Over the past two decades, the Auxiliary has given countless hours and monetary donations for vital hospital improvements. This dynamic group of volunteers raises funds through many avenues, including bingo, luncheons, newborn photos, vending machines and, of course, the beautiful Hospital Gift Shop.
The generosity of the Auxiliary is behind the purchase of many wonderful additions to St. Mary’s Hospital, including mammography, fetal monitoring, infant warming, fluoroscopy, stroke intervention telemedicine, improvements to OPIS and Ambulatory Surgery and construction of the Atrium. Most recently, the Auxiliary has been instrumental in expansion and renovation projects, including our MRI unit, Tele-BAT system and other needed equipment in our Emergency Care Center. The group also brought the comforts of home to patients with the addition of television sets in our Ambulatory Care Center.
A History of Giving
From 1980 to 1989, the Auxiliary raised $535,000 on behalf of the hospital. Nearly half of the funds were used to help pay for the new hospital building that opened in April 1984. The pledge was also used to construct and equip a Behavioral Health unit, construct a new Pediatrics Unit and update the Hospice Department.
In 1986, the Auxiliary provided $100,000 toward’s the purchase of the hospital's Computerized Automated Tomography (CAT) scanner. The following year, the Auxiliary purchased a vitally needed C-arm X-ray unit for installation in one of the operating rooms, thus enabling the addition of sophisticated vascular and orthopaedic surgical techniques. Other Auxiliary expenditures during the 1980's included the installation of new mammography, electroencephalography and operating room sterilization equipment.
The 1990's saw even higher Auxiliary financial commitments to meet the ever-growing needs of the hospital. For example, in 1990, the Auxiliary donated a $160,000 television viewing system for patient's enjoyment and relaxation. At the same time, the Auxiliary purchased a greatly improved mammography imaging system at a cost of $54,000.
In 1991, the Auxiliary gave $69,000 to the hospital to construct and equip a new dining room "atrium" addition to the hospital cafeteria.
In 1992, the Auxiliary contributed $2,000 for the purchase of a fetal calculator/stethoscope to monitor newborn infants as well as an acoustic stimulator and accessory tapes for the pediatrics department.
In 1992 the hospital, without the benefit of a commercial fundraising program, commenced a $6 million building addition due to the rapid population growth in St. Mary's County. The hospital auxiliary pledged $500,000 to the hospital to fund construction of an ambulatory surgery unit ($350,000) and an OPIS unit (Out-Patient Infusion Service) for treatment of cancer patients ($150,000). This pledge was honored at the new expansion dedication ceremonies in 1994.
In 1995, the Auxiliary donated $3,000 to the obstetrical department for diagnostic equipment and $15,000 for a fetal warmer unit for the labor rooms.
In 1994 and again in 1996, the Auxiliary gave a total of $16,000 to the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation to increase its seed fund for hospital projects.
In 1998 the Auxiliary pledged $35,000 to the hospital to establish a pilot program with the University of Maryland Hospital for a Tele-Bat (Brain Attack Team) program. This stroke intervention initiative provides for digital imaging between University of Maryland Medical Center and St. Mary's Hospital for stroke patients in the early use of "clot-busting" enzymes and diagnosis/treatment within the three-hour "golden window."
In 2001, the Auxiliary contributed $434,694 to renovate and furnish a state-of-the-art fluoroscopy room. In 2002 and 2003 the Auxiliary contributed $750,000 towards the hospital expansion project. From June 2004 to June 2007 the Auxiliary made unrestricted donations to the hospital totaling $900,000. These funds were subsequently used together with other funding to procure a Mammography Computer Aided Detection System, Colonscopes, Gastroscopes, Endoscopy Video and Light System, a Mini C-Arm, Cardiac Monitors for PACU, ECC, ICC, Telemetry, a C-Arm, a Dexi-scan, and OB Fetal Monitors. In addition, we funded the procurement of television sets for ambulatory surgery and Ultrasound equipment for the Emergency Care Center.
Many thanks to the several dedicated volunteers for their extraordinary vision and generosity.
For more information on how to make a gift to the St. Mary's Hospital Auxilliary, click here. |
