Kenmore Mercy Foundation Insider - May/June 2015

Insider May/June 2015

Golf & Wine Event Set for June 18 Golf season is finally here! On June 18, the Kenmore Mercy Foundation will host their annual Golf & Wine Event.

The Foundation anticipates 240 golfers will participate in 18 holes of golf at Legends on the Niagara in Ontario, Canada, while 50 guests will travel by coach bus into Niagara-on-the-Lake and enjoy a luncheon and wine seminar at the historic Prince of Wales.

Lab Gets Facelift Thanks to Foundation Thanks to a mini grant awarded in 2014, the Kenmore Mercy Hospital Laboratory received a much needed facelift in May 2015.

“We greatly appreciate the generousity of our Foundation,” said Michael Wendel, manager of Laboratory & Pathology.

Improvements and updates to the lab include blinds, cabinets, and a new microscope.

These upgrades were paid for by the Foundation from a combination of mini grant funds along with restricted funds that were given to the lab years ago.

In the past, the “non golfing” guests visited local wineries, learned about the wine making process from beginning to end and then headed to Niagara-on-the-Lake for lunch and shopping.

This year, guest will be offered a one-stop afternoon. The wine luncheon/seminar guests will enjoy a three course lunch and wine pairing along with a wine seminar hosted by the hotel’s knowledgeable sommelier.

After lunch, they will enjoy an afternoon of shopping on Queens Street. As an added bonus this year, twelve shops along Queens Street are offering an additional 10 percent discount to Kenmore Mercy Foundation guests.

It’s not too late to make reservations. Call the Foundation office at 447-6204 and place your golf or wine reservation today.

Additional information is available at www.kenmoremercyfoundation.com.

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Spotlight on Audrey J. Meyers Audrey Meyers, a Kenmore resident, joined the Kenmore Mercy Foundation Board of Trustees in 2014. She currently serves on the Golf & Wine Event committee.

Audrey is branch manager, assistant vice president of the West Seneca Branch of Citizens Bank.

She has been with Citizens Bank since 2001 managing various branch locations.

In 2013, Audrey was awarded a paid three-month community service sabbatical, where she chose to work at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo to put together a training program to teach financial literacy to children and young adults.

Currently Audrey is serving as the vice president for the Kenmore Rotary Club board, the chairperson for the board of trustees at Riverside Baptist Church, and the Friends of Scouting chairperson for the Boy Scouts of America Polaris District.

Born in California, Audrey moved to Kenmore in 1992 and attended Kenmore West High School. She currently resides in Kenmore with her husband Chris.

Please call Sue Jandzinski at 447-6776 or email sjandzin@chsbuffalo.org for information.

Auxiliary

Kenmore Mercy Foundation Salutes the Auxiliary In May, hospitals throughout New York State recognized the dedicated healthcare auxiliary members who donate more than five million hours of service each year to their health care facilities and to their communities. At Kenmore Mercy Hospital, that includes 118 auxilians, of which 82 are active.

In 2014, the Kenmore Mercy Hospital Auxiliary donated $58,000 to the foundation. In previous years, the auxiliary’s monetary support has enabled the purchase of clinical equipment and technology used in various hospital departments, all of which help hospital associates further serve the community.

Its history dates back to when the hospital opened its doors in 1951. At the request of Sister Mary Mechtilde and Monsignor Timothy Ring, the hospital Guild was formed to become the first volunteers at the hospital. In 1957, the Junior Board was started to join the ranks of the Guild volunteers.

The Guild and the Junior Board were merged in 1995, into one organization to better service the hospital.

The Guild operated the Gift Shop and the Junior Board ran the Tea Room, the Coffee Cart and worked in various departments throughout the hospital. The Auxiliary, as they are known today, held its first official meeting in 1996.

This dedicated group, led by its 2015 officers include – Jean Gucwa, president; Peg Gruber, vice president; Joan LeBlanc, treasurer; Nancy Lagattuta, recording secretary; and Pat Farrell, corresponding secretary – supports the hospital in a variety ways.

Longtime auxiliary member Peg Gruber is tasked with the Willow Tree Gift Shop, presently located in the lobby. The gift shop, originally located in the hallway of the old Emergency Room, is currently staffed with a part-time manager and Auxiliary volunteers. They sell cards, magazines, fresh flowers, candy, snack food, select fashions, jewelry and gifts for the home.

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The Ways and Means committee, which runs the sales held in the Atrium, is chaired by Audrey Kolbe.

In addition to the great vendors already scheduled, there are two new additions this summer, Dragonfly

Jams & Jellies and “Everything $6.”

Dragonfly Jams and Jellies offers unique flavors, not found in stores, and are made largely from Niagara County fruits. Samples for tasting will be available and they make lovely gifts as well.

“Everything $6” has a variety of items including small purses, scarves, leggings, some jewelry , men’s thermal socks, watches, and many other items too numerous to mention.

Upcoming Ways and Means Events

July 14-15 Books Are Fun July 21 Dragonfly James & Jellies August 6 Small Indulgences August 27 Scrubs September 17 House of Nacre September 24-25 “Everything $6” October 8 Bunny Leighton Jewelry November 5 Small Indulgences October 17 Susie’s Books December 8-9 Books Are Fun

The Sewing Group, organized by Beverly McHenry, consists of 15 members. They sell their goods in the Atrium every Monday from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can find knitted, crocheted, sewn and hand-crafted items. Every spring and fall they also hold a bazaar in the hospital atrium.

Many years ago, it was held at the Boulevard Mall.

Originally, this Sewing Group was women who gathered in each other’s homes, to sew and mend for the hospital, making gowns of unbleached muslin and lap robes. This continued until the hospital contracted with an outside linen supply company and the women began to knit and crochet baby sets and other items.

Today, the Sewing Group gets together on Mondays to work on their projects as a group in the Foundation Conference Room.

All proceeds from the various sales are presented to Kenmore Mercy Hospital at the end of the year.

On behalf of Kenmore Mercy Hospital and the Kenmore Mercy Foundation, “Thank you to every Auxiliary member. We appreciate everything you do for the hospital and for the health of this community,” said Susan Jandzinski, annual fund director for the Kenmore Mercy Foundation.