Each year, when the Celebrity Waiter Dinner or CommuniTEE
Golf Benefit roll around, Community Hospital-Fairfax (CH-F) is fortunate to
work with a great team of volunteers. From determining the decor, to filling
out the scorecards, both events are an all hands on deck kind of affair. Before
each event, emails are sent, phone calls
are made and a fantastic crew is assembled that makes each fundraiser run like
a well oiled machine.
One of the most important, and pleasant, phone calls made
each year is to Jimmy and Leisa Paris, Fairfax residents and members of both
the CH-F Celebrity Waiter Dinner and CommuniTEE Golf Benefit committee. Jimmy
and Leisa are always available with a helping hand, big smiles and 14 coolers.
Yes, you read that correctly. Through chance and a collector's eye, Jimmy and
Leisa have assembled enough coolers to keep 300 golfers and volunteers hydrated
with cold water and pop and hold enough ice for 700 plus drinks at the
Celebrity Waiter Dinner.
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| Jimmy & Leisa (right) proudly sport their official volunteer shirts at the 2013 CommuniTEE Golf Benefit. |
Along with the plethora of coolers, Leisa and Jimmy
assist in many other ways. Many may not know that Jimmy and Leisa are part of a
hard working team that provides the delicious steaks grilled onsite for both
the golf tournament and the Celebrity Waiter Dinner. Jimmy and Leisa supervise
the trimming, seasoning and grilling of over 500 steaks a year for the
hospital. The smell and taste of steaks hot off the grill provided for each
guest is part of what makes CH-F events so special. CH-F is so appreciative of
this talented crew! One year, the hospital attempted to give Jimmy a year off.
He was sure to let us know that he missed his role as grillmaster despite the
added rest!
Just recently, CH-F got the opportunity to give a little
back to the Paris family as they have generously given to us throughout the
years. Approximately a year ago, Jimmy experienced an injury to his shoulder. When
asked what tasks were more difficult after the injury, Jimmy commented that
everything was more challenging. He knew he needed therapy to get back to the
activities he was accustomed to doing and CH-F was his choice for therapy
services.
"Use of one's shoulder is extremely important to day
to day activities. We have watched Jimmy assist at hospital events and knew
that he was an active, hardworking individual. We devised a therapy plan to
help him regain the strength and use of his shoulder as quickly as
possible," commented Shannon Pruitt, PT, Director of Therapy Services at
CH-F.
Jimmy attended therapy over the course of several months.
Although he may never regain the use of his shoulder that he once had, he is
able to complete many more tasks than before therapy. As you can only imagine,
Jimmy was not about to be left out of the CH-F golf tournament when August
rolled around. He was upfront with the therapists when he told them he expected
to be able play golf. Thanks to Jimmy's hard work and the therapy he received,
Jimmy and Leisa hit the links in August along with their many friends from
CH-F.
"Even though I often dreaded going, the therapists made each visit enjoyable. Thanks to all of them," commented Jimmy.
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| Jimmy and his wife, Leisa, stay dry at the 2012 golf tournament. |
"Knowing our patients and being able to give back to
them as they have supported us is extremely rewarding. Seeing Jimmy at the golf
course was wonderful. Enjoying the steak he will cook at the Celebrity Waiter
Dinner in March is even better!" Ann Schlueter, Director of Strategic
Planning at CH-F.
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| Jimmy and his crew have a grill full at the 2012 Celebrity Waiter Dinner. |
