The 2011 LHAS Annual Meeting and Fashion Presentation

You've Got the Look

The 2011 LHAS annual meeting and Fashion Presentation was a delightful mix of business - the new slate of officers and directors and fun - fashion by Saks Fifth Avenue and Delores Warwick/Folio Productions. Executive Director Dee Dee Troutman started the business meeting and President Laura Penrod Kronk gave the Annual Report, which is shown at the end of this article.

After a tasty lunch, Past President Marcia Weiss thanked the outgoing Secretary Nancy Sansom and Director Ruby Kang for their service to LHAS and the Board. Marcia then installed the new slate of officers and directors. Each received a beautiful rose and the business meeting was adjourned.

The group was treated to a Fashion Presentation with clothing and accessories from Saks Fifth Avenue featuring the latest trends for spring and summer. After the meeting, Audience members took their new-found knowledge over to Saks Fifth Avenue and shopped with a 15% discount while enjoying a champagne reception.

Many thanks to Chairs of the Day Dolores Warwick and Violet Gallo, and the staff at Saks Fifth Avenue for a wonderful day!

LHAS Annual Report 2011

As President of Ladies Hospital Aid Society, it is my honor and responsibility to report the accomplishments and activities over the last year to the membership. At this time, I would like to thank those who have donated their time and contributed financially to LHAS. Your support enables us to continue fulfilling our mission of helping the indigent population by providing medical, educational, financial and social services to those in need.

The LHAS Staff and volunteer committees operate in full force throughout the year. Although I could never detail all the wonderful things that LHAS does in one report, I would like to take this opportunity to briefly highlight the accomplishments from the last year at LHAS.

HOSPITAL OPERATIONS, Thanks to Carole Kamin, our Gift Shops and Lottery are flourishing and to date, we have made over $130,000. This income supported 18 UPMC social service projects and the LHAS sponsored Urban Impact Foundation Urban Rocks Concert.

Our Beauty Salons continue to build clientele and provide the social respite needed when loved ones are in the hospital, not to mention a new lease on life by looking beautiful and human again. Special thanks go to Debbie Mancuso, our Manager at the LHAS Positive Image and owner of Hair Enhancements, and Lisa Kapinski for always demonstrating the compassion with purpose that we promote.

In-House Sales was a revenue producing project that generated over $15,000 and provided shopping opportunities in the hospital to UPMC Presbyterian and Montefiore employees.

SOCIAL SERVICES, Thanks to Mary Ellen Wampler who so ably fulfilled our social service obligations.

I would like to report that your contributions have helped provide over 1,000 LHAS Emergency Care Packets to be dispensed, over $1500 for lodging for out of town families, $10,000 in medication costs, $10,000 for wigs for children with hair loss, $3000 for Comfort Measure Only Bags and over $11,000 in transportation for patients leaving the hospital by cab and ambulance.

COMMUNITY SERVICES, Thanks to Jackie Dixon for representing LHAS at every available opportunity.

I am pleased to report record breaking giving with $85,000 to community projects, $50,000 of grants to previous Gala beneficiaries and $15,000 to volunteer scholarships. Our annual Gala in August 2010 was spectacular and $125,000 was awarded to The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health for research in aging and longevity.

Please mark your calendars for this year's gala on Saturday, August 27, 2011. Co-chairs, Ruby Kang and Mary Ellen Wampler promise to deliver another spectacular event. They welcome your support so please sign up to be an Ambassador for Here's Looking at You, Kid. Proceeds will benefit the LHAS Patient Support and Operations Fund for Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC.

LHAS continued our work in the health and wellness area. Carrie Conboy and Ruby Kang co-chaired our November Annual Fall Luncheon. The program featured Dr. Kathleen Hartford and focused on the effects of the environment on our hormones, our health and the health of our children. We forge ahead with new programs that focus on teen abuse prevention and health screenings that utilize the UPMC Smart Unit that LHAS underwrote for $250,000.

MEMBERSHIP, Thanks to Lisa Gaydos for undertaking the portfolio of Membership. I must say that recruitment over the last year has been fruitful with new members who are willing to give of their time and resources.

Our web page is nearly 100% complete and will be updated with the current board information next week. I encourage you all to bookmark the site and thanks to Nancy Sansom for her dedication and expertise on this project.

Again, I welcome all the new board members and look forward to working with them. There is more than enough to do and I encourage you to be proactive in asking how you can help. For those who have been actively involved, and I know I have not mentioned you all, I thank you.

On a final note, I thank the staff, Dee Dee, Ethel, Rebecca, Lisa, Debbie and all the gift shop staff for their efforts and continued support at a moment's notice. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,
Laura Kronk
May 5, 2011

Back to News & Events