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Edward Johnson wanted his wife, Marlene to get the best chair in the SMH Infusion Center for her treatment each week. So every Thursday, he and Marlene arrived at SMH at 6 a.m. to claim that chair, so that Marlene could receive her three-hour chemotherapy infusion in relative comfort. The other infusion chairs had lost their charm, it seems.
Thanks to a recent grant, all eight chairs in the SMH Infusion Center are being replaced. In December, the St. Tammany Memorial Cancer Fund awarded $17,400 to the SMH Foundation so that all infusion patients can get the best chair. The St. Tammany Memorial Cancer Fund is committed to raising money to fight cancer, through research and patient and family services, ensuring that it remains in St.Tammany Parish when applicable. They also allocate funds for academic scholarships to help young people in our community win the battle against cancer. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Board and staff of the Fund for their generosity.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Aimee Smallwood, executive director of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation, has been named a "Woman of the Year" by New Orleans CityBusiness magazine.
Fifty “Women of the Year” will be celebrated Nov. 3 during a luncheon that recognizes the innovative leaders whose energy, ideas, achievements and commitment to excellence have set the pace for our region’s future. A special insert spotlighting all honorees in this 11th-annual recognition will run in the Nov. 9 edition of CityBusiness.
Smallwood, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the development field, joined the SMH Foundation in October 2007, following her tenure as Associate Director of the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in New Orleans. She began her work with the CAC as Capital Campaign Coordinator in 1989 and 1990, raising $2.7 million to renovate the arts center.
As executive director of the SMH Foundation, a private non-profit that works to provide funding for programs of Slidell Memorial Hospital, Aimee has successfully raised funds for the hospital’s Parenting Center, Cancer Center and equipment upgrades. Under her leadership, the Foundation has engendered ongoing support for the SMH Employee Benevolence Fund and SMH Medical Library. Smallwood also has developed and executed events that have brought attention to the new foundation, which has expanded its Board of Directors from three to 12 members since the beginning of Smallwood’s tenure.
“Aimee works tirelessly as the Executive Director of the Foundation, recruiting board members, organizing fundraisers and coordinating the various grant requests received by the Foundation,” said Brian Kennel, president of the Foundation Board of Trustees. “She is a strong advocate of the Foundation’s causes and is genuinely concerned for the welfare of others.”
As a mother of three children, Caroline, Lane and Thomas, Smallwood is dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare and other services in the area for future generations. Aimee’s involvement in the community started at a young age and has continued to be her passion. At only 22 years old, she was a founder of the Metropolitan Battered Women’s Program in Jefferson, La.
In 2008, Smallwood joined the Greater Northshore Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), made up of individuals who are responsible for generating philanthropic support for a wide variety of nonprofit charitable organizations and for mentoring young development professionals. As an active member in this group, she chaired the first-annual Northshore National Philanthropy Day in 2008 to recognize outstanding contributions by philanthropists and fundraising volunteers in the area and to draw attention to the importance of giving. She also was selected this year to chair the second-annual celebration, which will take place in Mandeville.
Aimee dedicated 18 years to the arts community prior to coming to SMH. Her work has included consulting and grant-writing for arts and social service organizations; writing a feasibility study for an artists’ community; and serving on a committee for strategic planning for the Louisiana Division of the Arts. She was also contracted to coordinate the selection of artworks for the St. Tammany Justice Center at its inception. As a result of her work in the arts community, Aimee was named an honoree of the 2009 SweetArts Ball benefiting the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans.
Aimee has served on state grants panels in Orleans and St. Tammany parishes and has served as a conference speaker in both parishes. She has also participated in community work through the Slidell Kiwanis Club and served on the Board of the National Performance Network for two years. She is currently the 2010 President of the Northshore Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
SMH Foundation is a private non-profit 501c3 that works to provide funding for programs of Slidell Memorial Hospital, including the Parenting Center, Cancer Center, Employee Benevolence Fund, disaster preparedness program and equipment upgrades at the Hospital. The Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees is comprised of: David Brignac; St. Tammany Parish Councilman Kenneth Burkhalter; Ed Dennis; Karen Deogracias; Joseph Epps, M.D.; Brian Kennel; Matthew McElveen, M.D.; Daniel McGovern; Vera O’Brian; State Rep. Kevin Pearson; Len Snyder and Al Thonn.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By Carol Wolfram
St. Tammany bureau
Take a seat in the atrium of Slidell Memorial Hospital and you might be resting on one of the north shore's newest pieces of public art. A collaboration of the father-daughter team of Mike Lamb of Pass Christian, Miss., and Dru Lamb of New Orleans, the piece of functional art pays tribute to community supporters of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation.
"The design is simple and clean and sophisticated, but still fun," said Dru Lamb, an interior designer with New Orleans' Eskew+Dumez+Ripple who developed the concept for the piece, which utilizes layered glass "bricks" worked into a grid of mahogany and cypress woods crafted by Mike Lamb, a retired steamship stevedore. "He went crazy with the wood."
Engraved onto the glass bricks are tributes to those who have made donations of $1,000 or more to the foundation, said its executive director, Aimee Smallwood.
Many financial contributions were made with specific intent to benefit the hospital's new Cancer Center. St. Tammany Memorial Cancer Fund granted funds to purchase new infusion chairs; the Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force is supporting the foundation's Fuel for Life breast cancer community outreach programs, including its Appearance Center and educational materials; a number of physicians have contributed to support the Cancer Center Medical Library, which will be utilized by doctors from throughout the parish; Clay and Elayne Gay have purchased a grand piano to go into the lobby of the center, in memory of their late son, Brian.
Bob Hawley, chief executive officer of Slidell Memorial Hospital, said he is pleased with the functional piece of art, adding, "All areas of health care are facing some really challenging times. This is a visible display of the support the people of this community are giving the foundation and this hospital."
