THE SINAI HOSPITAL AUXILIARY
A Time Line
1948
March 16th: 600 hundred women meet for dessert/tea at Phoenix Club to discuss plans for organizing a Sinai Hospital Women’s Auxiliary
September 8: canteen opens
September 28th: first official meeting of newly organized Sinai Women’s Auxiliary
First semi-annual issue of Auxiliary newsletter, The Sponge
1950
Decorative, hand-calligraphy “new baby” birth certificates project undertaken, cost $1.00 each, proceeds earmarked for life-saving equipment for preemies
Gift Shop opens under Auxiliary direction and staffing – one six-foot glass showcase under staircase in lobby of Frank Building
1951
Auxiliary joins American Hospital Association
Occupational therapy for convalescing patients established under Auxiliary auspices; program staffed by part-time employee, aided by volunteers
1954
Auxiliary funds training classes for volunteer nurse aides to alleviate nursing shortage; project chaired by Margaret Throne
Auxiliary celebrates sixth year anniversary with 2,275 paid members
First volunteer service at Sinai, sewing group begun in 1882, incorporated into Auxiliary services
1955
Auxiliary introduces newborn baby photo program
Gift Shop begins selling hand-knitted children’s sweaters
1956
Auxiliary grants $2,000 from Gift Fund to meet urgent need for special (private duty) nursing care for patients following cardiac surgery
Operation “Pinky begins: hand puppets sewn by Auxiliary members for distribution to every pediatric patient
Gift Shop, forerunner of today’s Lobby Shop, opens in Mt. Pleasant building; chaired by Jacqueline H. Hess and staffed by volunteers, Gift Shop features exclusive line of fine stationery and hand-made and personalized items created by volunteers
1957
The Sponge, only hospital Auxiliary publication in city, begins three yearly issues, with national distribution
Auxiliary seal, embossed in yellow and blue, now used on Auxiliary stationery
Auxiliary donates artificial kidney machine to Sinai
Auxiliary Board votes to appoint members to adopt interns and their families for a year; Auxiliary Board members host dinner and swim parties for new interns and spouses
The Sponge and Sinai Story brochure sent to membership.
Auxiliary donates heart-lung machine to the Hospital
Auxiliary donates recreation room in House Staff quarters of new Hospital, funded in memory of Dr. Harvey Steinbach
1959
Auxiliary funds fellowship in Radiology
Auxiliary donates electro-cardiograph machine to Pediatrics
October 23: Auxiliary begins conducting tours of new Hospital
December 6: Lobby Shop opens
December 8: Auxiliary’s first Board meeting in new Hospital Board Room
December 13: Auxiliary helps move patients from Monument Street to Belvedere Avenue
1960
June 20: first Lobby Shop employee, Vera Snyder, hired
Ashley Montague, M.D., speaks at Auxiliary sponsored program on “The Natural Superiority of Women”
1961-1962
First showing of “The Sinai Story,” film sponsored by Auxiliary, developed for recruitment of nurses and interns to familiarize community with “new” Sinai Hospital
August 7, 1961: Auxiliary sponsors swim party for staff wives organization
Improvements made to Auxiliary-run Fountain Shop
Auxiliary establishes Research and Education Fund
Membership drive enrolls 327 new members as of January 9, 1962
Auxiliary arranges “Movie” nights to be held weekly in Zamoiski Auditorium for House Staff
Auxiliary organizes theater party for student nurses to see “My Fair Lady” at Fords Theater
Auxiliary grants fund: three Isolettes for Department of Pediatrics, cell counter for Department of Hematology, scanning device for kidney work in Radiology Department, portable light for Operating Room, Inval-aid chair for general Hospital
1962-1964
Auxiliary begins serving milk, crackers and cookies to children in Outpatient Department pediatric playroom
Auxiliary pledges $250,000 to endow Chair in Department of Psychiatry
Auxiliary initiates community Health Education programs
Auxiliary sends coloring books to all scheduled pediatric patients; books specifically designed to orient children to Sinai Hospital,
Auxiliary volunteers organize Surgical Sewing Committee to sew surgical garments designed by Department of Surgery
April 14, 1964: Auxiliary organizes first Intellectual Health Fair, offering ten workshops
1964-1966
October 13, 1964: Betty Friedan, author, “The Feminine Mystique,” addresses Auxiliary at fall general membership meeting
Auxiliary presents ”New Perspectives in Psychiatry”, first of three monthly lectures to general membership
Auxiliary office space acquired; first staff employee, Joyce Levy, hired in 1965
Arnold Kurlander, M.D., speaks to general Auxiliary membership on “Medicare – How Does It Affect You?”
