T&G Santa: Hospital staff raffle fills baskets of holiday cheer
December 2, 2009
By Ellie Oleson CORRESPONDENT
Recently, the raffle has gone to charities, which this year included the T&G Santa.
A group of medical professionals who work to keep patients healthy pooled their resources to keep children happy this holiday season.
The staff of the Department of Hospital Laboratories at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester sponsored a 26-basket raffle, with all $8,500 in proceeds to go to the Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund, Worcester County Food Bank and the UMass Memorial Emergency Assistance Support for Employees Fund.
Darlene Bomba, manager of central processing and outreach registration, said each laboratory department donated a basket for the raffle.
“The staff are very, very giving people. Each basket was worth at least $300,” she said.
Her department's “In the Heat of the Night” basket featured an elegant electric fireplace. The Toxicology Lab donated “The Best of Everything” basket filled with fine wines, chocolates and gift cards, and the Microbiology Lab's basket, “Fun on Shrewsbury Street,” was filled with gift certificates to restaurants and businesses on Shrewsbury Street. Other baskets contained everything from tickets to the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts to a set of electric drills, saws and other tools.
Office supervisor Suzanne D. O'Brien, coordinator of raffle baskets, said, “Our staff is amazing. They donate out of the kindness of their hearts. This raffle is quite a morale booster that brings joy to everyone.”
This year, the joy branched out from the laboratory offices at One Biotech Park when raffle ticket tables were set up in the cafeterias at Memorial and University campuses of the medical center to boost ticket sales.
“That was the first time we took the baskets on the road,” Ms. Bomba said, noting that next year's road trip might include the Hahnemann campus.
Ms. Bomba said the raffles began six years ago, when she found out that a staff member had fallen on hard times.
“A staff mom became homeless. Interfaith Hospitality (Network of Greater Worcester) put her and her children up in churches. We raffled off a snowman made from a chenille bedspread and raised $500,” Ms. Bomba said.
She used the funds to surprise the “staff mom” with warm coats, toys and other Christmas gifts.
“That started us raising money with raffles. Each year, it gets bigger and bigger,” Ms. Bomba said.
One year, the raffle proceeds helped the family of a staff member whose sister was shot and killed in New Jersey.
Recently, the raffle has gone to charities, which this year included the T&G Santa.
“In these tough economic times, there are a lot of families in need. We don't want any child in Central Massachusetts to go without. We wish all children a happy, safe and healthy holiday season,” Ms. Bomba said.
In addition to the large donation from Hospital Laboratories, the T&G Santa received one smaller check.
The “Just for Kids” basket donated by Ms. O'Brien, held toys, gifts and a pledge to make a donation to the Telegram & Gazette Santa in the raffle winner's name.
The T&G Santa is holding its annual fund drive. In its 71st year, the T&G Santa Fund collects thousands of donations from generous readers and area residents to help buy toys for children in need in Central Massachusetts.
Children 12 and younger who would otherwise not receive any holiday gifts are eligible to receive two toys each. When signing up at an area agency, parents or guardians should bring personal identification for each family member and proof of address and income.
No applications will be accepted directly by the T&G.
Area agencies accepting applications for assistance include: the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities Family and Children's Services of Southbridge, Gardner Community Action Committee, WHEAT Community Services and Winchendon Community Action Committee.
Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can do so by clipping and filling out the form in the newspaper and mailing it to Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund, c/o Commerce Bank, P.O. Box 15204, Worcester, MA 01615-0204 or by going online to www.telegram.com/santa to donate by credit card.
PREVIOUS BALANCE
$17,193.29
CONTRIBUTIONS
In lieu of Christmas Cards; Camosse Masonry Supply
$500
Phyllis and Stuart Freilich Charitable Foundation Fund of Greater Worcester Community Foundation
$500
Elizabeth and Victoria Wojnar
$125
Santa's Helper
$25
WCM, GAM, JCM, JAM
$25
Dr. Jill and John O'Connell
$20
David, Jeffrey & Mark
$15
Shirley and Bob
$10
IN MEMORY OF
Robert P. O'Neill; Co-workers of Chris Childs - UMMS
$125
Ed, Jesse, Anna Power; David and Lee
$100
Harold, Loretta, Robert & Paul Henshaw of Worcester; Dale, Anita, Brett & Emily Staupe
$100
Dave Derry and Cathy Smith
$50
My parents; Susan
$50
Oma and Mom; Steve and Trish
$30
Tyler James Franco; Nana and Boppy Veaudry
$30
Josephine J. and Louis J. DeLalla Sr.; Joanne C. and Louis J. DeLalla Jr
$25
Lucille Cunic; Her loving children
$25
Our sons, Michael D. and Matthew T. Joubert; Harold and Kathleen Joubert
$25
Donna Bohl; DeeAnne and Marie
$20
Aaron and Gladys Burlingame; Jeff, Kathy, Sean and Kevin
$15
Nana & Auntie Queenei and Aunt Bea; Jeff, Kathy, Sean and Kevin
$15
Maggie Menzigian; Jeff, Kathy, Sean and Kevin
$10
TODAY'S TOTAL
$1,840
GRAND TOTAL
$19,033.29
Recently, the raffle has gone to charities, which this year included the T&G Santa.
