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Last year, more than 1,200 volunteers gave over 65,000 hours of their time to aid and support patients and employees at New York Methodist Hospital. To honor the volunteers for their outstanding effort, NYM recently held the 2007 Volunteer Recognition Celebration featuring an award ceremony and elegant dinner.

"This year''s theme, New York Methodist Hospital Volunteers Put the Pieces Together, was chosen because it reflects the diversity and complexity of the Hospital atmosphere," said Mimi Makovitzky, director of education and volunteer resources at NYM. "The Hospital is able to meet all of its challenges because our volunteers truly do help put the pieces together," she said.

Along with words of gratitude, a live musical performance by Brazz Jazz and mouth-watering food provided by the Hospital's Department of Food and Nutrition Services, five outstanding volunteers were honored with individual awards for their support and dedication to the Hospital.

The Frank Spera Award for Dependability was presented to Teresa Kelly, a resident of Kensington. As a patient library cart volunteer, Ms. Kelly, spends her time responding to patient''s requests for books. Ms. Kelly began volunteering at the Hospital fourteen years ago while she was a student at John Jay High School and to date, she has given 2,370 hours of her time to NYM.

Mandy Harris, of Windsor Terrace, was the recipient of the Mary Velez Emergency Room Award for Excellence for her contribution to patient care in the Emergency Department. In addition to assisting patients, Ms. Harris was selected to serve on the Hospital's Emergency Department Task Force, a committee consisting of NYM nurses, physicians, Hospital administration and department managers.

The New York Methodist Hospital Award for Outstanding Service by a High School Student was presented to Jessica Huang, a senior at Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences. Ms. Huang, a resident of Sunset Park, has volunteered more than 150 hours of her time as an assistant to the lactation consultants on the Mother/Baby Unit. Ms. Huang was recently chosen for the Brooklyn College Scholars Program and will begin pre-medical school this fall.

The Marie La Ruffa Award for Patient Care was given to Ann Chisena, of Kensington, who has enriched the lives of NYM''s patients for over thirty years. Throughout her time at the Hospital, Ms. Chisena has held many diverse volunteer positions including her current role on one of the Hospital's patient care units. As a patient care volunteer, Ms. Chisena distributes dinner trays and interacts with patients and family members. "In today''s fast paced world, very few people are willing to make the kind of commitment over such a span of time that Ms. Chisena has made to our Hospital," said Rebecca Flood, R.N., senior vice president for nursing, who presented the award.

The Award for Community Involvement was presented to Nancy Richardson, of Park Slope, for her work as a Family Caregiver volunteer. The Family Caregiver Program at NYM addresses the ongoing needs of family members when their loved ones are hospitalized or become ill. As a Family Caregiver volunteer, Ms. Richardson spends much of her time at the Hospital visiting the rooms of patients and providing family members with necessary information and support.

"No matter where you volunteer in the Hospital or what you do, you each help to make the Hospital a better place for our employees and patients," said Mark J. Mundy, president and CEO of NYM, to event attendees. "What you do to help this institution can not be evaluated in economic terms, it is truly priceless and I thank and congratulate each and every one of you," he said.

For information on becoming a New York Methodist Hospital volunteer, please call the Department of Education and Volunteer Resources at 718-780-5397.