1966-1968
Auxiliary donates five decorated wheel chairs, “Surreys with the Fringe on Top,” to Department of Pediatrics
Hilda Goodwin M.D., Associate Professor in Family Study, discusses Eric Berne’s book, Games People Play, at general membership meeting
November 28, 1968: “Follow the Leader,” skit written and performed by Auxiliary members, presented at Regional Auxiliary Leadership Conference at the Washington D.C. Hilton
1968-1970
September 17, 1968: Haim G. Ginott, M.D., speaks to general membership on “How to Drive Children Sane”
Auxiliary’s 20th anniversary celebrated
Auxiliary instrumental in successful resolution of efforts to remove cigarette machines from Hospital.
April 15, 1969: Irvin Cushner , M.D., speaks on “The Sexual Wilderness”
May 7, 1968: Women’s Auxiliary of Sinai Hospital becomes Sinai Hospital Auxiliary
1970-1972
Robert Hiller Executive Vice President of The Associated Jewish Charities, gives permission for Auxiliary to solicit non-Jews for membership
First issue of Impact, new Auxiliary publication, focusing on drug abuse, health and environment
Auxiliary begins flower delivery service to patients
March 31, 1972: Maryland State House of Delegates reads and adopts resolution commending Sinai Hospital Auxiliary for outstanding public service, conducting an indispensable volunteer program and making substantial financial commitment to Sinai Hospital
Auxiliary sponsors Red Cross “mother’s aide” course to 9th grade Pimlico female students
1972-1974
September, 1972: membership phon-a-thon
Seminar, “Johnny Can Read – Learning Disabilities in Children,” presented at joint membership meeting of Sinai Auxiliary and Greater Baltimore Medical Center Auxiliary
October 30, 1972: Combined meeting of Sinai Hospital Auxiliary and Women’s Board of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Urban Life Center in Columbia, Maryland, featuring James Rouse and Henry M. Seidel, M.D.; tour of existing medical center and early stages of Hospital
1974-1976
March 19, 1974: Auxiliary board delegates attend MAHA conference in State Legislature in Annapolis
Auxiliary grants $2,000 to Department of Pediatrics for semi-monthly pre-admission patient parties
34th annual Educational Conference of Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and District of Columbia present “Crisis Intervention,” new ideas for Auxiliary volunteer service
1976-1978
Auxiliary sponsors panel discussions and workshops on “Alone by Choice or by Chance”
Auxiliary creates Widowed Persons’ Service, providing group sessions to help participants deal with loss, grief, and widowhood
1978-1979
April 2, 1978: September, 1978: Auxiliary fall general membership meeting presents panel of guest speakers discussing the right to die from medical, legal, psychiatric and religious viewpoints
Over 1500 people attend Auxiliary sponsored “Health Fair ’78”
Auxiliary starts “Get to Know Us” program for first grade public and private school students, in cooperation with Evan Charney ,M.D., Pediatrician-in-Chief
Auxiliary grants $10,000 to newly established Hospice Home Care Program
May, 1979: Auxiliary and Children’s Guild co-sponsor seminar on children, dealing with toddlers, children 6 – 12 and adolescents at Dr. Matthew Debuskey Memorial Seminar
Academy of Hospital Public Relations awards Impact first place in National Competition for external magazines and requests copies to distribute at awards luncheon in September, 1979
Funds granted to begin “Newborn Baby” project; 300 hand-knitted caps required monthly
1980-1982
Lobby Shop remodeled
Auxiliary provides grant for Downs Syndrome Program
November 13, 1981: “Around the clock” shopping spree held in Gift Shop
Auxiliary initiates annual Halloween party in pediatrics
Auxiliary grants $3,000 for interpreter for Russian speaking immigrants
Vera Snyder appointed acting manager of Gift Shop
Pamphlet, “Briefly Speaking,” developed to familiarize community with scope of Auxiliary services
“PEP” (“People Encouraging People”), program to help chronically mentally ill become self sufficient, receives 1981 Harry Greenstein Award; program evolved from Auxiliary sponsored grant to Department of Psychiatry for “Lounge Program”
1982-1984
Auxiliary Angle increases publication from two to four issues a year
Senator Barbara Mikulski speaks to Auxiliary members on volunteerism as American tradition
Auxiliary’s presents 35th anniversary gift of $4000 to Department of Medicine to develop, motivate and reinforce human relations’ skills
Auxiliary funds purchase of TDD machine to serve as communications link between hearing impaired members of community and Sinai Hospital.
Auxiliary gives $330 scholarship to Department of Nursing to fund semester of undergraduate study for nurses to obtain B.S. degree in order to qualify for Emergency Room assignment.
October 9, 1982: Auxiliary introduces Sibling Program to help prepare children whose mothers will be delivering new baby at Sinai
Auxiliary develops multi-language (Russian, Yiddish, Spanish and Korean) patient information cards
Auxiliary funds channel 3, closed circuit T.V.
