December 19, 2003

MGHers celebrate holidays around the world

It has become one of the most anticipated holiday celebrations to be held at the MGH. All the planning and coordination that took place months in advance were evident the morning of Dec. 11, as members of the MGH Patient Care Services (PCS) Diversity Steering Committee busily prepared each of the nine table displays for the annual "Holidays around the World" celebration in the Main Corridor. Festive tables representing the Chinese New Year, Christmas, Diwali, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Epiphany and the Winter Solstice lined the hallway offering information about each celebration.

The event also showcased the committee's coordination of the traditional gift giving to
families in need from the MGH's HAVEN (Hospitals Helping Abuse and Violence End Now) program, the MGH health centers and the hospital's Employee Assistance Program. MGH employees and volunteers donated gifts to help families aided by these programs. According to Beverly Cunningham, one of the committee members who coordinated the gift-giving efforts, more than 90 families were served. The gifts were collected and distributed with help from committee members and volunteer PCS operations coordinators.