Welcome to the 2009 Pathology Staff Helping Hands (PSHH) Website

Each year Department of Pathology faculty and staff sponsor a number of fundraising events to benefit University of Michigan patients and their families who have a severe financial need. With the guidance of the UMHS Department of Social Work, we endeavor to help the neediest of UM's patients. Last year, we raised $32,000 and sponsored 32 patient families, giving each $1000 during the holiday season.

We are aware that the need is even greater this year, with foreclosures and layoffs, therefore we hope we can help as many UMHS patient families as possible.

We welcome the participation of everyone. Pathology faculty, staff, friends, family, and other UM employees and friends, as well as generous friends and family from all over the country are encouraged to participate. We are grateful for everyone's input.

If you have questions about this site, or to place charity fundraising announcements on the web, please contact Robin Kunkel at rkunkel@umich.edu or 734-763-4850. If you have other ideas for fundraising, please let us know.

NEXT CHARITY EVENTS:

October - "Charity Theme Boards of Fun " -Pick a square, any square and for one thin sawbuck ($10) you are guaranteed to win a prize. Two boards have been completed with much success. Prizes for the third and perhaps fourth board (themed.....anything goes!) are due by Nov. 30. The fun buying will begin on Dec. 1. See Bev Smith in MSI 5221 to donate items and later to buy squares.

October 29-Nov. 20 - "Quilt Raffle" -The Quilt display and drawing continues with showings at: Cancer Center glass hallway & Cafeteria dining rooms on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 8-00am - 4:00pm. We have 30 beautiful quilts which have been generously donated, so we hope you'll come see us, and buy tickets for a chance to win. Please go to the quilt webpage to see the quilts and access tickets on line.

November 24 - "Bake and Craft Sale " A perennial favorite, always held the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we'll hold the bake/craft sale in MSI and UMHS. Items may be dropped off to Cindy Howard UH PDS or Rebecca Roberts 5221 MSI. Please feel free to drop crafts off early, and baked good should be wrapped to sell Tuesday morning. This is a great way to get some treats for your Thanksgiving celebration.

Also held in conjunction with the Bake/Craft Sale will be a Pathology Bake-Off....contest, spearheaded by Marie Moorhouse, Pathology's "Top Chef". PLEASE LET MARIE KNOW BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20th, if you are interested in participating (moorhous@med.umich.edu). Briefly, the details are:
When: Tuesday, November 24th
Where: UMHS Pathology Lounge (2G319)
Time: 10am (Items must be dropped off between 8-9am, judging will begin at 10am.
Categories: 1) CAKES, 2) PIES, 3) COFECTIONARY DELECTABLES (candies, cookies, breads, etc.)
Entrance fee: $5 per item....enter as often with as many desserts as you like.
ITems will be judged on Presentation, Creativity/originality and Taste. After being judged the items will be offered for sale. There will be prizes for best in category. Start your ovens!

Dec. 9-10 - "Last Ditch Pitch" - a final opportunity to pitch into our departmental charity fund. Buckets will be strategically located and we'll gratefully accept any and all donations, so that we are able to help as many families as possible.

A GREAT new idea for next February 2010 will be a "Jewelry Sale" to culminate before Valentine's Day. The brain child of Liz Walker, we'll hold an online auction with donated jewelry...new, used, estate, costume, if it's bling we'll welcome it, and someone will love it. Now is a great time to go thru your jewelry box and donate those earrings that you never wear, or pick up an extra piece of jewelry when bangles are on sale for the holidays. We're sure this will be a hit.

The very successful BIRD HOUSE and ART AUCTIONS will make a comeback in the early spring of 2010. SO, BE THINKING about what art you can donate, and also how to decorate a great birdhouse for auction.

The line-up of charity fundraising events for 2009 included:

Great ideas are planned for this year, including several new fundraisers, and we hope you'll join us in making them all successful!

1."Hotdog Lunch " - the brain child of Michelle Herrst and Karen Schairer this fun event raised over $200 while serving great lunches.

2. "Pathology Parking Lot Sale " - organized by Rebecca Roberts and Cindy Howard this recycle fest was held at Traverwood on June 6th to benefit our patients. Thanks to all who participated. (Raised $531.25.)

3. June 15-22 - "Birdhouse Auction " - (Raised $3093.50) The auction of fantastically decorated birdhouses (spearheaded and organized by Liz Walker in Pathology Photography) allowed people to bid on some amazing ornithological residences. The houses were purchased and decorated by Pathology staff, family and friends. The highest bid (ala an EBay-type online auction) won the birdhouse, with prizes going to the artists of the 3 top money raisers. There were some terrific donations (thanks to all who decorated the birdhouses). People could bid on the web and see the birdhouses in person. They were displayed in the hospital cafeteria June 15 (11:15-2:15) and June 16 (2:15-4:30). This terrific fundraiser was alot of fun and will definitely make a return appearance.
1st place: Sea Turtle by Pat Cardiff (husband of Holly Eliot) - $106
2nd place: Stained glass mosiac by Lori Gosselin (sister of Cindy Straub) - $75
3rd place: A "Moose" for Jessica by Pat Cardiff - $74

4. September 15 - "Salad Lunch " - BSRB hosted a luncheon in conference room 4515 from 11:00-1:00 which raised $664 for our charity. Lots of green resulted from just 2 hours of people eating their greens. Organized by Kathy Richards, it featured healthy specialty salads and a salad bar which benefited our appetites and our charity. Patrons filled a bowl with a great lunch for $5. Lettuce lunch like hungry bunnies to help our patients.

