Rachel Dahl
In a heartfelt recognition of selfless dedication, Fallon’s own Penny Valentine-Faith, president of the Banner Churchill Community Hospital (BCCH) Auxiliary, has been awarded the Nevada Hospital Association’s prestigious Volunteer of the Year honor. The award, presented at the association’s annual conference earlier this fall, highlights Valentine-Faith’s significant contributions to BCCH and the Fallon community.
Valentine-Faith was nominated by BCCH Chief Nursing Officer Brittany Hert, who described her as an essential pillar of the hospital’s operations. Due to unforeseen circumstances, including contracting COVID-19 while visiting family in New York, Valentine-Faith was unable to attend the ceremony. Instead, her daughter, Kelli Kelly, graciously accepted the award on her behalf.
The long-awaited moment came on Monday, November 18, when Valentine-Faith was formally presented with the award during the auxiliary meeting. The room was filled with appreciation as BCCH Chief Executive Officer Ron Carnahan and CNO Brittany Hert offered their thanks for her leadership and vision.
Valentine-Faith has been the driving force behind the BCCH Auxiliary for eight years. Under her guidance, the organization provides warm greetings and wayfinding support for hospital visitors. It operates two vital community resources: the hospital’s gift shop and the Stuff N Such thrift store. These ventures generate funds for scholarships for aspiring healthcare professionals and finance essential hospital equipment.
While much of her role as auxiliary president involves administrative responsibilities—attending meetings, compiling data, and drafting reports—Valentine-Faith’s impact extends far beyond paperwork. Her leadership fosters a sense of camaraderie and purpose among the volunteers she coordinates. In 2023, the Auxiliary achieved an impressive milestone of 17,000 volunteer hours under her direction.
“I don’t see the thousands of people you see on what could be one of the worst days of their life,” Valentine-Faith remarked. “My thanks is to all of you.”
Reflecting on why she nominated Valentine-Faith, Hert explained that it stemmed “from a heart of gratitude.” She emphasized the auxiliary's profound impact on BCCH’s operations, highlighting last year’s financial contribution of $212,000, which funded critical new equipment.
“The funding and the capital items that you guys generously donate really make a huge difference,” Hert said. “And I don’t know another way to say thank you other than to share that award.”
Among the auxiliary’s recent contributions was a massage chair for hospital staff—a thoughtful addition to alleviating the physical and emotional toll on healthcare workers.
“Staff absolutely loves it,” Hert said. She noted that the chair helps combat burnout and fatigue, allowing nurses to provide compassionate care without the strain that often leads to emotional exhaustion.
Hert expressed her gratitude for Valentine-Faith’s leadership and the entire auxiliary team. “I have so much respect for the work that you do, and I really just want to say thank you,” she said. “This award is for Penny, but it also reflects the collective work of our Banner Churchill Auxiliary. Thank you!”
In her acceptance speech, Valentine-Faith shifted the spotlight to the volunteers who make the auxiliary’s work possible.
“This is your award,” she said. “I am the voice, but this is for all of you. This is not for me. I don’t give the thousands of hours every month; I don’t see the hundreds and thousands of people coming into the hospital that you greet warmly and make feel so good on what could be one of the worst days of their lives.”
Thanks to Penny and the auxiliary for all their time, hard work, and service to the hospital and our community.
To read more about Valentine-Faith's nomination and all she and the auxiliary have been doing, check out https://www.thefallonpost.org/article/6761,banner-churchill-hospital-auxiliary-president-nominated-for-2024-nha-volunteer-of-the-year.
Comment
Comments