06/11/2026
This week, the Tri-City Hospital Auxiliary hosted its annual meeting to celebrate another year of service and accomplishments at Tri-City Medical Center.
Auxiliary President Bernadette “Bunny” McElliot shared that the Auxiliary has grown to a network of 225 active members serving throughout the hospital in departments such as the PACU, ICU, and the Emergency Department. Bunny also shared that in April, the Auxiliary’s Annual Scholarship Night recognized and awarded 101 students with scholarships, a total of $83,000, to support their educational goals.
Perhaps the most outstanding statistic shared was time. Between July 2025 and June 2026, our Auxiliary volunteers contributed more than 26,000 hours to TCMC. This remarkable commitment is equivalent to 665 full-time, 40-hour work weeks or 13 years of continuous service. Based on current wage rates, those volunteer hours represent an estimated value of more than $559,000.
During the meeting, Hour Award Pins were presented to volunteers who reached significant service milestones, ranging from 500 to 10,000 hours. One volunteer, however, received a special distinction. Donna McConnell, who has volunteered at Tri-City for 27 years, recently surpassed 14,000 hours of service. In recognition of this extraordinary achievement, Donna was presented with the Auxiliary’s first-ever G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) Award.
At the conclusion of the event, the Auxiliary presented Tri-City Medical Center’s Executive Team and District Board with its annual gift. A total of $50,000! This generous donation was made possible through proceeds generated by the TCMC Gift Shop, which is operated and staffed entirely by Auxiliary volunteers.
We extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to each and every Auxiliary volunteer for their continued commitment and the invaluable services they provide to patients, families, and staff. From the Information Desk to patient check-in and discharge, our Auxilians deliver an additional layer of care, compassion, and comfort when it is needed most.
