Beebe Auxiliary donates largest contribution to date to Beebe Healthcare

During its 81st annual membership luncheon themed Lighting the Way, celebrated May 2, the Beebe Auxiliary pledged a generous five-year commitment of $1.8 million to the Beebe Building Expansion Plan, starting with this year's check of $312,000, the largest single-year gift ever. With the rapid population growth in the local area, this will allow Beebe Healthcare to better serve the needs of the local community and stay ahead of the curve.

Auxiliary President Nancy Tartaglione presented the check to Jeffrey M. Fried, FACHE, president and CEO of Beebe Healthcare; Richard Schaffner, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Beebe Healthcare; the Hon. William Swain Lee, Beebe board chairman; and Judy Aliquo, president of Beebe Medical Foundation.

"I want to thank the members of the auxiliary. As a fellow Beebe volunteer, I take such pride in what has been created here. We appreciate everything you do, and the remarkable growth reflected in the many areas," said Lee.

"After celebrating the first 100 years of Beebe Healthcare, we must now think to the future about the next 100 years and how Beebe can continue to best serve our community. While buildings are very important, it is really the people, and volunteers such as yourself, that make the difference," said Fried.

"With 224 members in the auxiliary, this year alone they have contributed more than 29,000 volunteer hours," said Tartaglione. "Thanks to all of our volunteers and the Beebe community who participate in these activities, our annual gifts to the hospital have proudly provided funding for the new Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing, the Interfaith Chapel, the Beebe Healthcare Campus in Georgetown, two hyperbaric chambers, new navigational bronchoscopy unit and a new electrophysiology lab."

Each year at the luncheon, the auxiliary recognizes individuals who have given great support to Beebe and to the auxiliary. This year the auxiliary specially recognized Richard Derrickson and Sabrina Hill of Midway Realty, in addition to Linda Yekenchik, CHAM manager and ED Registration, for their outstanding contributions and skills supporting the auxiliary's mission. The auxiliary oversees a wide range of activities, including the craft group, gift shop, thrift shop, information desks, employee sales, the annual plant sale and family fun fest, auxiliary board and hospitality committee, which would not be possible without the support of Beebe volunteers.