Health Education Series begins
Auxiliary funds purchase of external cardiac pacemaker for Emergency Room
Auxiliary publishes “Healthy Fare” cookbook
March 11, 1984: Auxiliary sponsors Children’s Health Fair
1984-1986
Pediatric coloring book, designed by Margery Doroshow, R.N., prepares children for surgical procedures, thereby reducing anxiety
Auxiliary turns over management Fountain Shop to ARA (food service)
December 4, 1984: Auxiliary members pitch in to keep Hospital running when union employees strike
Auxiliary pledges $10,000 to refurbish and restock the playroom of newly remodeled pediatric patient area
Auxiliary assumes management of The Greenery, flower cart in front of Gift Shop
April 8, 1986: “Dr. Ruth” Westheimer speaks to general Auxiliary membership and community
Funded by Auxiliary grant, “Voice of Help” program established to provide two-way communication system with elderly and shut-ins living alone
1986-1988
Auxiliary grants 1988 Annual Award of $17,000 to Premier Years, free membership benefit program for older adults
Auxiliary grants Annual Award of $12,000 to Department of Rehabilitation Medicine for automobile with modifications to train handicapped to drive
1988-1990
Life Membership Circle dues category ($225) initiated
Auxiliary and Women’s Services co-sponsor “Safe and Sound Sunday” to educate parents about child safety
Auxiliary funds new program, “Car Seat Safety,” for infants and toddlers, chaired by Deborah F. Baer
1992-1994
August 4, 1992: grand re-opening of remodeled Gift Shop
Auxiliary provides funds for recruitment program, “Students at Sinai” for student volunteers
Auxiliary begins “Baby Closet” program to provide basic layette and related items for newborns of indigent families
Auxiliary funds $6,000 scholarships to LaPetite Day Care for Hospital employees’ children
May 4, 1993: Faye Wattleton, National Executive Director of Planned Parenthood, speaks to general membership
Format set for Auxiliary-run Docent Program, chaired by Judy Mehlman, designed to familiarize community with Sinai through guided Hospital tours
Auxiliary pledges $125,000 to Hospital’s Second Century Campaign for Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
1994-1996
November 3, 1994: “Heart Healthy” cooking demonstration for general membership
Auxiliary moves to new office suite
Auxiliary gives grant to Department of Medicine for stroke prevention screening program
Auxiliary sells printed baseball caps for children and adults with proceeds going to the PICU
September 5, 1995: Auxiliary conference room dedicated in honor of Josepha Schoeneman Miller
Auxiliary proposes annual installation of large Chanukah Menorah on the Hospital’s lawn facing Northern Parkway; design donated by Mitchell J. Dickler, menorah constructed by Samuel Kroll, Inc.
Auxiliary obtains battery-operated child-size Jeep for the PICU
By-laws change approves offices of President, First Vice President and Vice Presidents of: Education, Membership, Fund Raising and Public Relations
Lucille G. Abrams, board member, Dues and Gift Fund chairperson, recognized for dedicated service as Auxiliary volunteer by Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations
Sinai Hospital and Levindale merge to form Sinai Health System in spring of 1996 but retain separate Auxiliaries
1996-1998
Auxiliary grants $3,350 to Department of Pediatrics to establish Pediatric Outreach Program to teach sixth grade students to avoid serious traumatic injuries by practicing basic safety principles
September, 1997: Auxiliary strategic planning retreat
Reach Out and Read Program, co-sponsored by the Auxiliary and Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah, initiated to enhance literacy for children in Sinai community
Auxiliary activities and information to be included in the Hospital’s “Health Digest”
Auxiliary represented at Jerusalem 3000 with booth where children create get well cards to send to Israel’s hospitals
Auxiliary publishes “Not Just Another Cookbook.”
With Hadassah, University of Maryland Hospital and Chizuk Amuno, Auxiliary co-sponsors community program on genetics and breast cancer
1998-2000
September 15, 1998 - Auxiliary celebrates their 50th anniversary event, in the Hess Garden, by recreating old “Fountain Shop” and its menu. Presented a check then of $200,000 to the hospital. $150,000 to modernize and enhance the Labor & Delivery suites. $50,000 to furnish the new ER-7 Meditation Room.
September 18, 1988-Auxiliary hosted the statewide MAHA meeting at our hospital.
Warren Green presented a plaque to the Auxiliary with names of all past presidents to be permanently placed outside the hospital Board Room.
The Auxiliary presented its final payment of $25,000 (of the $125,000 pledge) to Dr. Aaron Zuckerberg of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Terre Sober became the new Gift Shop manager effective as of November 9, 1998.
A permanent plaque went up in the Gift Shop that reads:
“Proceeds from the Gift Shop help fund hospital programs and special projects.”
