New York, NY - April 29, 2009— - The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) recognized National Volunteer Week by honoring three outstanding volunteers who work in the public hospitals in the borough. These individuals represent more than 8,000 men and women who together have dedicated nearly one million hours of service to the city's public hospitals system over the last year. HHC is also encouraging more New Yorkers to consider the interesting and rewarding volunteer opportunities available to help patients served by HHC. For information on volunteer openings at HHC visit NYCService.org.

HHC’s volunteers serve important supportive roles such as interpreters, patient librarians, patient advocates, chaplains, community and auxiliary board members.

“HHC volunteers have answered the call to service and exemplify the new era of volunteerism promoted by President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg. Our volunteers are a diverse group of New Yorkers who give back to their communities by donating their time and talent. They are a vital part of our mission to deliver quality, safe, compassionate healthcare to all,” said HHC President Alan D. Aviles. “We invite more New Yorkers to lend a hand in our hospitals, nursing homes and health centers and help us serve the 1.3 million patients who rely on our care every year.”

Bronx Volunteers Honored

Calixta Khan--shares her time and expertise at Jacobi Medical Center in the Patient Relations Chaplaincy Program. She provides friendly visits to patients, especially those who do not receive visitors. Ms. Khan escorts patients to the Chapel for services and helps with holy observances including doing readings in Spanish during masses.

Carmen Rodriguez--a retired day care teacher, volunteers in Pediatrics at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center giving 20-25 hours of service weekly. In 2008 that added up to 775 hours. She provides developmentally appropriate play activities, reads to the children, and monitors TV programs and videos. She supports the families and interprets for families whose primary language is Spanish.

Pamela Lombard--a medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is a Social Work/Sexual Assault Treatment volunteer. She is on call twice a month, at night, on weekends and holidays to provide emotional support, crisis intervention, advocacy and safe discharge planning for sexual assault survivors who were seen in the Emergency Departments of NCB, Jacobi Medical Center or Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center. She is extremely committed to preserving and protecting the dignity of survivors during a time of crisis.

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country, is a $5.4 billion public benefit corporation that serves 1.3 million New Yorkers and nearly 400,000 who are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 80 community based health centers. For more information about HHC, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc. For volunteer opportunities go to nycservice.org.