FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630-407-6022
April 8, 2009

Celebrating Volunteers, Hands that Serve, Hearts that Care

DU PAGE COUNTY ― On Thursday April 23^rd the DuPage Convalescent Center will be honoring volunteers during its 29^th Annual Volunteer Recognition Reception.  The event, themed “Volunteers, Hands that Serve, Hearts that Care,” is an annual reception that highlights volunteers for their dedication and support to the residents.  It is through the help of Volunteers that  the DuPage Convalescent Center is able to offer an extra dimension of care and services to the residents by supporting the mission of helping residents to do as much as they can, as well as they can for as long as they can. 

This year, volunteer Winifred “Winnie” Blewitt will receive an award for 45 years of service to the Center at the Annual Recognition Reception.  Winnie, a resident of Wheaton since 1961, has been an integral part of the Ceramics program at the Center since its inception during the 1960’s.  Her tenure as a volunteer exceeds the career span of every employee who has ever worked at the Center and outlasts the length of stay of all but one resident.  Winnie has generously given over 6000 hours of her time to provide a greater quality of life to the nearly 360 residents that reside at the Center. 

“Volunteers provide a great gift to the residents of the Center.  They provide the gift of their time and talents, and truly are the heart of the organization.  Volunteers make DuPage Convalescent Center a home, not just a nursing home,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Robert J. Schillerstrom.  “It is an honor to have dedicated volunteers such as Winnie.  She embodies the word volunteer and continues to help transform DPCC into a well rounded community while serving as an inspiration to us all.”

Winnie will be honored by the DuPage County Board at their meeting on April 14^th and will receive her service award on April 23rd.  In 2008, nearly 450 volunteers donated over 35,600 hours of volunteer service to the Center.