The Lakeland Regional Medical Center Foundation is pleased to announce the 2011 grant recipients who will receive funds from the Women in Philanthropy giving society. The grant recipients were revealed during the group’s annual luncheon on Friday, November 4 at the Lakeland Center. A combined $76,718.50 was granted to purchase:
- A state-of-the-art, interactive mannequin (or manikin as they are known in the healthcare industry) which has the capability of recreating realistic clinical scenarios. This expenditure will aid in continuing education efforts and further prepare staff to respond to pediatric emergencies.
- Interactive gaming stations for the pediatric “vertical lobby” in the ER, an area designated to ease stress during an emergency situation.
- Ten pressure-relieving cushions and two heated massage chairs — and ultimately greater comfort for patients receiving dialysis.
- Two vision vein viewers, innovative technology that will help caregivers find difficult-to-locate veins, such as those of infants within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The final grant was awarded to cover capital need costs related to LRMC’s Women’s Health Services expansion (this is the second year of a five year commitment).
During the luncheon, nearly 70 “Leadership Givers” were asked to stand and be recognized for their incredible $1,000 contribution over the course of two years. One such individual was Jennifer Kincart Jonsson, human resources director of ACT Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc.
“I got involved with the Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy because I wanted to give back to the Lakeland Community,” said Jonsson. She later added that she could think of no more deserving cause than one that affects the lives of the women and children treated at Lakeland Regional.
This year, the Women in Philanthropy luncheon featured Tracey Conway, Emmy-winning actress and comedian who presented “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” her own personal journey as a heart disease survivor. Conway shared details from the day she was taping a television comedy show when she literally dropped dead from sudden cardiac arrest. Twenty minutes later, paramedics shocked her heart into beating again. Overcoming 20-to-1 odds, she survived and turned her miraculous recovery into a poignant, yet laugh-out-loud, presentation that has wowed celebrities like Oprah Winfrey.
During the past three years, Women in Philanthropy has raised a total of $259,461.50 to support women’s and children’s services at either Lakeland Regional Medical Center or Lakeland Regional Cancer Center. The funds raised by Women in Philanthropy are designated to improve the quality and scope of healthcare that women and children receive. The purpose of Women in Philanthropy is to inspire and empower women to fulfill their philanthropic potential by improving the quality of health care for women of all ages in our community. Members of Women in Philanthropy not only enhance their own awareness of health, but also that of family and friends, while setting the example of the art of philanthropy for the next generation of women.