VOLUNTEERnews May2018A Newsletter for the Shepherd Auxiliary & Volunteers

Celebrating Stars In Our Midst: Shepherd Center Honors In-Hospital Volunteers Shepherd Center hosted its 2018 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, April 17 in its Callaway Auditorium. This annual event offered a chance to honor in-hospital volunteers who make a difference with our patients, families and staff every day, while also enjoying the company of fellow volunteers old and new. Soiree Catering provided the deli-cious meal, and each volunteer received a tumbler with the words “Shepherd Center Volunteer” as a small token of appreciation. Sarah Morrison, PT, MBA, MHA, president and CEO of Shepherd Center, welcomed guests and thanked volunteers for the gifts of their time and talent. Following dinner, Lisa Eagen, BS, ACSM-CPT, lead exercise specialist for the ProMotion Fitness Center introduced guest speaker Donna Luttrell. Donna shared that Shepherd Center’s Fitness Buddy volunteer program allowed her to maintain her workout regimen. As a ProMotion gym member, she works with a fitness buddy, Doyle Mote. Donna shared how Doyle has motivated and encouraged her over the years. Donna also recognized the other volunteers she comes in contact with on a daily basis at Shepherd Center who make a positive impact on her life. A brief slideshow showcased familiar faces along with a message to volunteers, featuring the hit song “Heroes.” At Shepherd Center, all of our volunteers are heroes to our patients, their family members and our staff. We truly ap-preciate all that you do for us each day, and this annual dinner and gift cannot amount to what you do for Shepherd.

Volunteer Milestone Hour Awards 100 Hours: Marion Berry, Mary Bierbusse, Michele Fox, Carter Frooman, Nathan Gravlee, Andrea Hudson, Savan-

nah Ivy, Breanna Jones, Mackenzie Mastin, Jean O’Halloran, Haley Oubre, Susan Selman, Luke Shin, Dell Sikes, Taylor Sinclair, Brandon Tran, Midori Zarzour. 250 Hours: Bruce Conover, Karyn Harris. 500 Hours: Bruce Allen, Kevin Angle,

Rudy Fears, Patty McGill, Carol Morello. 1500 Hours: Ann Boriskie. 2500 Hours: Beryl Waters. 3500 Hours: Mitzi Richardson. 4500 Hours: Barry Phillips. 5000 Hours: Bisi Alabi. 15,000 Hours: James Curtis.

Above (l-r): Jim, Wynell, Cathy and Scott Hunt gather for a photo dur-ing the reception.

Left (l-r): Sydell Harris and Laura Barnard are all smiles while enjoy-ing the weather on the terrace.

Left: Hour award recipients pose for a group picture after the dinner.

Left (l-r): Amy and Lisa Eagen pose with guest speaker, Donna Luttrell, on the terrace before the dinner.

from theAUXILIARYPRESIDENT

Dear Auxiliary and Peach Corps Members, Welcome to a new and exciting year for the Auxiliary and Peach Corps! We look forward to beginning the Aux-iliary’s 36th year with heartfelt anticipation and contin-ued dedication to our Shepherd patients and families. The 2018-2019 year promises to offer many opportuni-ties to touch lives and make a difference. We sincerely appreciate Elaine Carlos, our 2017-2018 president, for her outstanding leadership and commit-ment to Shepherd. She recognized needs, set goals and worked tirelessly on Auxiliary events and fundraisers, while offering support, encouragement and friendship. We added three highly successful and fun-filled events – the first annual membership drive and cocktail par-ty, holiday singalong and new member lunch and tour. Elaine led our efforts as we redefined the primary mis-sion of the Auxiliary:• to enhance a positive experience for patients and fam-ilies, both inpatient and outpatient on all campuses•to express empathy, comfort and support according to the needs of each patient and family•to serve as community ambassadors for Shepherd Center•to ensure each Auxiliary member has a meaningful ex-perience As we begin our new year with familiar events and new innovations in place, I am confident the Auxiliary and Peach Corps will continue to grow and enrich the lives of patients and families. Our focus is to engage members by touching lives and making a difference. This serves as a reminder of the importance of our commitment to Shepherd Center and the mission of the Auxiliary. Dur-ing the course of the year you will be offered new op-portunities to engage. To receive news and special event information, please return your updated Auxiliary renewal form as soon as possible. Regular emails will be sent with specific volun-teer opportunities and reminders. Our annual luncheon and meeting on April 26 was a celebration of a successful year of volunteering and making an impact. Janet Paulsen, our guest speaker, shared her compelling story of her time as a patient at Shepherd Center. We also honored longtime supporter Emory Schwall by renaming our Patient Aid Fund after him. Emory’s years of tireless support, including many

years of Pecans parties in his home, have left a lasting impact on us and we will be ever grateful. The Sunshine Committee will meet May 19 to cre-ate Memorial Day and July 4th favors for patients. What a great way to spend part of your day – with good friends while doing something to brighten our patients’ lives. I am truly honored to serve as president of the Aux-iliary. Your continued support and dedication to the Shepherd community is greatly appreciated. Please invite your friends to join us for activities and events – they are always welcome. We look forward to a won-derful year!

