[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2133-E2134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE AUXILIARY TO BELLEVUE HOSPITAL CENTER, INC. ON 
         THE OCCASION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2006

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Auxiliary to Bellevue 
Hospital Center, Inc., which is celebrating its 100th anniversary of 
service to the community. During that

[[Page E2134]]

time, the Auxiliary has developed into an invaluable resource for 
Bellevue Hospital, one of our Nation's most renowned hospitals. Over 
the past 100 years the Auxiliary has provided in excess of $45 million 
in support, piloted numerous new programs and been a source of 
satisfying work for thousands of volunteers. At their gala recognizing, 
they are honoring Rita J. Kaplan, for her philanthropy, Dr. Robert S. 
Holzman, for patient care, and Michael ``Buzzy'' O'Keeffe, for 
community service. They are all sterling examples of the extraordinary 
volunteers who have made the Auxiliary such a superb institution.
  The Auxiliary was founded in 1906 by a group of socially conscious 
women who wanted to support the Bellevue Tuberculosis Clinic. Among 
other things, they created a Day Camp in 1908 on the old ferryboat 
``Southfield,'' anchored off the Bellevue Hospital grounds, so that 
patients could spend time in the open air. Contemporaneously, another 
group of philanthropic-minded women formed the Convalescent Relief 
Committee to assist in the well-being, care and convalescence of 
Bellevue patients. In 1907 a third group, The Synagogue Committee 
formed to translate for Yiddish-speaking Bellevue patients and provide 
for their social service needs.
  The three groups grew steadily until their work encompassed every 
ward and clinic at the hospital. Eventually they recognized that they 
would accomplish more by working together. Thus, in 1940 the Auxiliary 
merged with the Convalescent Relief Committee and the Synagogue 
Committee and in 1945 the Auxiliary was legally incorporated as the 
Social Service Auxiliary to Bellevue Hospital. In 1956, the 
organization adopted its current name: the Auxiliary to Bellevue 
Hospital Center, Inc.
  Volunteers have entertained patients and provided caring assistance 
to those in need. Additionally, through the years, the Auxiliary's 
volunteers have launched innumerable projects to serve Bellevue's 
patients. For example, in 1941 the Auxiliary founded and began staffing 
three patient libraries located in the TB, general and psychiatric 
divisions. The Interfaith Chaplaincy Program also counts on Auxiliary 
volunteers to help them attend to the patients' spiritual needs.
  Volunteers have raised money for the hospital through a number of 
different enterprises and fundraising events, providing millions of 
dollars for the Hospital's needs. From thrift shops through coffee 
shops, the Auxiliary has been entrepreneurial in its approach to 
fundraising. The Auxiliary's Stuyvesant Square Thrift Shop at 80th 
Street is considered one of the best places in Manhattan to find 
inexpensive designer wear and other interesting clothes. The thrift 
shop is the successor to The Little Jack Horner Shop which opened 
during the Depression to serve patients and their families by providing 
low priced wares and clothing. The Bellevue Snack Bar opened on May 23, 
1956 and has served physicians, staff and visitors to Bellevue Hospital 
while providing revenue for the Auxiliary's needs. Fifty years later 
the snack bar, now the Coffee Shop, continues to operate. The Bellevue 
Newsstand was created by the Auxiliary in 1970 and continues as a 
combination Newsstand/Gift Shop.
  Notwithstanding the changes that have taken place during the past 100 
years, service continues to be the Auxiliary's primary mission. Today's 
Auxiliary is a vibrant organization comprised of caring and involved 
people who pride themselves on having an impact on the well-being of 
all of the patients of Bellevue Hospital Center.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the hard-
working, caring and compassionate volunteers of the Auxiliary to 
Bellevue for their 100 years of service to the patients of Bellevue 
Hospital. Every patient who passed through its doors has benefitted 
from their dedication.

                          ____________________