Wartburg Volunteers Recognition Banquet

June 29, 2012 - PRLog -- WARTBURG VOLUNTEERS HONORED
AT RECOGNITION BANQUET

(MOUNT VERNON NY) Close to 100 dedicated volunteers were honored Thursday, June 28th at a very special event. The Wartburg Adult Care Community held its annual
appreciation dinner on its historic and beautiful 34-acre campus in Mount Vernon.

Lois Slattery, in her 18th year of service at The Wartburg, served as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies.

David J. Gentner, President & CEO of The Wartburg welcomed everyone: ”Tonight is just a mere token of how much you really mean to us. The Wartburg was founded by volunteers, such as you. Our Board of Directors are volunteers, as well. Your sacrifice and graciousness will always be appreciated. As President of The Wartburg, I am proud to serve you.”

Mr. Gentner then acknowledged  Ann Frey, The Wartburg’s Director of Volunteers, ”A special thank you goes to Ann for spearheading the variety of year-round volunteer projects and events. She continues to combine ingenuity, innovativeness, and a lot of hard work to assure that each and every one of our volunteer programs are successful.”
Dorothea Bell, Vice President of Human Resources, then addressed the audience of volunteers, ”We are so very fortunate and blessed to have you as part of our family. Your efforts truly make a difference.”

In her Invocation, Pastor Carol Fryer praised the volunteers, “You have done so much for so many. You have brought richness into the lives of our residents. One example is on Sundays where we have up to 50 residents in wheelchairs who need to be brought to and from our Chapel for Mass. Each Sunday you have patiently comforted them and help transport them throughout the morning. You give them the legs they need.”

Linda Parke, RN – a nurse for over 33 years, now retired and volunteering at the Wartburg for the past eight months, shared her feelings: “I am currently on dialysis, but I refuse to feel sorry for myself. In fact, I feel that God has given me a second chance. So I volunteer at The Wartburg three days a week, and do what I do best – care for people.  My years of nursing have given me the experience to be patient with the elderly residents, and understand their needs. The Wartburg provides a loving environment and promotes a family-like approach to care. I am inspired and encouraged with every visit. While we, the volunteers, are being acknowledged tonight, we are the ones who feel blessed to be given the opportunity of sharing our skills with those who need it most.”

President Gentner concluded with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous poem Success: “To succeed is to leave the world a bit better, and to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived!”.
No doubt, the world is a better place because of the extraordinary volunteers at The Wartburg.

About The Wartburg
The Wartburg Adult Care Community is a not-for-profit Lutheran ministry, serving people of all faiths with a full range of residential options and health-related services for older area adults and their families. The Wartburg offers skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, Alzheimer's and dementia care, assisted and independent living, adult day services, home care, palliative care, respite care, hospice, pastoral care and monthly caregiver support groups. Acknowledged for the second consecutive year by US News &World Report as one of the Best 100 Nursing Homes, The Wartburg continues to lead the way in providing the ever-growing elderly population with innovative independent living options.

For more information about The Wartburg Adult Care Community or to support its mission, please call (914) 699-0800, email info@thewartburg.org or visit www.thewartburg.org.
#  #  #

PHOTO CAPTION:
Wartburg Volunteers and Staff at Annual Recognition Banquet