The Auxiliary’s Strategic Plan was adopted for the new millennium.
A new Mission Statement was written and accepted by the Auxiliary.
Grants & Awards:
1998-1999:
1. “Don’t Let Children Die of Asthma” – an Asthma awareness program.
2. “Sisters pass it On” – to provide 30 mammograms
3. “New Bridges Improved Child Health Care” – a community awareness program
Additional smaller grants:
Teddy Bears for diabetic children
Barium Swallow evaluation kits
Books for Medical Records
TV-VCR for Radiation/Oncology waiting area
1999-2000:
1. “Family Violence Program” – to provide recreational supplies for their groups
2. Bone Marrow Transplant Program- books for patients and their families to better understand the procedure and treatments dealing with bone marrow transplants.
3. Annual Award – “Care for the Indigent Patients,” a program to provide those patients that cannot afford the prescriptions that are given to them by their doctors.
Additional Grants:
Archival Committee of Sinai Hospital.- Auxiliary donates $1500 to preserving the history of the Auxiliary and hospital.
Auxiliary co-sponsors “Women with Heart,” at Beth Tfiloh, with many other organizations on April 25, 1999. This became a highly successful community awareness program for heart disease and the effects on women.
In May of 1999, renovations begin in the Gift Shop.
On March 5, 2000, the first “Share A Smile with Sinai” program takes place at the Owings Mills Mall: Children make crafts for the Pediatric Department, as well as get well cards for hospital patients and decorated Shalach Manot bags for distribution to patients on Purim.
Auxiliary sponsors a $10,000 table at the hospital Gala held on April 1, 2000 at Towson University.
2000-2003
January, 2001:
The “Share A Smile” program becomes an on-going program throughout the year with area schools crafting get well cards for distribution to patients.
The LifeBridge Marketing Department produces newly designed gift cards for all of the Auxiliary’s gift funds.
Awards, 2000 to 2001:
1. Dr. Sam Abrams and Paul Umansky for the creation of cases to display a history of employees and volunteers with 25 or more years of service.
2. Senior Women’s Outreach Program to provide a special exam table for this population.
3. Elfie the Elephant to provide funds for weekly visits, instead of every other week, to the Pediatric Unit.
4. Family Violence Project for computer equipment, Polaroid cameras and film.
5. Lapidus Cancer Center for a TV, VCR, videos and materials for the library and patient waiting & treatment areas.
The Pediatric Oncology Unit is awarded $20,000 from the proceeds of the Circus Fundraiser.
November, 2001
Initial meeting to plan creation of project for 12-16 year olds.
Hospitality Cart program is initiated to sell refreshments to patients and family members in the waiting areas of the Rubin Institute, ER and Surgery.
January, 2002
Donation box project begins with the placement of a box in the Gift Shop.
Special Needs Teens from Pikesville Middle School volunteer through their Life Skills Program for our Hospitality Cart.
February, 2002
Share a Smile Program at Owings Mills Mall sponsored by the Auxiliary. Children create underwater themed artwork which will be used to create a large piece of artwork for the playroom of the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics.
Awards/Grants:
$2,000 grant to the NICU Family Room for furnishings.
$25,000 grant to the Women and Children’s Noah’s Ark Project.
$9,600 annual award is granted to the Department of Rehabilitation for the RETURN I Brain Injury Program for computer assisted technology.
Other Grants were awarded to:
Pharmacy Department for Poison Prevention Week educational materials
Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute for a Chester Chest torso for patient and staff education
Department of OB/GYN for a computer and power point technology for patient and professional education presentations.
A $10,000 table is purchased for the Hospital Gala.
On April 16, 2002, the first combined meeting of Sinai Auxiliary, Northwest Hospital Auxiliary and Levindale Auxiliary was held in the Sinai Hospital Board Room.
A three-dimensional display board was purchased to publicize the Auxiliary activities at community events.
May, 2002-Bylaws are updated, last update was in 1996.
Sharon Rosen presents a photo album that chronicles the Auxiliary activities for 2000-2002.
A painting is installed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit’s Family Waiting Room in honor of Mrs. Sharon L. Rosen’s presidency.
Labor & Delivery Unit is adopted by Auxiliary, monthly expressions of appreciation will be sent to the employees
New Auxiliary brochure is printed and distributed.
Donation Boxes are placed in Joan & Gary’s Bagel Shop, Gage Menswear, Cooper’s Camera Shop and Neighbor Care Pharmacy.
$10,000 grant is awarded, from Gift Shop proceeds, to the Cyberknife program.
January, 2003
Carol Noel is hired as the Auxiliary Coordinator.
March, 2003
Circus Event raises over $30,000 for the New Labor & Delivery Unit.
