AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach Recognizes Volunteers with Starfish Award

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla., May 3, 2018 – AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach recognized three auxiliary volunteers with the Starfish Award: Sylvia Jones, Steve Kenney and Wynona Slemp.

This award recognizes team members that are not nurses, but still provide impactful, compassionate patient care.

Jones started as a volunteer in the diabetes program in 2011. She also volunteers to help during special events.

“The basic requirement for volunteers is to work at least 60 hours, and the average volunteer works 150 hours per year. Sylvia averages nearly five times more than the average volunteer! During her tenure, she has worked 5,169 volunteer hours at an average of 740 volunteer hours per year,” said Patricia Palmer, AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach diabetes educator. “Sylvia goes above and is deserving of this award for her exceptional work effort, interpersonal skills and cheerfulness interacting with the public.”

As the AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach auxiliary president, Kenney assists the hospital in multiple ways.

“There are countless examples as to why Steve should receive this recognition,” said Cynthia Couch, AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach Auxiliary vice president. “He has committed himself to this auxiliary and its future, and we are extremely thankful that he has shared his leadership skills and business knowledge with us.”

Kenney has coordinated the auxiliary’s investments to insure their future and helped oversee the closure and sale of the auxiliary’s thrift shop, the Pink Door. He also worked to reignite community interest in volunteering and improve communications between the auxiliary, volunteers and hospital.

Slemp works directly with the AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach operating room scheduler and materials manager on special projects, inventory and recordkeeping.

“Wynona does so much more than her assigned volunteer duties,” said Steve Kenney, AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach Auxiliary president. “She often jumps in to cover open shifts. Last year alone, she worked 300 hours, which is twice the average working of 150 volunteer hours. She can always be counted on to do anything asked of her with a friendly smile and positive attitude.”

About AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach
AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach has 112-beds and is one of the six hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties that composes the AdventHealth Central Florida Division - North Region. Formerly known as Florida Hospital New Smyrna, the organization’s parent company changed the name of all wholly-owned entities to AdventHealth on Jan. 2, 2019. Based in Altamonte Springs, AdventHealth is a connected system of care. With more than 80,000 team members, AdventHealth is one of the nation’s largest faith-based health care systems with nearly 50 hospitals and hundreds of care sites in nearly a dozen states. With the mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach provides whole person care to heal the body, mind and spirit. For more information about AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach, visit AdventHealthNewSmyrnaBeach.com.

Photo Caption:
AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach recently recognized three Auxiliary volunteers with the Starfish Award. Pictured from left to right: Wynona Slemp, Steve Kenney and Sylvia Jones. This award recognizes team members that are not nurses, but still provide impactful, compassionate patient care.