The Newton Medical Center Auxiliary presented a check to the hospital board and CEO Jim Weadick for $406,000 during the annual Christmas Awards Luncheon Dec. 17 in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

Under the direction of President Charlie Powell, the Auxiliary set this goal in May 2011 at the request of the hospital board, chaired by D.L. (Pete) Knox. Checks were also presented by the Cinderella Shop and the Wishing Well Gift Shop.

The Auxiliary serves as the fundraising branch of the hospital and has given $2.7 million for equipment in the past 20 years. Supporters of NMC have made these gifts possible through participation in the annual gala, golf tournament, barbecue and auxiliary vendor sales, and through individual gifts and foundation grants. These projects are planned and presented by the Auxiliary each year.

Equipment purchased through the years has benefited patients in the Women’s Diagnostic Center, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Emergency Room, Imaging Services and other areas.

The Hospital Board has asked the Auxiliary to begin work in 2014 to raise $350,000 for additional equipment. The Auxiliary has accepted the challenge and will sponsor the Spring Gala as the first project in 2014 to raise these funds.

Spring gala

The gala will be held April 26 at the home of Dr. Eileen O’Neill and Dr. Richard Robinson, physicians on the medical staff at NMC. Chaired by Julie Rogers, the event will have an Italian theme and will be black-tie optional.

Tickets will go on sale in February. For more details, call 770-788-6553 or visit the newtonmedical.com website.

Volunteers honored

At the luncheon, Volunteer Service Awards were presented to nearly 50 volunteers to recognize their hours and years of service.

Weadick presented Philanthropic Awards to recognize three families who have made contributions of more than $100,000 each: Jim and Sharon Stalvey, D.L. (Pete) and Peggy Knox, and Millard and Sue Choate. Using the metaphor of baseball, each was presented with a "You Knocked it out of the Ballpark Award." Director of Volunteer Services Martha Taylor was recognized for her 30 years of service to the Auxiliary. Taylor, who is retiring Dec. 31, reflected on her years with Newton Medical Center and thanked those who had supported the Auxiliary.

Taylor introduced her staff, including Andrea Lane, with whom she has been working side-by-side for the past six weeks to prepare her to serve as the new director. For information on volunteering or on Hospital Auxiliary projects, call 770-788-6553 or visit the website newtonmedical.com.

Volunteer Service Awards

100 hours: Missy Braden, Dolores Daily, Gail Davis, Anita Felder, Dottie Griffith, Linda Griffith, Joanne McKie, Al Nichols and Shirley Thomas.

250 hours: Missy Braden, Kay Kerley and Cindy Odgers.

500 hours: LeRoy Hughes and Carol Hutter.

700 hours: Daryl Losch, Laverne Richardson and Jean Suggitt.

1,000 hours: Colette Hagans, Pat Harrison and Pamela King.

1,200 hours: Mac Hays, Pamela King, Gail Misuraca and Mikie Wagy.

1,700 hours: Jerry Aldridge, Miriam Hall, Oleta Kimball, Ruby Lewis and Allen Mallett.

2,500 hours: Harold Newton, and Roger Pflug.

3,000 hours: Betty Cascella and Becky Simchick.

4,000 hours: Carolyn Phillips and Charlie Powell.

4,500 hours: Grace Johnson.

5,500 hours: Frank Bernat and Lee Peterson.

7,500 hours: Lee Aldridge.

Star awards (200 or more hours in six months): Jerry Aldridge, Lee Aldridge, Missy Braden, Kay Goff, Pamela King, Roger Pflug, and Charlie Powell.

5 years of service: Mary Garner, Ruby Lewis and Vince Vazquez.

10 years of service: Denise Gainer, Marilyn Langstaff and E.D. Trimm.