Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Auxiliary Grants
“This is a wonderful gift to the community,” stated Charles Barber, President and CEO The Luzerne Foundation. “The Auxiliary’s Fund grants today will provide direct assistance to many in our community and are in keeping with the good works and charitable mission of the Auxiliary.”
The Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Auxiliary Fund of The Luzerne Foundation was established to continue the charitable intent of the Auxiliary. This Fund allow the WBGH Auxiliary the opportunity to fulfill its goal of supporting nonprofit healthcare services in the community in perpetuity. Grant emphasis is placed on cancer, hospice, physical and developmental disabilities.
“We wish to publically thank the many people who have supported the Auxiliary in the past,” noted MaryAnn Keirans, spokesperson for the WBGH Auxiliary. “This fund now insures that the mission of the Auxiliary will continue for many years to come.” The 200 member organization previously provided funds to the hospital for such projects as the purchase of new patient room furniture. “Now that the hospital is a for-profit entity,” Keirans continued, “the Auxiliary, over a period of almost two years, came to the decision to establish the Fund at The Luzerne Foundation as a way to continue our commitment to nonprofit healthcare services in Luzerne County.”
Volunteers in Medicine is a non-profit, community based organization developed to help meet the primary health care needs of the working uninsured and the underinsured populations in Luzerne County. The program is designed to provide free primary and preventative health services for those individuals who are employed but have no access or cannot afford health insurance. The grant will be used to provide programs at their North Pennsylvania Avenue location in Wilkes-Barre.
The Medical Oncology Prescription Assistance Fund was established by Dr. Greenwald to assist cancer patients in need with the purchase of prescriptions. Medical Oncology Associates has long recognized the devastating physical, psychological and financial hardships that many of our patients suffer. The establishment of this fund is means to help those in need receive prescribed medications that will be beneficial to their care.
The grant to the John Heinz Institute will be used for speech and specialized therapy programs for children with autism. There is a steady and significant increase in referrals of children with autism. Of the over 800 children now on outpatient service at John Heinz Institute, children with autism make up almost 25%.
The Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Auxiliary has roots reaching back to 1872 with the opening of the hospital. Originally known as the Lady Managers, the group changed its name in 1908 to the Ladies Auxiliary. Volunteers included the Red Coats (men), Pink Ladies and Candy Stripers who provided a variety of services to the hospital. The WBGH Auxiliary, an independent nonprofit organization, managed the hospital’s gift shop and held fundraisers including golf tournaments and the annual Starlight Ball.
