Through out the year, Coral Springs Medical Center’s (CSMC) Auxiliary members make numerous contributions that assist medical center staff in delivering high quality patient care. The nonprofit Auxiliary consists of volunteers whose mission it is to serve the public by donating their time and fund-raising.

Coral Springs Medical Center Auxiliary members: Standing (l-r): Ed McConnell; Sheila Steinber; Janet DiStanisla; Marilyn Fessler. Sitting (l-r): Joyce Freeman; Vincent Ciardullo, co-president;, Barbara DeFazio, co-president; and Rita Duffy.

This past year, the Auxiliary raised more than $228,000 through gift shop proceeds, used book and baby bracelet sales, and fund-raising efforts. These funds enabled the Auxiliary to make several equipment donations, including 63 recliners and 27 chair beds for patient rooms, two bedside heart monitors for the recovery room, a birthing tub for labor and delivery, and a procedural stretcher for the mother-baby unit.

Additionally, the funds go toward making the hospital atmosphere more appealing and comfortable. The Auxiliary enhanced the look of the front lobby by purchasing and installing curtains, and volunteer knitters created more than 300 hats for newborns and seamstresses sewed more than 1,900 cough pillows for surgical patients. Reaching beyond the walls of CSMC, the Auxiliary’s scholarship committee awarded eight $1,500 college scholarships to students interested in pursuing a medical career.

This year, more than 300 adult and teen-age volunteers donated 45,000 hours of service. Over the past two years Auxiliary co-president Vincent Ciardullo and Auxiliary member Marie Long, were even inducted into the Broward Senior Hall of Fame for their work at CSMC and in the community.

The Auxiliary members operate under the leadership of eight officers who were just selected during the Auxiliary’s 2006 Installation Luncheon. The officers are Barbara DeFazio, co-president; Vincent Ciardullo, co-president & parliamentarian; Rita Duffy, first vice president; Claire Bojanoski, second vice president; Marilyn Caggino, third vice president; Marilyn Fessler, recording secretary; Risha Miziol, treasurer; Deon Singleton, assistant treasurer.