Volunteer Appreciation and Annual Awards

This August marks 4 years since TPP made its first donation to the UIHC, NICU.  In honor of the work of our volunteers, we gathered in celebration at North Ridge Pavilion in Coralville, IA on June 18, 2009. 

The evening began with a lovely buffet of sandwiches and sides from the Lantern Park HyVee in Coralville.  Kayti Steffen, UIHC NICU Assistant Nurse Manager, was in attendance and discussed the importance of our new sleeper project.  Since we began this project in January 2009, TPP has donated ~397 sewn, fleece sleepers to the UIHC NICU. 

Each sleeper is paired with a matching hat and given to every baby in the NICU 48 hours prior to their discharge.  Kayti reports that the sleepers have become a “talking point” amongst the NICU staff!

We also had some special guests from the NICU in attendance!  Samantha Joyce and Christine Zimmerman, two former NICU moms, spoke about their experiences in the NICU and what TPP meant to them. 
Christine Zimmerman-Showing off the santa hat and booties the received and keep as precious mementos.

Samantha Joyce with her daughter, Tabatha and Lisa Tatge, Board Member and Bereavement Chair

After these wonderful women finished speaking, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  Click here for Christine’s Story.  Thank you to the Christine Zimmerman and Samantha Joyce for attending this event and sharing their stories.  We loved meeting you! 

The evening concluded with our annual awards ceremony.  In honor of their consistent participation in TPP activities and consistent donations, the following people received awards for years of service to TPP.  Congratulations to all of our volunteers who reached these milestones.  Names in bold were in attendance and included in the pictures.

1 Year of Service:Grace Abbs, Cindy Anderson, Alyssa Beebe, Susan Bess, Danae Cole, Lynda Connell, Erin Crooks, Cindy Dayton, Rachael Deatsch, Candy Dominy, Michele Edwards, Jean Gerlits, Sheri Howard, Mary Jones, Dana Jorsgaard, Hazel Kerr, Audrey Knox, Claudia LeNeau, Gail Madden, Harriet Moore, Mickie Moran, Terri Nagel, Elsa Narvaz, Dianna Orte, Susan Smith, Gloria Trembly, Ann Watson and Dawn Wilson

2 Years of Service: Elizabeth Binder, Callie Byers, Erma Edwards, Joyce Fountain, Leslie Gentry, Dorothy Hockenberg, Debbie Kakavas, Audrey Knox, Joni Lakin, Sarah Lowen, Harriet Moore, Tiffany Morgan, Sheri Null, Jenny Olson, Carol O’Neill, Marilyn Parigian, Debbie Paulson, Mary Ann Sheets, Emily Thomas, Beth Welch and Marcia Williams

3 Years of Service: Ruth Baldwin, Sue Bates, Laura Bolton, Linda Bowton, Shirley Burger, Judy Carpenter, Ruth Dawson, Kerry Dlouhy, Nancy Fisher, Shelly Funk, Sara Harrington, Michele Hogue, Karen Jacobsen, Jane Jones, Carla Lyons, DaNae Mikesh, Chris Miller, Nancy Miller, Stephanie Mrse, Kathleen Plond, Deb Nollen-Richter, Sherri Parson, Kate Paulline, Brie Roth, Martha Schlicht, Lia Shields, Connie Tipsword, Cherie Warner, Amy Welt, Cedra Williamson and Isabel Zvorak

4 Years of Service: Debbie Cowherd, Harriet Johnson, Lana Johnson, Cathy Kaman Ryan, Lin Swanson, Darlene Welsh

We also presented the following special awards for extraordinary service during the past year.

Hooks on Fire: Presented to DaNae Mikesh for crocheting the most items.

Needles on Fire: Presented to Claudia LeNeau for knitting the most items.

Super Sewer: Presented to Amy Welt for sewing the most items.

Golden Scissors Award: Presented Chris Miller and Mary Anne Sheets for consistently helping with work group prep by picking up fabric, washing it and cutting out blankets.

Work Group MVP: Presented to Carla Lyons and Darlene Welsh for attending the most work group days.

Bereavement MVP: Presented to Sheri Null for organizing memory box workshops and assisting with assembling bereavement packages.

Fund Raising MVP: Presented to Audrey Knox for attending and helping with the most fund raisers.

Visit our Photo Gallery to view the rest of the photos from this celebration.