Ruth Hall is Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center Volunteer of the Year

By  //  October 18, 2018

'She is an extraordinary woman who has lived a life of service'

Space Coast area hospital volunteers provide dedicated, compassionate and conscientious service across the healthcare community. Meet Ruth Hall, Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center’s Volunteer of the Year.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Space Coast area hospital volunteers provide dedicated, compassionate and conscientious service across the healthcare community.

They are often the first point of contact for patients and visitors to a hospital. Their smiling faces help put us at ease as they guide us through the confusing journey that can be hospital visit or stay.

They are surrogate relatives for lonely patients, helping make their hospital stay more bearable. They bring comfort to families under stress.

For hospital administrators,they are heaven sent, for they perform duties that would be costly to duplicate with paid staff. These unofficial ambassadors for healthcare organizations are also happy to sing the praises of the hospital they themselves so love.

They help heal with smiles and compassion. Their cheerful and positive attitude can go a long way when patients and family members are under stress. They deliver hope. They often help shape a patient’s first impression of a hospital.

They work without pay in a variety of healthcare settings, where they are critically important members of the healing team, benefitting patients, visitors and the healthcare system they serve.

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Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard County’s Best and Most Read Magazine

Meet Ruth Hall, Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center’s Volunteer of the Year.

For a month in 2009, nurses at Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center traded their scrubs for the vintage, crisply starched white uniform, cap and all, in honor of nurse and volunteer extraordinaire Ruth Hall.

A nurse for five decades, Hall worked in the intensive care unit for 35 years. When she joined the nursing staff of the surgical intensive care unit at Holmes in 1993, she remained there until 2009.

She then retired, but never left home, because before she had even retired, Hall was already a volunteer at the Melbourne hospital and she remains so to this day.

“She recognized the need to provide a warm welcome and support to our visitors in the ICU and has for 11 years provide this support to thousands,” said Marcia Phillips, volunteer services manager at Holmes Regional Medical Center.

The Americus, Georgia, native grew up in New York City and was employed by the Veterans’ Administration in Tampa, where she was recognized for her exceptional service.

Her volunteer efforts did not stop with the hospital. For 20 years, Ruth has served as an unpaid state ombudsman, a governor-appointed volunteer position.

“I advocate for patients in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult living centers,” explained Hall.
“I do it because I care for the seniors.”

Hall will conduct assessments of these facilities to ascertain that guidelines are being followed, and she will also investigate complaints from residents and families.

For 18 years, she was an active member of the board of the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation and was instrumental in the development of Joe’s Club adult day care centers.

While she has a soft spot for seniors, Ruth also favors young people. At Mount Moriah Baptist Church, she has mentored high school students for 10 years, taking them on college tours, working with them on college and scholarship applications and tutoring them.

“She is an extraordinary woman who has lived a life of service,” said Phillips. “It is an absolute honor to work alongside her.”

On Nov. 8, the Central Florida Humanitarian committee will honor hospital and hospice volunteers from Health First Hospice, the Dr. Jey Pillai Center for Hospice Care at Wasdin Woods, VITAS, Hospice of St. Francis, Health First Cape Canaveral Hospital, Health First Viera Hospital, Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, Health First Palm Bay Hospital, Melbourne Regional Medical Center, Rockledge Regional Medical Center, the VA Clinic in Viera, and Sebastian River Medical Center. 

2018 Outstanding Humanitarians and Volunteers To Be Honored During Gala Nov. 8, See Details Below:

The 2018 Central Florida Humanitarians have been announced and include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities. The Central Florida Humanitarian honorees will be recognized during a Gala event on Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place in Melbourne, Florida.

Recognizing Outstanding Individuals & Organizations Who Dedicate Their Time, Talent and Treasure

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The 2018 Central Florida Humanitarians have been announced and include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities. 

Also announced today was the honoree for the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. Information about the hospital and hospice volunteers will be released Oct. 1.

The Central Florida Humanitarian honorees will be recognized during a Gala event on Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place in Melbourne, Florida.

The Central Florida Humanitarian Awards were created nine years ago by Space Coast Daily to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that dedicate their time, talent or treasure to help people in need locally – and around the world.

TIME: In this category consider candidates who have selflessly and consistently devoted their time as volunteers at hospitals and nursing homes, in activities for the less fortunate and as organizers, administrators or operatives in the many other altruistic endeavors in our community.

The 2018 Central Florida Humanitarians have been announced and include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities. All Humanitarian alumni are presented a specially commissioned medallion.

TALENT: In this category give consideration to those who have volunteered their special talents and expertise to address specific circumstances in which the lives of those in need are improved.

TREASURE: The humanitarians in this category will include those who have generously shared their monetary good fortune and/or volunteered their time and efforts in fundraising for the advancement of a philanthropic cause.

All 2018 honorees will be featured in the Oct/Nov 2018 edition of Space Coast Daily magazine and on SpaceCoastDaily.com.  The magazine will be available the first week of October in both print and digital editions, which will also be available on SpaceCoastDaily.com

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Space Coast Public Service Awards To Honor Outstanding Public Servants With Lifetime Achievement Recognition

ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO BE HONORED INCLUDE:

• Jessica Andre
• Leonard Bream
• Harry Brandon, in Memoriam
• Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Pet Posse
• Brevard Veterans Memorial Center Volunteers
• Bridges Foundation
• Michael Bross, A Step Up
• Keri Anne Demott Foundation
• Lori Duester and Liz Mikitarian, Youth Mental Health Task Force
• Florida Wildlife Hospital & Sanctuary
• Christine Lance
• Rev. Lorenzo Laws
• Larry McNamara, Giant Recreation World
• Dr. David Neely
• Neighbors of Suntree
• Ashley Nolan
• Mark Pieloch, Founder of the Muscle Car Museum
• Dr. Mark Pinsky
• Joe Rodriguez, McDonald’s Restaurants of Brevard County
• Susan Slaton
• Stephen Thaggard, Embrace Home Loans
• The Avenue Viera
• Barbie Thrower, Community Treatment Center
• Valiant Air Command Volunteers
• Mac McLouth, 2018 Central Florida Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement honoree

Each honoree or organization will be presented the Central Florida Humanitarian Crystal Globe. Stay tuned to Space Coast Daily for exclusive and comprehensive multimedia coverage of each honoree as we present their compelling stories.

HONORING SELFLESS VOLUNTEERISM

Dr. Jim Palermo

“Over the years, our editorial team has had the distinct honor and pleasure of identifying and featuring the many members of our community who give back so much and are dedicated to reaching out and helping others, here and throughout the world, in a multitude of ways,” said Space Coast Daily Editor-In-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo.

JOIN US FOR AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENING

This inspiring and compelling event is sponsored by First Choice Medical Group, Clear Choice Health Care, Total Home Roofing, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Rock Paper Simple, Embrace Home Loans, Adventure HQ, Florida Pain Institute, CFP Care Team, Dr. Mark Pinsky, Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, Friday Night Locker Room, Safari Mail House and SpaceCoastDaily.com.

Each honoree or organization will be presented the Central Florida Humanitarian Crystal Globe. Stay tuned to Space Coast Daily for exclusive and comprehensive multimedia coverage of each honoree as we present their compelling stories.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CENTRAL FLORIDA HUMANITARIAN ALUMNI

For more information or to make a reservation to attend the 2018 Central Florida Humanitarian Awards Gala, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

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