5. September - "Pathology Fleece Jacket Sale" This terrific idea, spearheaded by Lisa Brown, allowed anyone to own their very own fleece jacket featuring the UM Pathology brand. Ordered in September, delivered in October. This popular sale raised $1500 with 303 jackets sold.

6. September- "Theme Boards " Organized by Beverly Smith, Jeannette Jeffreys, Rebecca Roberts, Michelle Herrst, and Karen Schairer, this will replaced the basket raffle. Pick a square, any square and for one thin sawbuck ($10) you are guaranteed to win a prize. See Bev Smith in MSI 5221 to buy squares. The last theme board prizes are due by Nov. 30.

7. October - Hematopathology held a Garage Sale and have generously donated the $472 profits to our patient charity fund. Thanks to all who participated!

8. October 29-November 20- "Quilt Raffle" One of the best quilt shows around (and an excellent fundraiser) is right here in our own department. Each year HANDMADE quilts in all sizes, shapes and colors made by staff, faculty, friends, relatives, patients, friends of friends are donated to our raffle. We welcome donations from all. The quilts will be shown and tickets sold in multiple locations. This display will brighten your day, and the proceeds will help many families in need. Winning tickets ($1 each or 6 for $5) will be drawn on Nov. 20. You may access etickets at the quilt raffle webpage. See them in person from 8:00am-4:00pm at:

October 29 & 30 - Towsley Triangle & Mott Lobby
Nov. 9 & 18 - Hospital Cafeteria & Glass Connector Hallway between MSI and Cancer Center
Nov. 10 & 11 - CVC Lobby & BSRB Lobby
Nov. 12 & 13 - East Ann Arbor Medical Center (4260 Plymouth Road)

9. November . "Harvest Soup Sale" To celebrate our bountiful Thanksgiving time, and also to take the chill off before the big UM football game, we again had a "HOMEMADE SOUP SALE." We asked our Pathology staff to bring in a crock pot of soup...to show off their favorite recipe, and we sold a bowl or several soup "tastes" with bread for a very reasonable luncheon price. Our soup kitchen really helps the neediest pateints here at UMHS.

BSRB's Soup Lunch was held Wed., Nov. 4th from 11am-1pm in BSRB 1st floor seminar rooms (by the upper atrium). 22 delicious recipes sold out and raised $880. Thanks to all who brought soups and also those who bought their lunch with us. Thanks also to Nicole Evanoff for organizing this successful event. Watch for it again on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010.

MSI's Soup Lunch was held Fri., Nov. 13th from 11am-1pm in M4234 seminar room. With 23 crocks of soup and many breads, rolls and a buffet of desserts this effort, organized by Elvira Skuzinski raised $940 for our patient families. Thanks to all who brought food, work the event and also all the lunchers. This luncheon event will nearly help one of our families all by itself. Well done!

Traverwood also held a soup kitchen lunch on Nov. 13th, and under the guidance of Lisa Brown, raised $195. The number of staff may be small at Traverwood, but their hearts are big. Thanks to all who cooked, served and lunched.

10. November 24. "Bake and Craft Sale " A perennial favorite, always held the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we'll hold the bake/craft sale in MSI and UMHS. Chaired by Cindy Howard and Rebecca Roberts, we are asking staff to please be geneous and bring in lots of goodies. Many people buy their Thanksgiving desserts (think whole pies and cakes, and banana, orange, cranberry breads), and of course, everyone loves the mid-afternoon cookie, brownie, fudge snacks. Buckeyes anyone? We also love the crafts, and it is a great time to buy a few holiday gifts. Details on delivery locations to come. 7.

11. November 24- "Bake Off" - Held in conjunction with the bake sale.....bring in your best wares.....whole pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc......whatever is your specialty. There will be a panel of judges who will taste test each item, and winners will received the coveted recognition as Pathology Baker(s) of the Year. The remainder of the baked goods will be for sale to benefit our patients. Questions.....please contact Marie Moorhouse our resident head chef.

The monies raised from ALL the above activities go directly to our neediest UMHS patient families. The Department of Social Work identifies families being treated here at the UMHS who are in significant financial need. We try hard to raise as many funds as we can to help those in need, while reaping the collateral benefit of working with very giving colleagues. We THANK ALL who help with any of our fundraisers. We appreciate your efforts very much.

We would also seriously welcome any other ideas for additional fundraising activities. Please contact Beverly Smith (936-0500, smithbev@umich.edu).