Supporting our neighbors: BWFH staff volunteer their time at the Italian Home for Children’s SunSplash

SunSplash is an annual event at the Italian Home for Children which caps off the summer with a day of fun. This year’s event included water slides, a dunk tank, a cookout, ice cream, crafts and more.

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, a neighbor and supporter of the Italian Home, helped to make the day special for the children by giving the gift of time. “Our Emerging Leaders Committee—as well as our organization as a whole—believes strongly in making an impact in our community,” says Community Health Program Manager and Emerging Leaders Committee Chair Katie Plante who organized the volunteer effort. “I was not all surprised to see so many of our staff step up to help run some of the activities.”

Among the volunteers was the entire Nurse Executive Board: Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services Cori Loescher, MM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nurse of Perianesthesia/Procedural and Ambulatory Services Robin Kaufman, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, NEA-BC, Associate Chief Nurse of Inpatient Nursing Lynne Morrison, MS, RN, and Executive Director of Nursing Professional Development, Practice and Innovation Colleen West, DNP, MBA, RN, CPHQ.

The group has been thinking a lot lately about the importance of volunteering and community engagement. When Kaufman brought the idea of volunteering at SunSplash to her colleagues, the group agreed enthusiastically. “It was a fabulous chance for the Nurse Executive Board to support our neighbor!” says Loescher.

“As a group, we spend so much time together engaged in work. It was a lot of fun to spend some time in service outside of work, enjoying each other’s company,” says Kaufman. “Plus, seeing the residents and community members enjoying the day, the food and each other’s company was wonderful. It’s so easy to be totally focused on your day-to-day. Being at SunSplash gave me a much-appreciated reminder to zoom out and feel lucky for where I am and for being part of this community.”

Rebecca Mogensen, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC, from the Department of Medicine, volunteered with her daughter Emery. “It is important for us to teach Emery the value in volunteering—to have her be a part of the community that she lives in and provide her with opportunities to give back. Volunteering also provides her with an opportunity to view the world outside of what she knows already, paying forward kindness,” she says.

Other volunteers included Alisa Beepath and Christine Williams, both from Human Resources.

“I enjoyed seeing the children just having fun and enjoying themselves and the weather! I have a heart for children, and I love spending time with the younger generation,” says Beepath.

Williams says, “I wanted to volunteer to help the teachers, staff and students of the Italian Home celebrate another year. I think it’s important for them to feel the support of their neighbors.”

Published 8/30/22