Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital volunteer Estelle Hoffman was installed as the hospital’s 2010 Auxiliary president in front of an enthusiastic group of board members and volunteers during a luncheon on Friday, January 8.
The Auxiliary is an organization of hospital volunteers who support Henry Mayo with their participation in various fundraising events as well as the management of the hospital gift shop. A fundraising unit of the hospital’s volunteer services department, the Auxiliary donates proceeds from sales events and hospital gift shop proceeds to the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation. The group also presents parents of Henry Mayo’s New Year’s baby each year with a celebration package that includes a $50 certificate to the hospital’s gift shop. Throughout the year, all new babies are gifted with a silver spoon, compliments of the Auxiliary.
Hoffman said she is excited about her new position.
“I’m looking forward to a wonderful year of vendor sales and gift shop income. The more we make, the more we can donate back to the hospital for expansion of services for our community,” Hoffman said.
Since she began volunteering at Henry Mayo two years ago, Hoffman has worked at the front desk of the volunteer services department and as the newsletter chair.
She’s also been a part of the hospital’s successful patient relations program. During her rounds, Hoffman meets with patients to make sure their non-medical needs are being met and to offer friendly conversation.
“When you talk to with a patient, and they know you’re just there to listen, you’ll see a twinkle in their eye or they’ll give you a smile that makes your heart burst,” Hoffman said. “I really enjoy giving back to the community and interfacing with people.”
Hoffman worked at Pacific Bell for 26 years; the last ten, she was a labor relations manager and the director of volunteers for all of the company’s Southern California offices.
She became acquainted with Henry Mayo when her mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, broke her hips eight months apart and received treatment at the hospital; Hoffman was her caregiver.
“Since I was there with her most of the time, I saw how hard the volunteers worked and what good they did, so I thought to myself, ‘I’ll do that when I can,’” Hoffman said. “Now that I’m here, I absolutely love it.”
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is a 221-bed not-for-profit acute care hospital serving the Santa Clarita Valley since 1975. Services include trauma, emergency, intensive care, maternity, surgery, nursing, wound care, behavioral health, and acute rehab, as well as cancer, cardiology, imaging, lab, digestive, respiratory services and physical and occupational therapies.
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is located at 23845 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355-2083. For more information, visit www.henrymayo.com or call 661-253-8000.