John F. Kennedy had just been inaugurated as president of the United States, Princess Diana was a newborn and Roger Maris was the brand-new single season home run champion.
The year was 1961, and Bertha Drake and Gaye Kazmark had just joined the Junior Board of Taylor Hospital, a small community hospital in Ridley Park.
Forty-five years later, Kazmark and Drake – along with 17 other dedicated, hardworking women – are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Junior Board, which has donated millions of dollars to Taylor Hospital, purchasing everything from lifesaving medical equipment to amenities designed to enhance the experiences of employees, patients and visitors at the facility.
“We are a small but dedicated group of women,” says Kazmark. “We’re very proud to have the opportunity to support the hospital and its patients through our activities.”
Each year, the Junior Board pledges to donate a certain amount of funding to the hospital to purchase equipment and amenities recommended by hospital administrators. This year, the Junior Board has made a pledge of $45,000, which they intend to raise primarily through gift shop and vending machine sales.
“The gift shop is very popular with employees, patients and visitors,” says Drake, who serves as the shop’s treasurer. “We’ve actually had patients on the floors ask their nurses to stop in on their lunch breaks and get them a few things, they like it so much.”
The Junior Board supplements those proceeds with a variety of special event sales throughout the year, including pocketbook, shoe, gold and silver jewelry, book, toy, linen and craft sales, and by selling chances for automobiles and other prizes.
Recent purchases for the hospital include a pickup truck for the Facilities department, a cash register for the cafeteria, chairs and tables for Classrooms A & B, mammography equipment and an EKG machine.
During its 75-year history, the Junior Board also hosted the annual May Fair and the Champagne Ball for physicians and operated a snack bar within the hospital.
“As a group, we have a lot of fun, and I think the longevity of our members proves that – the majority of the women on the Junior Board have been members for more than 20 years,” says Florence Rhine, president of the Junior Board. “The Junior Board is a good fit for Taylor, from its days as a small neighborhood hospital. Even though it’s grown larger over the years, it’s maintained its friendly neighborhood feeling. We’re happy to have the opportunity to contribute to that atmosphere as well as the high level of patient care it provides.”
The Junior Board is currently looking for new members to join its ranks. To learn more about becoming a member of the Junior Board, call (610) 595-6070.