HHI Celebrates National Volunteer Week
Established in 1974 by former President, Richard Nixon, National Volunteer Week has grown exponentially in scope each year since, drawing the support and endorsement of all subsequent U.S. presidents, governors, mayors and other respected elected officials.
National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their community. It's about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, in unison, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week is about taking action, encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change-discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation.
National Volunteer Week is not only our moment in time to celebrate our volunteers, but to enable a nation to share ideas, practices, and stories, wherever they happen, and shaping a movement to re-imagine the notion of citizenship for the 21st century.
HHI would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our tireless volunteers who have dedicated countless hours to supporting HHI and the families we serve. Whether you volunteered once — maybe for a holiday event — or organized fundraising/donations drives or volunteer on a weekly basis, we are deeply grateful for your contributions and honored to work with such selfless individuals! Each of you truly makes a difference in the lives of children and families in shelters.
Thank you to our volunteers
For the past three years, HHI has been fortunate to have three passionate Residents who have led teams of residents and medical students at our weekly CHOP Nite clinics. HHI's Rock Star Resident Leaders — Shazia Bhat, Karla Fredricks and Erin Pete. We are deeply grateful that such talented women so generously donated their time to HHI and our mission. We wish each of you the best of luck in your future endeavors and will miss you greatly!
Shazia Bhat
Shazia grew up in Kennett Square, PA. She first became involved with HHI as a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania and continued through her residency at CHOP. She is currently applying for fellowship in Neonatology and hopes to continue community advocacy in her future career.
HHI inside scoop: Shazia once saw 7 children, by herself, at CHOP Nite in one hour!! (That's close to the usual number of children an entire team sees in one night!)
Karla Fredricks
Karla originally became interested in working with the homeless population during college, when she worked as a volunteer with Health Care for the Homeless in Albuquerque, NM. Karla then continued to work with underserved populations, first as a case manager in Washington, DC and later through various educational outreach programs as a medical student in St. Louis, MO. After residency, she plans to work as a general pediatrician in a federally-qualified health center in Baltimore, MD.
HHI inside scoop: Karla has a soft spot for guinea pigs… just ask Miss Piggy at St. Barnabas!
Erin Pete
Erin became involved with HHI during her intern year. She sees HHI as a great opportunity to do community outreach and also a nice release from the hospital environment. She appreciates meeting so many amazing people while volunteering with HHI. After residency, Erin plans to work at CHOP Connection at Abington Memorial Hospital.
HHI inside scoop: Erin is so dedicated she still provided care to our families while she was on crutches with a broken foot!
HHI would also like to recognize the generosity of our Volunteer Leaders:
Dental - Justin Bloom, Jessica DiCerbo, Kristine Donnelly, Julia Endrizzi
Nursing - Kay Burke, Judy Dawson-Jones, Peggy Laigaie, Claire Pellak, Sally Poliwoda, CNAF Fellows (Renee Benfari, Naomi Boorstein, Melissa Borrell, Beth Henry, Erin O'Donnell, Kelly Ryan, Alana Stein, Mary Stuart, Gretchen Wuersch), Anne-LaVonne Randolph, Amber Rejouis, Dana Srodes
Students
Dental - Allison Clark, Lindsey Helgen
Medical - Rebecca Hartman, Beth Hoffman, Kelsey Johnson, Tiffany Sinclair
Social Work - Anthony Davis, Monique Hughes
Thank you LEND Fellows for your support!
Ashley Butler, Anthony Davis, Yamalis Diaz, Heather Hanson, Michelle Perle, Jane Schreiber, George Werner
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