NCH celebrates National Volunteer Week
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (April 22, 2013) – To celebrate National Volunteer Week from April 21-27, Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) honored hundreds of its volunteers at a luncheon and recognition ceremony on Saturday, April 20, at Meridian Banquets in Arlington Heights.
Approximately 800 people volunteer their time and talent at NCH and its off-site facilities. They offer a welcoming voice and friendly face for visitors, support the hospital staff that provides patient care, and serve in several additional ways – all for the benefit of the community.
“We rely on the commitment of so many great volunteers to provide all of the quality services our patients and families deserve,” says Mary Jo Dailey, director of guest services at NCH. “Our volunteers help exemplify what it truly means to be a community hospital.”
During Saturday's ceremony, NCH honored three long-time volunteers who recently retired: Mary Clarbour; Mary Carol Frieburg; and Marian Michalski. For the past 35 years, each volunteer donated countless hours at NCH. They were recognized during a ceremony at the luncheon and were presented gifts of appreciation.
Following the luncheon, NCH volunteers presented a book they created containing sentiments and good wishes for NCH CEO Bruce Crowther, who is retiring at the end of 2013 after more than 20 years at NCH.
Community volunteers have been an integral part of the NCH environment for more than 50 years. In 2012, volunteers contributed 93,000 service hours. NCH encourages residents to join its volunteer team and make a difference in the community. Volunteer opportunities are tailored to fit anyone's schedule. For more information about volunteering, visit nch.org.
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About Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH)
Serving Chicago's northwest suburbs since 1959, NCH is a comprehensive, patient-centered system of care that serves more than 350,000 outpatients each year, as well as nearly 30,000 inpatients treated annually at the 496-bed acute care hospital in Arlington Heights. The award-winning hospital holds the prestigious Magnet designation for nursing excellence, is designated as a Primary Stroke Center, earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval in 2011, and was awarded the Leapfrog Group's designation as one of the nation's Top Hospitals based on quality and safety criteria. NCH has four Immediate Care locations in the northwest suburbs and operates a FastCare Clinic in Palatine. NCH has a medical staff of more than 1,000 physicians, which includes the board-certified primary care doctors and specialists of the NCH Medical Group. For more information or to find a doctor on the NCH Medical staff, visit www.nch.org.