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Ruhl recognized for volunteerismMarch 4, 2009
Ruhl is the 2008 recipient of Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan's Holt Award for his efforts in providing client care, companionship and family respite to hospice clients. The award is the highest honor that the organization gives to volunteers. Ruhl was presented with the honor at Hospice Care's annual Volunteer Appreciation and Awards program late last year. He began volunteering with hospice in 2003. In his nomination, he was cited in part for having "...consistently served our clients and organization nearly every week since his very first day with us. "Jack honors his volunteer role by attending in-service training, submitting reports in a timely manner and providing vital feedback to the volunteer department," the nomination said. "It is not unusual for Jack to flex his full-time work schedule to visit his clients and provide transportation and last-minute services." In addition to serving on the Ethics Committee and raising funds, Ruhl has worked with 26 different clients and made 279 visits to these clients, driving 3,473 miles and putting in 587 volunteer hours. The Holt Award is given annually to individual volunteers who have consistently promoted the Hospice philosophy, and shown support and commitment to the mission of Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. The award is named after the Rev. James C. Holt, who played an important role in the creation of the agency. It was his gift of office space at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church that provided the first home for Hospice of Greater Kalamazoo. Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu WMU News |
