Sparky Award
January's Award-Winning Volunteers
The gratitude we show our volunteers is their paycheck, but we take our appreciation one step further. Every month we announce the weekly winners of the Sparky Award, which recognizes volunteers who have gone the extra mile. Meet our latest monthly winners!
Kayla Ritter
Kayla (right) is a Sparky recipient due to her bubbly personality and willingness to help wherever needed. She always goes above and beyond her call of duty! We greatly appreciate the kindness and care she brings to Thursday mornings. Kayla's future in healthcare is most definitely sparkly and bright.
Nancy Foelske
Nancy (center) has been a reliable and valued volunteer since 2001. Each Friday, the ER staff looks forward to Nancy's help. She cares for the families of our patients and readily completes her volunteer duties, while extending her kindness and care to the staff. She's trusted to share her experience with new volunteers as she provides training. Her service to others extends far beyond Allen Hospital, as she is an active volunteer with many other agencies, too. Nancy is certainly a sparkly spark!
Dale Moeller
Dale (second from right) is reliable as he volunteers twice weekly and helps as a substitute on short notice. He's always kind, as he quietly and completely tackles any task put before him. He is able to work with any team of volunteers and has learned to be an amazing, valued patient escort volunteer.
Del Jaramillo
Del is a kind, welcoming presence at entrance No. 1. He also serves as the current president of the Allen Auxiliary Board of Directors. Del ensures that our visitors and patients entering through door 1 are cared for. During a recent shift, he realized a visitor to our hospital needed special assistance. He was able to ensure this person received the care and direction they needed. Del has been known to provide a ride for people in need and provide lunch funds. Del has a special sparkle in his heart.
December's Award-Winning Volunteers
The gratitude we show our volunteers is their paycheck, but we take our appreciation one step further. Every month we announce the weekly winners of the Sparky Award, which recognizes volunteers who have gone the extra mile. Meet our latest monthly winners!
Tom Manley
Tom (second from left) is a relatively new Allen volunteer. He serves as a patient escort and is dedicated to helping others safely find their way around our hospital. His natural kindness makes it easy for our guests and patients to seek his help.
Roseann Cory and Mary Fratzke
These two Allen Gift Shop volunteers (wearing red) are sure to help all who enter. Their friendship has grown as they share time serving customers and help keep the shop looking top-notch. Their ability to connect with our customers in the shop is a hit with each person who visits the shop. The compassion they have and the kindness they show is contagious, we're all better for being in their presence.
Helen Melichar
Helen (center) is a longtime volunteer, serving in many, many capacities for many organizations – the Allen Gift Shop, Allen Auxiliary Board of Directors, and the Foundation Board to name a few here at Allen. Her willingness to serve in the shop and make sure the Auxiliary is contributing to positive endeavors are valued. Most recently, she donated a sewing machine and supplies to make fidget blankets. Helen finds a way to make a difference each and every day through her ideas and actions.
Donna McDermott
Donna (second from left) has been an active Allen Hospital volunteer since 2008. She's one of the very brightest sparks among our Volunteer Program. Donna is willing to help in any capacity – Surgery Waiting Room, Patient Escort, Child Protection Center, and any special project that is presented to her. She has a constant smile and can-do attitude.
Royal Jolley
Royal is new to our Volunteer Program, but you wouldn't know it. He quickly learned the ins and outs of wayfinding and wheelchair wrangling. His energy and kind, helpful attitude is evident as he assures our patients and visitors truly feel cared for. Royal is not afraid to go the extra mile to help others, as he walks many miles during his volunteer shift. He's always on the lookout for ways to serve others.