Southeast Georgia Health System’s Volunteens Taylor Ybarbo and Thoai
Pham were recently presented with Youth Hero Awards from the American
Red Cross of Southeast and Coastal Georgia. Both
volunteens
were honored during a breakfast held at the Golden Isles Career Academy
for their outstanding achievements.
“The Youth Hero Awards are deeply
engrained
in the heart and roots of our organization. Our founder, Clara Barton,
as well as our current leadership, recognize the importance of helping
those in need,” says Ester Sheppard, executive director of the American
Red Cross for Southeast and Coastal Georgia. “It has been proven
that those who volunteer in their youth will continue to volunteer throughout
their life, participating in causes larger than themselves for others—people
and furry friends.”
Youth Hero Award recipients are chosen based on hours of giving, depth
and breadth of work—whether it be for one organization or many—and
going above and beyond what is expected of them.
Over the past eighteen months, Thoai Pham has logged 111 hours as a transport
volunteer on the Health System’s Brunswick Campus. He is one of
the first Health System team members that patients interact with at the
hospital, assisting them during admission. Through his words and actions,
he helps patients feel less anxious and treats all patients and visitors
with respect, courtesy and kindness. Additionally, and on his own, he
has actively recruited other teens for the Health System’s
Volunteen
program.
Taylor Ybarbo was selected as a Youth Hero Award recipient based on her
volunteer services in the Camden Campus Maternity Care Center. Since June
2014, she has devoted 262 hours helping team members with clerical and
non-clinical tasks. This includes restocking supplies for baby bassinets
and warmers and patient rooms; answering the phone at the nurses’
station and visiting with patients to offer comfort care. Her good cheer,
positive attitude
and
kindness brighten the day of everyone she touches.