The East Jefferson General Hospital Auxiliary found a great way to honor New Orleans metro area volunteers and raise funds for nursing: the Great Lady/Great Gentleman Awards.
Now in its 45th year, the awards luncheon was April 23 at the Château Country Club. Honorees for 2023 were Melinda Bourgeois, Micki Chehardy, Chad Landry, Dominic Massa, Dr. Bennie Nobles, Cindy Paulin, Betty Spurlock and Wayne Thomas, who were presented with the award’s traditional silver bowl.
The event is the auxiliary’s biggest fundraiser, with the money raised dedicated solely to nursing scholarships, nursing certification and hospital equipment.
In addition to ticket sales and sponsorships, more funds were raised by the table centerpieces designed by various nursing units of the hospital that were auctioned; a silent auction filled with art and other enticing items; and a 50/50 raffle won by incoming auxiliary board President Paige Lemieux.
Memory Lane provided the music.
Event Chair was Debbie Schmitz; Lise Naccari is auxiliary board president.
Fun Fact
The auxiliary is in its 51st year, founded just after the hospital. The group has donated more than $2 million dollars to its beneficiaries, and several of the nurses who were scholarship recipients in the early years of the program are still at the hospital.
Barry Breaux, Ruby Brewer
Carrel Epling, Lee Baraldi, Margaret Wagner, Rosalie Edwards, Darlene McGarry
Betty Spurlock, Dr. Bennie Nobles, Melinda Bourgeois, Wayne Thomas
Cindy Paulin, Chad Landry, Micki Chehardy, Dominic Massa
Coleen Landry, Debbie Schmitz, Faith Pepperone, Dianne Breaux