The SMH Foundation has granted $5,000 to the Fit as a Firefighter summer camp for the second year in a row. Funds have enabled the SMH Parenting Center to expand wellness opportunities for participants during the year. Now, our campers can participate in classes throughout the year that emphasize good eating habits and movement.
Foundation funds have also enabled the SMH Cancer Center to expand outreach in the community, by purchasing computer equipment and supplies needed to make presentations about womenÂ’s cancer prevention. This Fuel for Life program, gives women information (fuel) for the mind, body and spirit.
The St. Tammany Memorial Cancer Fund has granted funds to purchase a new blanket warmer and ice machine for the SMH Infusion Center. Last year, their gift of infusion chairs helped make our patients more comfortable, and this yearÂ’s additions will truly make a difference in the lives of our patients. Special thanks to the Board and staff of the St. Tammany Memorial Cancer Fund!
The 2008 employee campaign at SMH raised significant funds to support a new “wayfinding” system at SMH. This fall, we will unveil three new wayfindingcomputer kiosks to be located at three of our entrances to the Hospital. Patients and visitors will be able to use a customized touch screen technology to find their way throughout the facility, including offsite SMH properties. They’ll even be able to print out maps to their destinations, making their visit to our facilities more user-friendly. Volunteers will still be on hand to assist, if needed. Special thanks to all of the generous SMH employees who have made this possible!
The SMH Foundation received $4,200 from the Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force for items for the Cancer Center's Appearance Center, as well as educational materials and a new laptop for presentations and workshops.
"Walk from Obesity" has committed $5,000 to support the Fit as a Firefighter summer camp 2009, as well as $5,000 for the 2010 camp. These funds will ensure that participating kids can attend free of charge.
The SMH Foundation has a new corporate partner! Capital One has pledged $5,000 to the SMH Parenting Center to expand their outreach in the community. With programs such as Children in the Middle (for children of divorcing parents) and Parenting Skills for Teen Parents, the Center will be able to target at-risk populations.
Slidell Memorial Hospital (SMH) Foundation is pleased to grant $5,000 to the “Fit As A Firefighter” summer camp. This week-long camp, organized by Fire District 1 and Slidell Memorial Hospital, targets children aged 7 to 12 years struggling with their weight. The activities help the campers gain knowledge of healthy nutrition, fitness choices while gaining the strength and self-confidence needed to develop a positive self-image and personal coping mechanisms. In addition, they learn about being safe in their home, school and community.
“The SMH Board believes that this program gives direct benefit to our community, especially to the children attending, who now have a chance to change their lives through healthy choices,” says Aimee Smallwood, SMH Foundation’s Executive Director.
This camp is free to the attendees and is supported by a network of more than 20 community organizations and public agencies, such as the Louisiana National Guard, Acadian Ambulance, Volunteers of America, the U.S. Coast Guard and Cross Gates Athletic Club.
“Fit As A Firefighter” is in high demand and expanding to accommodate more participants is being considered for the summer of 2009. Recently, this camp was recognized by City Business as an “Innovator of Year” award recipient.
The Slidell Memorial Hospital (SMH) Foundation recently awarded the Radiation Oncology Department $7,085 to purchase a Fiberoptic RhinoLaryngoscope. This equipment, which will be dedicated to Radiation Oncology Department, enables patients with cancer of the head, neck, bronchial and esophageal areas to be examined routinely during their treatment and follow up as needed. Patients will no longer have to wait to be scheduled according to availability of the scope shared by other departments.
“Convenience and compassion go hand-in-hand when it comes to treating those in our cancer program,” says Lori Fonte, Director of Radiation Oncology. “The funding of this scope allows us to do this. It also benefits our medical personnel, who persistently strive to work as effectively and efficiently as possible when delivering care,” she adds.
Covington, LA. –June 2, 2008—The Greater Northshore Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is pleased to announce that it will present the first-annual Northshore National Philanthropy Day celebration on Nov. 20, 2008. Northshore National Philanthropy Day will be chaired by Aimee Smallwood, Executive Director of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals sponsors an annual awards program to recognize outstanding achievement by individual, foundation and corporate philanthropists and fundraising volunteers.
Smallwood has more than 25 years’ experience in the development field. A long-time Slidell resident, she joined the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation in October of 2007 after her tenure as Associate Director of the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. She joined the Northshore Chapter of AFP soon after the chapter was formed in 2007.
“A National Philanthropy Day event will give us the opportunity to recognize our very generous individuals, corporations and foundations. The Northshore has really come of age, and helping the philanthropic community to come together will draw attention to the importance of giving,” Smallwood said.
Awards for Northshore National Philanthropy Day are: Outstanding Individual Philanthropist, Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist, Outstanding Foundation Philanthropist and Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer. Nominations will be sought from nonprofit organizations throughout St. Tammany and the Florida Parishes beginning in July. A committee of AFP will determine the final awards, which will be presented at a luncheon on Nov. 20.
Carolyn Chassee, CFRE, Vice President for Development at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Greater Northshore Chapter president, said the chapter is excited to deliver an event that reminds the community of the many generous contributions that have been made to provide a better quality of life in the Northshore community.
National Philanthropy Day® (NPD) is a special day set aside annually across the nation to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy — and those people active in the philanthropic community--to the enrichment of our world.
National Philanthropy Day® provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. First held in 1986, NPD celebrates the endless daily contributions individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions. Last year, more than 100 AFP chapters held NPD events and activities across North America.
Through NPD, participants are able to show appreciation for all that has been accomplished in the name of giving, to remind our communities, our society and the world that the spirit of giving is alive and well and that there is still more to do.