CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (October 15, 2018) – The Family Caregivers Center of Mercy is one of four programs in the nation recognized by the American Hospital Association (AHA) as a winner of its Hospital Awards for Volunteer Excellence (HAVE).
The AHA HAVE Awards Program is in its 35th year and highlights the extraordinary efforts of volunteers and volunteer programs, as well as the value and positive influence their contributions have on the patients, hospitals, health systems, staff and communities they serve.
The Family Caregivers Center of Mercy was the winner in the community service category. Other program categories include community outreach and/or collaboration, fundraising, and in-service hospital volunteer programs.
“We are pleased to be recognized by the AHA for our community service program initiatives,” said Kathy Good, director of the Family Caregivers Center of Mercy. “We have a dedicated volunteer force of more than 110 committed individuals who’ve allowed us to serve 860 caregivers since our start in 2015. The need for the service we provide is great, and growing, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community in the coming years.”
Award recipients were honored at the annual HAVE Awards breakfast on Sept. 30 in Chicago.
A celebration will be held in Cedar Rapids in late October to recognize the volunteers, donors, caregivers and care receivers.
The 2018 HAVE recipients and finalists are:
Community Service
Winner
· Family Caregivers Center of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Finalists
· Integris Grove Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary-Souper Bowl Saturday, Integris Grove Hospital, Integris Health, Oklahoma City
· Moore County: They Immunize Kids Early (MCTIKE), First Health of the Carolina, Inc., Pinehurst, N.C.
· Morris Hospital Patient Transportation Program, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers, Morris, Ill.
· Munroe Auxiliary Healthy Home, Munroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala, Fla.
Community Outreach/Collaboration
Winner
· HSHS St. Joseph Community Garden, HSHS St. Joseph Hospital, Chippewa, Wis.
Fundraising
Winner
· Tackle Kids Cancer, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, N.J.
In-Service
Winner
· Trauma Survivors Network, The MetroHealth System, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio
About the Family Caregivers Center of Mercy
The Family Caregivers Center of Mercy is eastern Iowa’s only comprehensive resource for family caregivers. Services are available for caregivers in need, regardless of their hospital or physician affiliation. The Center provides access to vital services and helps connect caregivers of individuals living with chronic conditions to local resources. Visit www.familycaregiverscenter.org
About the American Hospital Association
The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at www.aha.org.
