Annual Los Robles Hospital dinner honors volunteers

Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center volunteers were recently recognized for giving more than two million hours of service since the hospital opened in 1968.

The hospital has its annual recognition dinner at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Feb. 23 to celebrate the total number of hours and the 88,000 hours given in 2004.

Hospital CEO and President Jim Sherman praised the work of more than 500 volunteers who enhanced the lives of patients and family members during the past year.

Five of those volunteers received the "Beyond The Call of Duty Award" for volunteering more than 1,000 hours each in 2004.

They are Sophia Jansen (gift shop manager); Isa Brente-Shekter (student coordinator); Jim Howes (volunteer board president); Ruby Rooks and Rosemary Herbrecht.

In addition, Herbrecht received a special award for volunteering a total of more than 20,000 hours since 1988 and Jansen was also recognized for giving 1,700 hours in 2004.

Brente-Shekter was also the recipient of the "2004 Frist Humanitarian Award."

Created in 1971, the award honors outstanding individuals for their humanitarian and volunteer activities.

Frist Humanitarian Awards are given each year in recognition of the caring spirit and philanthropic work of the late Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr., a founder of HCA (Healthcare Corporation of America).

Volunteer Director Irene Brennick concluded the evening by giving out lighthearted awards for The Cutest Volunteer, The Funniest Volunteer, and even The Most Talkative Volunteer.

Hospital volunteers range in age from 14-year-old high school students, to 95-year-old Dodie Linn, who received an award for most years (34).

If you would like to join the Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center Volunteer Program, you can stop by the hospital and fill out an application, or call Brennick at (805) 370-4685.