Caring, serving, giving since 1894. Winona Health Volunteers receive awards–with a twist

This year’s Winona Health Volunteers recognition celebration, like almost everything else, was affected by COVID-19. That didn’t prevent a small, masked, physically distanced recognition of one of two Volunteers of the Year in the Robinson Healing Garden at Winona Health on July 8. Winona Health Volunteers President, Nancy Prodzinski, Volunteer Manager, Kris Walters, Winona Health CEO Rachelle Schultz, and along with several volunteers and staff, were on hand to present the awards. The “twist” came after Walters introduced Prodzinski. Prodzinski welcomed the small group, acknowledging that because of COVID-19, the volunteers were unable to hold their annual Service Awards celebration. Instead, she said, the volunteers decided to use the opportunity to honor someone who is always supportive of their work, is a transparent leader and who recognizes and appreciates the value volunteers bring to Winona Health. With that, she presented an award to Schultz for her “visionary guidance, exceptional leadership and organization-wide engagement of volunteers.” After a speechless moment, Schultz noted that not much surprised her these days, but this sure did, and she again expressed her gratitude for the volunteers. “You are us,” Schultz added, acknowledging a sentiment shared among volunteers and staff. She then steered the spotlight back to the volunteers. The 2020 Winona Health Volunteers of the Year are Donna Sauers, who was on hand at the event, and Cherre Pye, who was unable to attend and received her award later. Pye is a familiar and friendly face to anyone who frequents the volunteers’ Glady D. Miller Gift Shop in the hospital lobby at Winona Health. Sauers serves at various information desks and helps with several fundraising events. Walters noted, “Her leadership skills have been invaluable.” Sauers said she was overwhelmed and very surprised to receive the award, “There are so many people who do so much more. I value the friendships I’ve made through volunteering at Winona Health, and the employees here are wonderful – always so appreciative.” A total of 51 volunteers received pins, sent via mail this year, for achieving service milestones in 2020. Walters commented on the generous gifts of time and talent contributed by each attendee being recognized for service milestones, ranging from 100 hours to 6,500 hours. For more information about the Winona Health Volunteers, call 507.457.4342 or learn more at winonahealth.org/volunteer.

100 Hours: Mary Alice Anderson Jim Jacques Tom Kujawa Nathan Larkin Carrie Putzier Jayme Putzier 300 hours: Julie Beth Ellen Enright Julie Knutson Al Mulyck Cathy Prondzinski Leslie Scarborough Rick Schell Frank Smith Jane Tlougan Robin Trombetta

* Receiving multiple service awards

500 hours: Pam Leifeld* Mary Kaye Perrin Nancy Prodzinski Irene Smieja Pj Thompson Al Wheeler 750 hours: Gwen Anderson Julie Johnson Pam Leifeld* Pat Mrachek Michael Murphy

1000 hours: Deb Anderson Diane Cada Laura Cady Nancy Dunbar Lois Glasspoole Joliene Olson Pat Quinn Donna Sauers 1500 hours: Donna Ernst Mary Jo Fitzgerald Marilyn Grob Ruth Jerowski Judi Ledebuhr Janet Seabern Kay Williams

2000 hours: Jane Palmer Roland Woodford 2500 hours: Sandy Krueger Cherre Pye* 3000 hours: Sheila Lind Cherre Pye* Marg Roberts 4000 hours: Sally Schultz 4500 hours: Mary Breza 5000 hours: Kim Schwab 6500 hours: Marlene Walther