essential part in the experience of our patients and families. Whether they are cuddling a baby in the NICU, delivering a fun bedside activity or bringing a furry friend by for a visit, we are proud to recognize the generous contributions of our hundreds of volunteers at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
“I am incredibly lucky to be a part of a group of people who share one common goal and interest – caring for patients and families at the hospital,” said Lisa Cole, reading buddy volunteer and vice president of the Association of Auxiliaries supporting Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
For 22 years, Lisa has volunteered with the San Francisco Auxiliary and has played a fundamental role in the development of five affiliate volunteer programs at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health that launched in 2013. They are the Packard Pantry, Teen Health Van, Reading Buddies, Hearts and Hands and the Men’s Affiliate. Today, countless auxiliary members have joined Lisa, volunteering their time at the hospital and in the community in addition to fundraising for the hospital.
In 2014 more than 850 volunteers dedicated close to 50,000 hours to 30 volunteer programs at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. In addition, another 1,000 community volunteers/auxiliary members fundraise to support Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and have developed new service affiliates that support direct patient care programs noted above.