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Selfless giving of time and talent characterizes latest Jefferson Award recipients: Wanda Kay North and Mary Kelly

The Jefferson Award is a prestigious national recognition of individuals committed to local, grassroots community volunteerism and public service. As a Jefferson Award Champion, St. Joseph's/Candler supports this passion by recognizing fellow co-workers that best exemplifies that selfless spirit. Recipients of this award join a long list of notable community heroes that include General Colin Powell, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Oprah Winfrey, Bill & Melinda Gates. And like those past winners, St. Joseph's/Candler's two latest recipients are shining examples of how a single person can make a big difference in many people's lives.

Wanda Kay North of Clinical Research was selected for her outstanding volunteer contributions both locally and internationally. As one of the first Faith In Practice volunteers from Savannah, Wanda Kay not only gives of her time and energy but she inspires others to join her on this quest. She has been a nurse volunteer to Guatemala every year since 1995 many times spending much more than the normal week most medical missionaries visit. She has also served on the organization's leadership team for the past 11 years. Locally, she is very active in her church community at Isle of Hope Methodist where she serves on the Legacy Circle a service organization that provides food and other needs for the poor and homeless. Additionally, she volunteer with St. Joseph's/Candler's Angels of Mercy, most notably during the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drives.

Mary Kelly of the Candler Auxiliary devotes an extreme amount of her personal time and energy to St. Joseph's/ Candler, specifically Candler Hospital. In fact, as a member of the hospital auxiliary, Mary has learned every single job that a hospital volunteer can possibly execute. Since joining the Candler Auxiliary in June of 2000, she has contributed over 11,000 hours, averaging nearly 30 hours each week. She has further served the group in leadership positions of Secretary, Vice President and President. She single handedly manages the summer Teen Volunteer Program, as well as attends each Telfair birthing classes to present a "Early Childhood Reading Program" to parents-to-be. Mary also finds the time and energy to be very active in community activities, including parish life at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the St. Vincent's Alumni Association, providing meals to shut-ins on a weekly basis, and working tirelessly with the Savannah Chatham Board of Education as a volunteer reading specialist assisting elementary students with special needs.

As the Bed Czar at Candler Hospital, Brenda Sellers knows what it is like to have many people depend on her. That strong sense of duty and personal responsibility has transcended her normal job duties and can be seen in her work throughout our community.

For the past 37 years Brenda Sellers has shared her lifelong dedication of caring, sharing and giving, not only as a registered nurse at St. Joseph's/Candler, but to her church and larger community. Since 1995, she has volunteered with the Hour of Power Outreach Ministries at St. Phillip's Monumental AME Church. As part of that commitment, she serves as a Steward, the head of the Kitchen Ministry and co-founder of the church's Nurse's Guild. Though her leadership of her church's Kitchen Ministry, Brenda volunteers each week to help prepare hot meals for the homeless citizens of Chatham County. In addition, every Sunday, she prepares cooks and serves a hot home cooked breakfast for numerous homeless citizens. Those works of volunteerism are independent of her preparing meals for the sick and home-bound each week. She also donates food, money and school supplies to many at-risk and economically fragile members of our community. Because of her passion and commitment, Brenda just recently became the volunteer coordinator and assistant director of Distribution for Share the Harvest Community Outreach Food Pantry. For these selfless acts of community volunteerism, Brenda was recently selected as a Jefferson Award recipient for her dedication to public service. The Jefferson Award is a national recognition reserved for individuals who are committed to local, grassroots community volunteerism. Those chosen for this prestigious award join an impressive list of local, national, and international individuals with a similar commitment.

To nominate a fellow co-worker, please complete the nomination form on the front page of the SJ/C intranet, or contact the Mission Services Office at St. Joseph's Hospital at (912) 819-2626

John Ashley Receives Jefferson Award
John Ashley of Information Services has been selected as the latest St. Joseph's/Candler recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Award for public service. The award highlights individuals committed to community volunteerism through direct action.

Ashley is described as "a quiet leader," and "a role model who leads by example." Cited among his numerous community outreach and volunteer efforts are his medical mission trips. His participation usually involved active solicitation and acquisition of medical supplies, especially for Dr. Carmen Gannon's trips to Guyana. He has also traveled on medical missions to Honduras and Guatemala. He traveled to Alaska to repair the homes of the disabled alongside other members of his church.

Ashley is perhaps better known for the time and effort he devotes to his church, Southside Baptist. There he serves in multi-faceted roles such as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent and choir member. He has led the church's Royal Ambassador group for the past ten years, volunteering his time for many empowerment training sessions and camping trips.

Additionally, John has given his time to others in need who, according to his nomination form, he selflessly "adopts." John makes sure that fellow co-workers with physical challenges have their basic needs met. He also participates in hunger walks and coordinates efforts to ensure old health system cell phones are donated to social agencies that use them for 911 services.

A person "strong in faith and supporting of his community," Ashley joins a handful of other SJ/C co-workers who have been selected for this award.

If you would like to salute a fellow SJ/C co-worker for their commitment to community volunteerism and public service, please fill out the Jefferson Award nomination form on the front page of the SJ/C intranet, or contact the Mission Services Office at St. Joseph's Hospital at (912) 819-2626.

Co-Worker Recognized With Jefferson Award
Liz Pascual of Candler's OR has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service. The award is designed to honor those who are committed to community volunteerism and public service though their overt actions. Selected recipients join a prestigious list of local, national, and international individuals with similar passions and commitments.

Liz was chosen for the award due in part to her dedication and commitment to the Faith and Practice ministry and the organization's medical mission trips to Guatemala. Such week-long (and sometimes longer) international commitments provide needed medical supplies and support to those who would not otherwise have such access to medical care. She first joined these mission trips in 2002 and has been each year since, including two separate trips this year. When she is not changing the lives of those in the third world, Liz also volunteers 3 to 4 evenings per month at the Good Samaritan Health Clinic in Garden City. Very involved with the music ministry at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Parish for the past 15 years, Liz also shares her talents with parishioners at Sacred Heart Church during their weekly Hispanic Mass. Married for 21 years, she is a mother of two children, one of whom is a junior at Armstrong, the other, a senior at Benedictine. According to Liz, it is her children who encourage her to volunteer and remain active in her community. As a national Jefferson Awards Champion, SJ/C may select one individual each month for such recognition.

If you know of a fellow co-worker who is dedicated to community volunteerism and public service, please fill out the Jefferson Award nomination form on the front page of the SJ/C intranet, or contact the Mission Services Office at St. Joseph's Hospital at (912) 819-2626.