WAVE (Wisconsin Award for Volunteer Excellence) Award  

The Wisconsin Awards for Volunteer Excellence (WAVE) program was established by Partners of WHA, Inc. to recognize outstanding contributions of organized volunteer programs, and is patterned after the AHA (American Hospital Association) HAVE (Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence) Awards program.

The WAVE Award recognizes volunteer programs whose work directly furthers the mission of the institution they serve.  One WAVE Award may be given to a program in each of the five categories:

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• Community Service

• Fundraising

• In-Service

• Community Outreach and/or Collaboration​​

• Public Policy

  2022 WAVE Committee  

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Chair - Ramona Hornischer

Committee -  Sue Kumlien

                      Leigh Ann Larson

                      Linda Nandory

                      Mary Rose Willi

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The original application and four complete copies must be submitted to the WHA office and postmarked

on or before: Friday, June 3

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• Brochure  PDF

• Application

  • DOCX

  • Fillable PDF

2021 Wave Award Winners

Category: Community Service Programs

Winning Program: “First Breath Gift Basket”   

Winning Organization: Friends of Vernon Memorial Healthcare, Viroqua

Embracing the hospital's mission of “so much care,” the Friends of Vernon Memorial Hospital (VMH) decided to update their gift to obstetrics patients and their families. The friends researched and found a pattern for a matching set that includes a baby burp cloth and bib. The Friends organization provides the fabric, fiberfill, snaps or Velcro and seamstresses. The friends purchase all the materials out of their budget, choose the pattern and sew the bib and burp cloth to be added to the welcome basket that is presented to the families of the newborns at VMH. This project engages more volunteers as the pattern is more user friendly and adds that individualized touch of caring that VMH embraces through the Friends program. 

Category: In-service Hospital Volunteer Programs
Winning Program: “Switch’n It Up”         
Winning Organization:  Aspirus Volunteers of Medford
Aspirus Volunteers of the Medford Country Gardens senior facility implemented a three-week summer program that engages the residents in arts and crafts projects. A teen volunteer researched the therapeutic benefits of arts and group activities for Alzheimer and dementia residents and proposed the program. The volunteer organization embraced the proposal. The program is completely organized by the volunteers as they fund, plan and run the program that occurs twice a day for three weeks. A schedule is drawn up and the volunteers personally invite the residents to join in the hour-long activity.  Aspirus Volunteers of Medford also aid the residents through the activity and escort them back to their room when completed. Volunteers also take the time to do all the cleanup and displaying of the art or craft that was created.    

Category: Fundraising Programs

Winning Program: “RE TAG IT"         

Winning Organization: Mercyhealth Association of Volunteers, Janesville

The volunteers at Mercyhealth donate to the well-being of the community and hospital through the RE TAG IT Thrift Shop. The shop has been in existence since 1983 but needed an upgrade due to the lack of space and a decline in sales. This inspired the volunteers to move the shop and create a more appealing space. The new shop is in a more spacious and convenient location that is on a high-traffic street. These changes have maximized sales. Donations are accepted from the community. The cochair volunteers do the scheduling and manage the shop. All workers are volunteers. From 2014 to 2020 over $370,000 has been donated to Mercyhealth. Some of the recipients include the House of Mercy Homeless Center, Mercy Health Hospital and Trauma Center Hospitality House and various charities including church programs.

Category: Community Outreach and/or Collaboration Programs

Winning Program: "Hunger Care Program"        

Winning Organization: Volunteers of Prairie Ridge Health, Columbus

Volunteers of Prairie Ridge Health partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank to provide healthy foods to people in the hospital service area. Each month 25 pounds of proteins, produce, dairy and pantry staples along with recipes are given to individuals that have screened positively for food insecurity. The annual Lights of Love program earmarks monies for the Hunger Care Program. The volunteers do the fundraising, packaging of produce and organizing the pick-up day. They also load the food into the vehicles to ensure the families receive the support they need. The drive-through pick up is discretely located and guarantees the recipients do not need to leave their vehicles.

No awards given for 2020 because of the pandemic.

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Community Service Program: “Partners Emergency Department Service Project”, Partners of Beaver Dam Community Hospital, Beaver In-service Hospital Volunteer Program: “Hospital Elder Life Program”, Auxiliary of Howard Young Medical Center, Woodruff

Fundraising Program: “Volunteer Community Brat Fry" , Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics, Aspirus Volunteers, Medford
Community Outreach and/or Collaboration Program: "First Aid & Trauma Kits", Partners of Marshfield Medical Center - Ladysmith, Ladysmith

2019 WAVE WINNERS