A group of medical professionals who work to keep patients healthy pooled their resources to keep children happy this holiday season.
The staff of the Department of Hospital Laboratories at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester sponsored a 26-basket raffle, with all $8,500 in proceeds to go to the Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund, Worcester County Food Bank and the UMass Memorial Emergency Assistance Support for Employees Fund.
Darlene Bomba, manager of central processing and outreach registration, said each laboratory department donated a basket for the raffle.
“The staff are very, very giving people. Each basket was worth at least $300,” she said.
Her department's “In the Heat of the Night” basket featured an elegant electric fireplace. The Toxicology Lab donated “The Best of Everything” basket filled with fine wines, chocolates and gift cards, and the Microbiology Lab's basket, “Fun on Shrewsbury Street,” was filled with gift certificates to restaurants and businesses on Shrewsbury Street. Other baskets contained everything from tickets to the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts to a set of electric drills, saws and other tools.
Office supervisor Suzanne D. O'Brien, coordinator of raffle baskets, said, “Our staff is amazing. They donate out of the kindness of their hearts. This raffle is quite a morale booster that brings joy to everyone.”
This year, the joy branched out from the laboratory offices at One Biotech Park when raffle ticket tables were set up in the cafeterias at Memorial and University campuses of the medical center to boost ticket sales.
“That was the first time we took the baskets on the road,” Ms. Bomba said, noting that next year's road trip might include the Hahnemann campus.
Ms. Bomba said the raffles began six years ago, when she found out that a staff member had fallen on hard times.
“A staff mom became homeless. Interfaith Hospitality (Network of Greater Worcester) put her and her children up in churches. We raffled off a snowman made from a chenille bedspread and raised $500,” Ms. Bomba said.
She used the funds to surprise the “staff mom” with warm coats, toys and other Christmas gifts.
“That started us raising money with raffles. Each year, it gets bigger and bigger,” Ms. Bomba said.
One year, the raffle proceeds helped the family of a staff member whose sister was shot and killed in New Jersey.
Recently, the raffle has gone to charities, which this year included the T&G Santa.
“In these tough economic times, there are a lot of families in need. We don't want any child in Central Massachusetts to go without. We wish all children a happy, safe and healthy holiday season,” Ms. Bomba said.
In addition to the large donation from Hospital Laboratories, the T&G Santa received one smaller check.
The “Just for Kids” basket donated by Ms. O'Brien, held toys, gifts and a pledge to make a donation to the Telegram & Gazette Santa in the raffle winner's name.
The T&G Santa is holding its annual fund drive. In its 71st year, the T&G Santa Fund collects thousands of donations from generous readers and area residents to help buy toys for children in need in Central Massachusetts.
Children 12 and younger who would otherwise not receive any holiday gifts are eligible to receive two toys each. When signing up at an area agency, parents or guardians should bring personal identification for each family member and proof of address and income.
No applications will be accepted directly by the T&G.
Area agencies accepting applications for assistance include: the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities Family and Children's Services of Southbridge, Gardner Community Action Committee, WHEAT Community Services and Winchendon Community Action Committee.
Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can do so by clipping and filling out the form in the newspaper and mailing it to Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund, c/o Commerce Bank, P.O. Box 15204, Worcester, MA 01615-0204 or by going online to www.telegram.com/santa to donate by credit card.
PREVIOUS BALANCE
$17,193.29
CONTRIBUTIONS
In lieu of Christmas Cards; Camosse Masonry Supply
$500
Phyllis and Stuart Freilich Charitable Foundation Fund of Greater Worcester Community Foundation
$500
Elizabeth and Victoria Wojnar
$125
Santa's Helper
$25
WCM, GAM, JCM, JAM
$25
Dr. Jill and John O'Connell
$20
David, Jeffrey & Mark
$15
Shirley and Bob
$10
IN MEMORY OF
Robert P. O'Neill; Co-workers of Chris Childs - UMMS
$125
Ed, Jesse, Anna Power; David and Lee
$100
Harold, Loretta, Robert & Paul Henshaw of Worcester; Dale, Anita, Brett & Emily Staupe
$100
Dave Derry and Cathy Smith
$50
My parents; Susan
$50
Oma and Mom; Steve and Trish
$30
Tyler James Franco; Nana and Boppy Veaudry
$30
Josephine J. and Louis J. DeLalla Sr.; Joanne C. and Louis J. DeLalla Jr
$25
Lucille Cunic; Her loving children
$25
Our sons, Michael D. and Matthew T. Joubert; Harold and Kathleen Joubert
$25
Donna Bohl; DeeAnne and Marie
$20
Aaron and Gladys Burlingame; Jeff, Kathy, Sean and Kevin
$15
Nana & Auntie Queenei and Aunt Bea; Jeff, Kathy, Sean and Kevin
$15
Maggie Menzigian; Jeff, Kathy, Sean and Kevin
$10
TODAY'S TOTAL
$1,840
GRAND TOTAL
$19,033.29
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