Martha Sams named Elly Crow Award winner
The TWIG (Together With Important Goals) groups of Hocking Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary recently presented the hospital with $22,300 from fundraising efforts over the past year.
On behalf of the Auxiliary, Pam Hicks, 2024 President, accepted a check for $8,000 from TWIG II, a check for $10,000 from TWIG IV and a check for $4,300 from TWIG VI. These funds are raised throughout the year from individual TWIG projects such as flower sales, raffles, bake sales and Chinese auctions. Funds are then used to support HVCH with hospital renovations or capital purchases when requested.
“We are so thankful and appreciative of all the fundraising efforts the individual TWIG groups make throughout the year. A lot of thought and commitment goes into assisting the hospital in this way,” Stacey Gabriel, President & HVCH CEO, said.
Over its lifespan, the Auxiliary has raised more than $1.5 million for HVCH. In 2024, the Auxiliary donated $27,000 for the purchase of new patient monitors for the surgery department and $2,900 for the purchase of a new salad bar for the cafeteria.
2025 Auxiliary officers were installed including: Ginger Johnson, President; and Betty Jo Downs, Vice President.
To close the evening’s celebration, CEO Stacey Gabriel presented the Elly Crow Award. The award is given to a HVCH Auxiliary TWIG member every year and is named after Elly Crow, a TWIG II member for over 45 years who donated more than 25,883 hours of her time to the hospital, patients and community. Elly also was instrumental in creating many special events and raising thousands of dollars for the hospital.
“This year’s award goes to Martha Sams. Martha has been an active TWIG member for more than 40 years. She originally joined TWIG I with her mother, then continued on with TWIG II when the two groups combined. She found it to be a very active group of great ladies,” Gabriel said. “Anyone who says things slow down during retirement would think differently looking at Martha’s life. She is an active member of the Hocking Hills Methodist Church, Scenic Hills Senior Center, Eastern Stars, TOPS in Logan and attends swim aerobics three times a week.
“She actively participates by attending regular meetings and supporting each fundraiser TWIG II does. She enjoys being able to raise her share through Chinese auctions, bake sales, spring and fall flower sales and other fun ideas through the years. Congratulations to Martha for being the very worthy recipient of this year’s award.”