Riverview Hospital Auxiliary

The mission of the Riverview Hospital Auxiliary is to provide volunteer services and raise funds on behalf of Riverview Hospital, and to promote quality health care in the Wisconsin Rapids area. The Auxiliary has raised more than $1.2 million for health projects and medical equipment since its founding in 1954. Today about 250 members are dedicated to this mission.

Membership is open to all teens and adults who are interested in Riverview Hospital Association and willing to uphold the Auxiliary’s mission. Membership dues are:

$10 per year for active members (those who actively participate)
$25 per year for associate members (those who do not actively participate but wish to identify with and lend moral support to the Auxiliary)

To learn about becoming an Auxilian, please call Sandy at 715/424-2904 or Nancy at 715/424-2713.

As an Auxilian, you will meet new people, build friendships and gain great personal rewards from your work. You can decide how much time to volunteer weekly, monthly, or for a limited time each year. Volunteer training is provided in all areas. There are a variety of Auxiliary volunteer opportunities to choose from, such as:

Hospital Gift Shop: Assist with cashiering, decorating, ordering, pricing or stocking merchandise. The Hospital Gift Shop offers a unique variety of gifts for all ages.

Surgery/Outpatient Family Room: Assist the loved ones of surgery and outpatient procedure patients. Duties include communicating messages between nursing staff and family, answering questions, giving directions, making coffee, taking messages for families if they need to leave the waiting area.

Cancer Center Reception Room: Provide a warm and comforting atmosphere for patients and their loved ones while they are receiving treatment at UW Cancer Center Riverview. Serve coffee, ice water, cookies and a limited number of patient lunches from the hospital coffee shop.

Care Shawls: Knit or crochet shawls for patients of UW Cancer Center Riverview to comfort them during treatment and to take home with them following their care.

Comfort Care: Be on call for short-term visits to sit with a hospital patient who needs company and support in their family’s absence.

TeleCare/Clergy Calling: Assist with telephone calls to people who need contact with someone on a daily basis.

CHAMPS (Children’s Health Assistance Medical Pagers): Assist with providing pagers to families with children who might experience a health emergency requiring prompt action by a parent or caregiver.

Baby Caps: Knit or crochet pink and blue stocking caps to keep precious newborn heads warm.

Pooh Visits Riverview: Assist your favorite Winnie the Pooh character in giving area kindergartners a mini-tour of the hospital. This program runs for one week, twice a year.

Fundraising: Help raise funds for major gifts and medical equipment for the hospital. Activities and events vary from year to year; but here is a sample of recent fundraisers: hospital gift shop; gift basket raffles; patron plan contribution drive; plant, balloon, candy and book sales; Love Lights sales; holiday bake sale; holiday Tour of Tables/luncheon; and the annual ladies golf and cards outing/luncheon.
 
Auxiliary Support: Keep the Auxiliary strong and growing by helping in a support role, such as: new member recruitment, member mailings, Focus quarterly member newsletter, publicity and historian activities, health education, public policy, and committee and board involvement.

Riverview Hospital Auxiliary Scholarships

The Auxiliary awards four scholarships each year to students pursuing an education in health care.

Two traditional scholarships are awarded each spring to graduating seniors from Lincoln, Assumption, Port Edwards or Nekoosa high schools. These awards are $3,500 each, distributed over four years.

In addition, two scholarships are awarded each fall to non-traditional students, age 25 or older, who reside in south Wood County and are currently enrolled in a college program carrying a minimum of six credits. Both are $2,000, distributed for two years, if applicable.

For more information about the Riverview Hospital Auxiliary Scholarships, please leave a message at the Auxiliary office, 715/423-6060, ext. 7456.

Other Volunteer Opportunities