The COVID-19 pandemic is clearly no match for St. Tammany Health System’s all-volunteer St. Tammany Hospital Guild.
During their meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 26), masked and socially distanced members of the Guild leadership team presented St. Tammany Hospital Foundation with the group’s annual donation, generated by sales at the hospital’s guild-run Gift Shoppe. This year, despite the difficulties presented by COVID, the guild donation amounts to $18,744.
That brings the Guild’s total donations to foundation causes over the years to well over $375,000, according to Foundation Specialist Melanie Rudolph, who, with the foundation’s Doug Walker, was on -hand to accept Tuesday’s donation.
Also present were St. Tammany Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Joan Coffman, as well as Health System Chief Financial Officer Sandra DiPietro.
Rudolph said Tuesday’s gift will go toward the health system’s pediatric service lines, including more than $13,000 earmarked to expand offerings for patients with autism at its St. Tammany Pediatrics practice and the health system’s pediatric orthopedics services.
Additionally, $5,500 will be earmarked to help finance a whimsical “Under the Sea”-themed art installation being created by local artist Robert Post for St. Tammany Pediatrics’ new clinic on Highway 21 in Covington. The installation, which is still seeking sponsors, is being created as part of the foundation’s Healing Arts Initiative.