Winthrop | Volunteer

Founded in 1967, Twigs is a volunteer organization that supports Winthrop-University Hospital designated campaigns. Over the years, Twigs has contributed funds towards the New Life Center and the Pastoral Care Program. In addition, they were most supportive in raising funds to build the Hagedorn Pediatric Inpatient Center. Currently Twigs is raising funds to support Winthrop's capital campaign to renovate the Post-partum Unit and Newborn Nursery in the North Pavilion.

Twigs is sustained by Garden City families, individuals and businesses. In addition to the adults who volunteer, Twigs is also supported by various children's groups. Junior volunteers have been helpful in many areas such as the Golden Goose Gala, (a two-day fundraising event held during the holiday season), the Pediatric Project (a once-a-month afternoon of fun and entertainment in Winthrop's Pediatric Unit), and stuffing envelopes for mailings. Kids helping kids is also another way the community gets involved with Winthrop-University Hospital through lacrosse clinics and raising funds to purchase toys, games and videos for the Pediatric Center.

Winthrop Welcomes New Twigs Leadership

L-R: Jennifer Miller, Twigs president; and outgoing president, Susan Williams-Furey.

John P. Broder, Winthrop's Vice President of External Affairs and Development, inducts the 2006-2007 Twigs officers. L-R: Twigs president, Jennifer Miller; recording secretary, Mari Shea; vice president, Alicia Fischer; president-elect, Alexa Rice; corresponding secretary, Pamela Hyer; and treasurer, Liz Menges. L-R: Barbara Kohart-Kleine, Vice President, Administration, Winthrop; Ronnie Renken, Auxiliary president; and Susan Williams-Furey, outgoing Twigs president.

Anyone interested in becoming a Twigs member, please contact Jennifer Miller at (516) 747-5546.

Suzanne Eigl of Twigs and the Garden City Chamber of Commerce and Tracey Gitterie of Legendary Events

(left to right) Suzanne Eigl, Chamber Director with the Garden City Chamber of Commerce and Chairperson of Winthrop's Twigs Pediatric Project; Russell Ciolli and Jennifer Ciolli of Grimaldi's Pizzeria; and Cynthia Bevington-Salvatico of Wintgate Inn of Garden

Twigs high school club and junior volunteers marched in a parade last fall to promote "A Night on Bourbon Street."

A brand new "Twig" has sprouted at the Garden City High School. The club that started with four members and one teacher-moderator during the 2003-2004 school year has now tripled in size.

Their first bake sale netted $150, and the proceeds were used towards an afternoon of entertainment for the children in the Pediatric Unit. The group also purchased a group of games that were left at the hospital for the children to enjoy.

Led this year by copresidents Kristen Sprotte and Nicole Albano, and together with teacher-moderator Mrs. Crawford, the High School Twigs Club has organized numerous events. Some of its fundraising efforts have been used to buy magazine subscriptions for the teenage patients. Future plans include purchasing new DVDs for the two laptops Twigs recently donated to the unit.

In addition, the High School Twigs Club plans afternoon visits and entertainment at the Pediatric Unit to interact with the patients. The group also participates in many Twigs events such as the Golden Goose Gala and promoting Twigs-sponsored events.

Congratulations to this group of energetic and caring high school students, who find the time to commit to this very worthy cause.

Garden City Chamber of Commerce Members Support Winthrop's Child Life Program

In February 2007, Anthony (Tony) F. Libertella, Ph.D., J.D., Dean of the Hagedorn School of Business at Adelphi University and immediate Past President of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, sponsored an early Valentine's Day Party at Winthrop-University Hospital in conjunction with Suzanne Eigl, Associate Broker at Taylor Warner Realty. The party was held in the Hospital's Child Life Activity Room for the benefit of pediatric patients in the Hagedorn Pediatric Inpatient Center at Winthrop, where Suzanne is Chairperson of the Twigs volunteer program. The children enjoyed pizza, ice cream, beanie baby goodie bags, and arts and crafts courtesy of Twigs.

In addition to hosting the party and visiting with the children, Mr. Libertella and Ms. Eigl each made special gifts to the Pediatrics unit.

Mr. Libertella and Adelphi University's Hagedorn School of Business donated a 20-inch state-of-the-art television and DVD player, along with the Cars movie and a Charlie Brown Baseball DVD. Ms. Eigl, on behalf of her family, donated a 20-inch television, DVD player, a Cinderella computer game, and the new Cinderella movie in memory of her mom, Marilyn, who passed away from cancer in 2005.

Members of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce who would like to make donations or sponsor events may call AnnMarie DiFrancesca, Director of the Child Life Program at Winthrop, at (516) 663-2761

The Twigs Pediatric Project is an afternoon of fun and entertainment for the patients in the Pediatric Unit. In the past, Twigs has pledged one afternoon each month to help raise the spirits of the young patients by providing arts and crafts projects, coordinating entertainment, or inviting entertainers and local celebrities to visit.

Working in teams of two, participants spend two hours in the afternoon-just a small time commitment for a worthy and fun cause. Twigs pledges a budget of $150 to cover the activities selected by each group. Due to the popularity of this event, volunteers may sign up to sponsor/host an afternoon only once each year. To sponsor and coordinate an afternoon of fun, contact co-chair Sue Eigl.

Headed this year by Joy Mernone and Suzanne Eigl, the Twigs Pediatric Project has also begun sponsoring and coordinating a Friday evening or Saturday afternoon Pizza and Ice Cream Party for the patients, families and friends.

Coordinating with AnnMarie DiFrancesca, Director of the Child Life Program, the event has become extremely popular with both the patients and their families. Coordinating the first event at Halloween, Joy and Sue were pleased to find that even a teenaged patient was glad to join in and help scoop the ice cream.

Recently, Keyfood Marketplace of Garden City and Dr. Denise Emma, a Garden City orthodontist, each sponsored a pizza party. Isabel Torres and Andrea Volpe from Dr. Emma's office also participated in serving the pizza and ice cream, and they were met with effusive thanks from both the patients and their visitors.

The cost to sponsor is approximately $50 for two or three pizzas, soda and two gallons of ice cream. To sponsor or coordinate an afternoon or evening of fun for the patients, please contact co-chair Sue Eigl.

Future sponsors include: