Volunteers Pay Off Munson Manor Pledge Early
Volunteer Board Pledges $500,000 to Support ER Campaign

Volunteer Incoming President Jackie Cantalupo and Past President Doris Cross share satisfaction in their group's completed pledge to Munson Manor.

With a final check for $25,000, Munson Medical Center Volunteers paid off one year early a $500,000 pledge to support the Munson Manor Hospitality House. With that, the Volunteers wasted no time in taking on a new project. On Nov. 15 the Volunteer Board voted to pledge $500,000 to Munson's ER Campaign.

"This gives us an additional challenge, and we look forward to meeting it," said Volunteer President Sam Milligan.

Munson Volunteers have a long history of major support for hospital projects. They are especially proud of paying off their Munson Manor Hospitality House pledge one year early.

"We did it in four years — the final payment wasn't due until 2005," Milligan said. "We were very fortunate that one of our long-time Volunteers, Lurah E. Gilbert, left a gift to the Volunteers in her estate. With her generous donation, we were able to make the final payment early."

Gilbert volunteered at Munson Medical Center for 27 years, and in 1993 was honored for giving more than 11,000 hours to the hospital. She particularly enjoyed operating the Shoppers Cart and was known for her dedication and kind disposition.

Combined with a lead gift of $200,000 made in 1997, the Volunteers total contribution to Munson Manor was $700,000 — the largest gift to the project. Most of the funds came from income generated by gift shops at Munson Medical Center and Munson Community Health Center.

"We felt very strongly that the hospital needed a facility like the hospitality house. Our volunteers have a lot of contact with visitors and family members, and they were aware of people sleeping in their vans and cars out in the parking lot because they did not have a place to stay that they could afford," said Doris Cross, who was Volunteer President in 2000 when the pledge was made.

More than 48,000 people have stayed at Munson Manor since it opened in November 2000. "We have lots of neo-natal parents, families of open heart patients, and radiation and chemotherapy patients who stay six to eight weeks," said Munson Manor Manager Connie Nelson.

In addition to providing tremendous financial support, the Volunteers also donate the labor that keeps the Munson Manor Hospitality House running. "I couldn't do this job without our wonderful Volunteers," Nelson said. "The guests love them. The Volunteers chose this service because they love it, and they are phenomenal."

The 350-member Volunteer group's mission is to improve the stay of patients and visitors at Munson Medical Center by providing information and ancillary services. Volunteers annually contribute 100,000 hours of service to various hospital departments, which includes staffing the 30-room Munson Manor around the clock.

Anyone interested in becoming a Volunteer should contact Volunteer Services Manager Theresa Stachnik at (231) 935-7455.