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(Honesdale, February 1, 2008)…Wayne Memorial Hospital’s first capital campaign since 1981 ended on a high note at the Hospital Auxiliary’s Mistletoe Ball in January, the same place where it was launched three years ago. More than 200 people gathered at Erhardt’s in Tafton applauded when G. Richard Garman announced the campaign had surpassed its $3 million goal—“thanks to many of you in this room,” he said.

       The Auxiliary was the largest single donor to the campaign, dubbed Operation Vital Signs, with a pledge of $570,000.

      “As a result of your kindness and generosity, it has been a most gratifying journey,” Garman told the crowd.  “The Campaign has been blessed with approximately 670 pledges and gifts, totaling $3,034,000, a truly remarkable achievement.”

      “We are Wayne Memorial Hospital’s biggest fan,” said Auxiliary President Mary Lou Radell, speaking of her membership.  “And we wanted to be the campaign’s ‘biggest’ donor. We work for the hospital, it’s our community hospital and we care about it.”

      Convincing the Auxiliary to boost its pledge last year from $300,000 was, Radell said, “an easy sell.”

.     “These Auxilians are the foot soldiers, the infantry, the GIs…that any General would be proud to lead,” Garman added.

      The Mistletoe Ball itself backed up the Auxiliary’s grand campaign gesture: it