A bittersweet celebration was held Thursday at Genesis Medical Center in Silvis. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Illini Hospital Auxiliary, but the group is disbanding.
Melissa Chapman, Supervisor of Volunteer Services for Genesis, says at it peak, the auxiliary probably had 250 members, raising money for new equipment, new services, and special projects. But now she says there are only about 60 members, with only 25 still actively involved.
"Today's volunteer is a little bit different than it was back in the 1960's. We had housewives who stayed at home, doctors' wives who wanted to be involved with their husbands' work and help out, and now the doctors are the wives."
Declining membership is a common problem for volunteer organizations nowadays, along with fierce competition for volunteers - by hospitals, schools, and churches, and other non-profits.
During the past 50 years the Illini auxiliary raised 1.5 million dollars for the hospital.
