The Ann Chisena Award for Community Involvement was presented to Rifka Klaristenfeld of Williamsburg, who volunteers with the Time Out for Fun Program at New York Methodist’s Infusion Center. The goal of this program is to help patients and their families feel more comfortable while undergoing treatment. Ms. Klaristenfeld provides recreational activities for both patients and caregivers, including instruction in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint, as well as sudoku and word search puzzles.

Monique Montenegro, who lives in Kensington, was this year’s recipient of the Marie la Ruffa Award for Patient Care. Ms. Montenegro began volunteering at NYM as a patient care assistant---NYM’s oncology unit.  In her words, “The experiences at NYM taught me to take better care of myself so I can be there for the patients. I want to provide them with solutions and a wealth of information in a compassionate setting. In order to provide my personal best, I am continuing my education and applying to numerous post-baccalaureate pre-med programs in New York City.”

The Frank Spera Award for Dependability was presented to Ilene Adams of Bedford-Stuyvesant. Ms. Adams has been a faithful volunteer in the Hospital’s Cuddling Program since its inception in March 2008.  The Program trains volunteer to hold and comfort babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Aaron Chalal, of Downtown Brooklyn, was the recipient of the Mary Velez Emergency Room Award for Excellence. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Chalal has accepted the responsibility of training and guiding new volunteers as they take their first steps into the complex and often confusing world of Emergency Medicine.

“Without the kind of service our volunteers give, we would not be the marvelous Hospital we are today,” said John E. Carrington, chairman of NYM’s board of trustees, and a faithful patron of the event.

New York Methodist Hospital encourages all interested individuals to apply for volunteer opportunities at the Hospital. To apply, go to http://www.nym.org, click on community outreach, and then select volunteer opportunities to complete an application.

New York Methodist Hospital

New York Methodist Hospital, a voluntary, acute-care teaching facility located in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, houses 651 inpatient beds (including bassinets) and provides services to over 34,000 inpatients each year.  An additional 350,000 outpatient visits and services are logged annually.  The Hospital offers Institutes in the following areas: Advanced and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Asthma and Lung Disease; Cancer Care; Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery; Digestive and Liver Disorders; Diabetes and Other Endocrine Disorders; Vascular Medicine and Surgery; Family Care; Neurosciences; Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery and Women’s Health. The Hospital, founded in 1881, has undergone extensive renovation and modernization over the years.  New York Methodist is affiliated with the Weill College of Medicine at Cornell University and it is a member of NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.