The East Jefferson General Hospital Auxiliary hosted its Great Lady/Great Gentleman Awards Luncheon on March 9 at Chateau Golf and Country Club, honoring eight individuals for their volunteerism and contributions to the Greater New Orleans community.
The honorees for 2025 were Freddie Landry, Mary Maluccio, MD, Marian Gibbs, Tricia Stella Lincoln, Roland Waguespack III, MD, Nikki Pontiff, John Blancher and Valorie Hart.
The event, which started in 1975, opened with an invocation by Ginger Crawford, followed by a welcome from Debbie Schmitz, auxiliary president. Dolores Hall served as event chair and Peggy Scott Laborde was Mistress of Ceremony. Greg Nielsen, CEO of East Jefferson General Hospital, and Ruby Brewer, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality and Nursing Officer, shared a message from the hospital.
A silent auction and Parade of Prizes highlighted the luncheon, with proceeds supporting nursing education, certification and recertification programs. Beautiful centerpieces, crafted and donated by various hospital departments, adorned each table and were gifted to the honorees.
Founded in 1971, the auxiliary has since then donated more than $2 million to the hospital and its programs.
Over the years the auxiliary has furnished one of the hospital’s first emergency trauma rooms, a room in the neonatal unit, and bought equipment for x-rays, bone scans, pediatrics, the PACU room (recovery room), the Wellness Center, the Yenni Cancer Center, the Breast Care Center and more, stated the auxiliary website.
Fun Fact:Â Live piano music by Tim Nielsen added a celebratory ambiance to the event.