With love and gratitude,

RuthRuth LangsfeldRLangsfeld@gmail.com

Above (l-r): 2018-19 Auxiliary Executive committee members were installed at the Annual Luncheon: Lisa Frooman (corre-sponding secretary), Lisa McAdams (treasurer), Ruth Langsfeld (president) and Anne Worrell (president-elect). Not pictured: Elaine Carlos (immediate past president) and Carol Olsen (re-cording secretary).

Above (l-r): Emory Schwall was recognized for his longstanding dedication to Shepherd Center by president Elaine Carlos.

Volunteer Spotlight: Luke Shin Our highlighted volunteer this issue is Luke Shin. His work ethic and service to Shepherd Center could cer-tainly be an inspiration for others! Luke was born in Seoul, South Korea and was the only son and firstborn child in his family. At the age of 4, Luke’s father moved his family to the United States for better opportunities. His father earned multiple de-grees as he prepared for his goal of becoming a college professor teaching information technology – a goal he achieved. During those years, his father moved the fam-ily of four to several different cities to attend universi-ties. Luke recalls having a wonderful childhood and has vivid memories of his mother taking him to the library for several hours every week, where he learned his love of reading. He also remembers his mother taking him to her church mission activities, where he learned to serve. When Luke was only a junior at Chattahoochee High School, he had his first volunteer job tutoring students at the middle school he had attended. After graduating from high school and starting his education at Georgia State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in neurosci-ence, he began searching for other volunteer opportunities. Luke chose Grady Hospital and Shepherd Center as possible places he could offer his help, as well as be exposed to professionals in his academic field of interest. After interviewing at both locations, Shepherd Center’s welcoming culture drew him in. “When people think of medical settings like a hospital they picture a stern, clinical place. Shepherd Center feels much warmer than that,” Luke shares. In 2012, Luke began volunteering regularly in our Noble Learning Resource Center, which most staff casually call our library. In the years since, he has been a faithful weekly volunteer. At a time when many of his peers are focused on their freedom, Luke serves at Shepherd Center on the weekend. He enjoys fulfilling requests made by clinical staff earlier in the week for journal articles, and he also helps reduce the librarian’s weekly workload by completing administrative tasks. On weekends, patients and families have more free time, and some come to the library. Luke ensures those visitors feel welcomed and often makes suggestions on which specific materials would be beneficial for them to read. During his years volunteering, Luke completed his bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, and then completed a degree in psychology. He continues to take classes with the long-term goal of becoming a neurologist or psychia-trist. We are very grateful he has made his service to Shepherd Center a priority during such a busy time of his life. We know that with his good heart and great work ethic he has a bright future ahead of him!

Above: Luke Shin works on an assignment during his volunteer shift in the Noble Learning Resource Center.

Peach Corps Pals Host Spring CookoutAfter a long delay, spring finally arrived just in time for the spring Peach Corps Pals cookout on April 29. Held in the Secret Garden, the beautiful weather provided a perfect backdrop for a day full of fun and fellowship for Peach Corps members, patients and their fami-lies. New and returning members served hamburgers and hot dogs with a smile, and offered a fun Sunday afternoon for visitors. More than 150 guests were in attendance, and the children distributed ice cream to patients throughout the hospital. Thanks to those who volunteered their time to make the day special for our patients and their families.

Right: Volunteer families welcomed patients and their families to the Secret Garden.

Left: Volunteering is a family affair for Peach Corps Pals co-chair Lori Ewing Bowen and her family.

Sarah Batts, Executive Director, Shepherd Center FoundationAlex Seblatnigg, Director, Volunteer ServicesAlaina Case, Volunteer Services CoordinatorGale Eckstein, Family Support Services CoordinatorNewsletter Co-editors: Alaina Case and Gale Eckstein

Membership in the Shepherd Center Auxiliary, Peach Corps, SCS, and Junior Committee is open to all volunteers. Members provide ongoing fundraising and volunteer support to Shepherd Center. For more information on becoming a member of one of these groups, contact Alex Seblatnigg at (404) 350-7315 or visit www.shepherd.org.Shepherd Center’s mission is to help people with a temporary or permanent disability caused by injury or disease rebuild their lives with hope, independence, and dignity, advocating for their full inclusion in all aspects of community life while promoting safety and injury prevention.

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Above (l-r): AC Hotel at Phipps employees Mandi Budman and Jamie Krueger visit with family mem-ber Laila Panjwani during a brunch hosted by the company.

Above (l-r): Volunteer from Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church treated patients, families and staff to coffee and donuts as part of their annual day of service.

Right (l-r): Artmore Hotel employees Patsy Thomas and Renada Coleman visit with Sonia and Miguel Chung and their grandsons, Lucas and Diego, during a lunch sponsored by the company.