June 6, 2005

Jameson Junior Guild Donates $300,000 to Jameson

The Jameson Junior Guild presented Thomas E. White, President/CEO of the Jameson Health System, with a check for $300,000 at its annual luncheon.

However, Guild President Laura Crawford made White work for his money.  Knowing White is a golfer, Crawford gave him three tries to putt a white golf ball into a

plastic bucket tipped sideways.  Hospital Vice President/COO Donald Melonio even tried to help by moving the bucket closer to White.

  That was so pathetic, Crawford told White after he failed to sink a putt.  “I feel sorry for you, so I’m going to give you the check anyway.”

  White thanked the guild for its “extreme generosity and commitment.” “Yours is a group of people in our community dedicated to preserving quality of life,” he said.  “The fire of volunteerism is alive and well in each of you.”

  The donation leaves the guild just $50,000 to pay on its 2000 pledge of $1.5 million.  It also brings the guild’s total donations to $15.3 million since its first $700 donation in 1939.  The money is used to buy equipment in Jameson Hospital’s heart and cancer centers. Recent projects include upgrading and enlarging the hospital laboratory and before that improving the emergency room.  Guild funds also have paid for several linear accelerators that deliver radiation treatment to cancer patients.

  Proceeds from gift and food sales in the hospital Hostess Shop provide most of the money the guild earns each year.  Other fundraisers include the annual fall bazaar, which earns up to $16,000, plus sales of jewelry, uniforms and book.

Guild volunteers worked 23,176.75 hours this past year.  At an hourly rate of $17.55 (independent sector), that would make guild volunteer service worth $406,752 this year.