Abrazo Arrowhead Campus honored three long-time volunteers with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for donating more than 16,000 hours combined at the hospital.

This is the highest award in the nation bestowed on volunteers who have donated at least 4,000 hours during their lifetime. Abrazo Arrowhead Campus CEO Frank Molinaro presented the award on Nov. 11 to volunteers Diane Elder, Jane Kane and Teresa Zamborini. They each received a letter from President Barack Obama, a President’s Call to Service Award Certificate and a pin to commemorate the event.

“This is an amazing accomplishment that these volunteers are being honored by the President of the United States,’’ Molinaro said. “Throughout the year, volunteers play a key role at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, helping out day to day and giving our patients a sense of community and a personal touch that lets them know their neighbors care.’’

Abrazo
The letter from the president and pin the volunteers received on Friday’s ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Abrazo Community Health Network)

Kane has been volunteering since 1997 and has donated more than 6,600 hours. She volunteers two days, one as a gift shop clerk and one day in the surgical unit as a Patient Care Assistant. She also delivers newspapers to patient rooms.

Zamborini started volunteering in 1999 and has donated more than 5,300 hours.  She has volunteered in Employee Health as a clerk. She now volunteers in the Emergency Room and the Progressive Care Unit as a Patient Care Assistant.

Elder began volunteering in 2005 and has donated more than 4,300 hours. She began volunteering three days a week, one day at the Gift Shop as a gift shop clerk and two days on the Information Desk. She now volunteers one day a week at the Information Desk.

Elder said she enjoys volunteering at the information desk because she has the opportunity to meet and interact with so many people.

“People come in excited because there’s a new baby, or they are scared because they need a biopsy. We have to be ready to help them no matter what they are feeling,” Elder said.

She has made close friends while volunteering at Arrowhead.

“Volunteering is a great way for people who may otherwise feel isolated to make great friends. Everyone needs a reason to get up in the morning, and giving back to the community provides socialization, exercise, and greater meaning,” Elder said.

Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, 18701 N. 67th Ave., is always seeking more volunteers at the hospital who can help patients by escorting them to their destinations, providing water and ice as well as delivering and picking up meal trays. They drive courtesy carts, deliver mail, help change beds, make deliveries and maintain inventory in the nutrition centers and linen rooms. They also can perform clerical duties, help at one of the four guest relation desks and work in the gift shop.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Norma Morales at 623-561-7979 or nmorales@abrazohealth.com.