New York, NY - April 29, 2009— - The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) recognized National Volunteer Week by honoring one outstanding volunteer who works in the nursing home in the borough, Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home. This individual represents one of the more than 8,000 men and women who together have dedicated nearly one million hours of service to the city’s public hospitals system over the last year. HHC is also encouraging more New Yorkers to consider the interesting and rewarding volunteer opportunities available to help patients served by HHC. For information on volunteer openings at HHC visit NYCService.org.

HHC’s volunteers serve important supportive roles such as interpreters, patient librarians, patient advocates, chaplains, community and auxiliary board members. Current volunteer openings in Manhattan include participating in a Health Literacy Project, serving as a Patient Navigator and Bilingual Communicator, Patient Escort, Library Assistant and Newsletter Writer.

“HHC volunteers have answered the call to service and exemplify the new era of volunteerism promoted by President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg. Our volunteers are a diverse group of New Yorkers who give back to their communities by donating their time and talent. They are a vital part of our mission to deliver quality, safe, compassionate healthcare to all,” said HHC President Alan D. Aviles. “We invite more New Yorkers to lend a hand in our hospitals, nursing homes and health centers and help us serve the 1.3 million patients who rely on our care every year.”

Staten Island Volunteer Honored

Robert Virtue--a retired Court Custodial Assistant transports residents to and from their daily treatment appointments at Seaview. With only five months of service he has volunteered close to 450 hours.

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country, is a $5.4 billion public benefit corporation that serves 1.3 million New Yorkers and nearly 400,000 who are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 80 community based health centers. For more information about HHC, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc. For volunteer opportunities go to NYCService.org.