Seattle Cancer Care Alliance volunteers earn award for excellence

Congratulations to the hardworking volunteers who have earned a 2006 Program of Excellence Award for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

The Washington State Society of Directors of Volunteers Services presented the 2006 Program Excellence Award to the SCCA's Patient/Family Volunteer Program during the volunteer organization's annual conference in Olympia on June 8.

The organization — which includes 74 members from 50 hospitals in Washington state — presents only one award annually to an outstanding volunteer program or service. The list of criteria for winning includes demonstrating substantial benefit to the service recipients, the health-care organization and the volunteers.

Erica Karlovits, manager of volunteer services, said SCCA volunteers provide a network of compassionate support to patients and families in a non-clinical setting. "Our volunteers speak 24 languages and represent many cultures that are familiar to patients from around the world," she said. "They are able to bridge the gap between our health-care providers in the clinic and the patient's familial support network. This award is acknowledgement that we have the most dedicated, compassionate and caring volunteers in Washington state."