COMMUNITY MEMBERS HONORED FOR GENEROUS DONATIONS TO AESTHETICS OF SHAW REGIONAL CANCER CENTER
- Local Craftsmen Give Cancer Center’s Entry Way A New Look
VAIL, Colo. –March 16, 2010—A crowd of patients, Vail Valley Medical Center and Shaw Regional Cancer Center physicians, administrators and volunteers gathered today at Shaw Regional Cancer Center in Edwards, Colo. to honor and dedicate plaques to local craftsman that donated their time and materials to enhancing the cancer center’s entryway. Rudi Neumayr, principal of Aren Design, and Gerald Gallegos, principal of The Gallegos Corporation, accepted the thanks and recognition for their generous gifts.
Neumayr donated a beautiful desk for the center’s volunteers. The desk, made primarily of bubinga wood crafted to show its waterfall pattern, is located directly inside the front door of the cancer center and serves as a first impression for visitors. Neumayr estimates that more than 700 hours of master craftsmanship went into the desk’s completion.
“I have lived in this community for more than 30 years,” says Neumayr. “It feels great to give back to those who give us so much. Our doctors have always been here for patients and ask so little of us; I wanted to be able to give them something to show my appreciation.”
The design of the desk holds a specific meaning to Neumayr and was created to resemble a curtain. “The curtain represents privacy, softness and compassion,” explains Neumayr. “It makes me very proud to hear our volunteers say that it makes them more passionate and proud of the work they do.”
Additionally, The Gallegos Corporation, a local masonry business, donated a wall in the entry way of Shaw behind which durable medical equipment will be stored. The wall is made of mountain sandstone and matches the rock used in the construction of Shaw’s indoor water features.
“We store several pieces of durable medical equipment in the entryway because it makes them easy for our patients to access and return,” says Dr. Jack Eck, a member of VVMC senior administrative team. “The wall that Gerald and his team donated provides an aesthetically pleasing solution for storage of this equipment.”
“When Jack [Dr. Eck] called me to ask about the wall I knew this was another opportunity for us to give back,” says Gallegos. “I was born in this community and try to give back to it what it gave to me whenever I can. I encourage my team to do the same.”
The wall was constructed by Victor Castaneda and John Trujillo of Gallegos and took more than 80 hours to design and build.
“This week we are honoring the gracious gifts from Rudi and Gerald. I feel great living in a community where folks are eager to give in support of the Medical Center. I appreciate these two gentlemen for their craftsmanship,” says Doris Kirchner, President and CEO of VVMC.
Vail Valley Medical Center is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors composed of community leaders. Vail Valley Medical Center Foundation helps to support the ongoing needs of Vail Valley Medical Center. The Board, administration, employees and physicians at Vail Valley Medical Center are committed to continuous quality improvement, the centerpiece for creating an organization that provides excellence in service to each customer it serves. Vail Valley Medical Center is an equal-opportunity employer. It is handicap accessible and adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act. | 
