Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Cover of DHMC Auxiliary volunteer anniversary book.

It seems that the dedicated volunteers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center just can't stop themselves from giving. The DHMC Auxiliary recently marked its 75th year of service with the publication of A Gift of Service, a Seventy-Five Year History of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Auxiliary. They are giving away a limited number of copies while supplies last. The DHMC Auxiliary also just announced $265,000 in grants to fund various projects throughout DHMC.

"Each year it seems our volunteers find new ways to contribute even more to DHMC, and their work touches nearly every part of the hospital," said Andrea Henry, Director of Volunteer Services at DHMC, who noted that in 2007, DHMC volunteers recorded more than 50,000 hours of service to the hospital. "This 75th anniversary year has been a lot of fun, and the publication of the book is a great tribute to the integral role that volunteers play in this organization today, and for the last 75 years."

A Gift of Service, a Seventy-Five-Year History of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Auxiliary records the 75 years of partnership between the Hospital and the Auxiliary volunteer program. Following ten months of research, writing, and designing, the volunteer book committee distributed copies of the anniversary book to Auxiliary members attending the celebratory banquet on October 21. Frank A. Logan of Hanover, chair of the book committee, described the book as "more than a self-promotional piece for the Auxiliary." Logan says it traces the long history of the close partnership and interdependence between the Hospital and the Auxiliary, a relationship that helped not only to keep the Hospital viable during its darkest years, but also to enhance the quality of its patient services more recently.

"Our assignment was both challenging and gratifying," Logan said. "In the process, we all learned a great deal about the parallel development of the Hospital and the Auxiliary, and how the two of them partnered together for the common good."

2008 Auxiliary Grants

Supplementing the resources of the Hospital has been part of the Auxiliary's mission since it was formed in 1933. Recently, the DHMC Auxiliary announced a total of $265,000 in grants to fund various projects throughout DHMC, with funding provided from the profits of the Pink Smock Gift Shop, located in DHMC's Center Court.

Highlights of this year's grants include:

• $50,000 for the Jim Varnum Nursing Scholarship
• $30,000 in Funds for Prescription Assistance and Food Vouchers
• $33,000 for ultrasound equipment
• $11,000 to support Lifeline
• $ 9,000 for cochlear implant equipment

"The Auxiliary Grants program showcases the level of volunteer engagement at DHMC," said Andrea Henry. "From the volunteer cashiers and buyers in the gift shop who raise the funds, to the Auxiliary Board, volunteers who research and approve funding, there is hands-on Auxiliary participation throughout the entire grants process."

To learn more about Dartmouth-Hitchcock's volunteer programs, or for copies of the 75th anniversary book, please stop by Volunteer Services on Level Two of DHMC, near the Main Cafeteria. A Gift of Service is also available as a .pdf on the DHMC Web site at www.dhmc.org/goto/volunteer (click on Auxiliary History). You can also call Volunteer Services at (603) 650-7056.