La Porte Hospital Auxiliary proves good things come in small boxes

2/1/2016

2/1/2016 (La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Hospital Auxiliary ended 2015 with a very powerful message that came in a tiny box. During the Indiana University La Porte Hospital Volunteer Holiday Party in December, Auxiliary philanthropy chairperson Marcia Morris and Auxiliary President Ed Gondeck presented hospital president and CEO G. Thor Thordarson with a gift of $20,646 in a very clever way.

Thordarson accepted a large wrapped box that held an intriguing message directing him to open a smaller wrapped box inside. After going through a series of nested boxes and clever messages, Thordarson finally came to the smallest box containing the monetary gift, and held it up for all to cheer.

"Our Auxiliary and volunteers have been such an important part of our organization for generations, and I'm so grateful for their support both through monetary gifts and the greatest gift of all - their time. We were able to put these funds to great use right away, for the benefit of our community and the health of our patients and visitors, in body, mind and spirit," Thordarson said. Volunteers gave more than 30,000 hours of time in 2015. Of the total gift, $17,000 went toward the Community Health Center, which provides primary care services to individuals in the community who are uninsured or under-insured on a sliding fee scale; $1,000 went toward the Chapel Organ Fund within the La Porte Hospital Foundation; and $2,646 went to the Foundation's Samaritan Fund, which provides resources for patients to help pay for outlying expenses related to catastrophic illnesses (such as transportation to treatments).

"The La Porte Hospital Auxiliary has always kept community health and wellbeing as a top priority when making our philanthropic selections. We are grateful for the support that our hospital, Community Health Center, and Foundation have provided over the years to improve community health and make our community a better place to live, so it's rewarding to give back. We look forward to supporting community health initiatives for years to come," Morris said. Anyone who enters IU Health La Porte Hospital likely has encountered a volunteer cheerfully and compassionately helping visitors and patients navigate the hospital and campus. In 2015 alone, the Auxiliary Guest Shuttle provided more than 10,000 rides to hospital guests and colleagues, and almost the same amount of wheelchair transports inside the facility as well. The Auxiliary provided $10,000 toward the purchase of new wheelchairs for the hospital in 2015.

The gifts provided were raised by Auxiliary members through various activities including Wishing Well Gift Shop sales, and community sales events of books and chocolate.

For more information about becoming a member of the La Porte Hospital Auxiliary or a hospital volunteer, contact Volunteer Services at 219.326.2451.

Back