Commitment of RWJ Hamilton Volunteers is Key to Hospital's Success
Volunteers to Be Honored During National Volunteer Week

"One of the things that impressed me the most when I joined this outstanding organization was seeing the commitment of so many volunteers," says Ellen Guarnieri, President and CEO of RWJ Hamilton. "It is great to see the dedication from people who have recently joined the organization as well as from those whose commitment spans 35 years."

Over the past calendar year 350 volunteers provided RWJ Hamilton with more than 46,000 hours of service. Many of the hospital's volunteers will be recognized for service milestones at the dinner.

"Our volunteers play a tremendous role in the success that RWJ Hamilton has embraced while meeting the healthcare needs of our community," says Kathy Gabel, RWJ Hamilton's Volunteer Coordinator. "They are extraordinarily dedicated and hard working. Their talents and time given are greatly appreciated."

Dedicated, Innovative Volunteers
RWJ Hamilton's volunteers have opportunities to perform traditional duties including customer service and office assistance, and unique opportunities to reach patients in non-traditional ways. Volunteers regularly visit the hospital to play the harp, provide Reiki therapy, brighten the outlook of patients through contact with dogs that are members of the organization's pet therapy program, sketch portraits or raise spirits while dressed as clowns. The hospital's innovative approach to healthcare has made it possible to attract new volunteers who can meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of patients. The hospital's volunteers have built a reputation for recruiting and encouraging the next generation of volunteers.

As coordinator of RWJ Hamilton's volunteer program, Gabel's goal is to match the interests of volunteer applicants with appropriate departments. She strives to develop successful long-term partnerships between volunteers and the departments they serve. The investments in care that many of the hospital's volunteers have made have resulted in developing special friendships with other volunteers that continue beyond the hospital campus.

Several honorees at this year's dinner have served RWJ Hamilton since 1964 when the facility was located in Trenton and called Trenton General Hospital. Many of those honorees were members of a grass roots movement that was successful in raising money to move the facility to Hamilton in 1971.

"There are so many benefits to volunteering," says Gabel. "It provides opportunities to meet new people and experience new things, with a parallel satisfaction of knowing that what you do is in service to someone who needs your help."

For more information about RWJ Hamilton's volunteer program, please call (609) 584-6670.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.