Lake Wales, FL (Dec. 15, 2011) – Employees at Lake Wales Medical Center adopted eight families for Christmas this year, providing the children and adults in each of the families with Christmas gifts.

“We consider it an honor and a privilege to serve this community, and this is one of the ways we invest in and give back to our community,” said Maryemma Bachelder, Director of Marketing at the hospital. “It’s exciting every year to see the outpouring of love our employees demonstrate for families right here in our community with otherwise wouldn’t have a merry Christmas.”

The hospital sponsored a contest between departments, with the theme this year of “A Storybook Christmas.” Departments were encouraged to decorate their gift presentations based on that theme. Smaller departments were encouraged to partner with each other to adopt a family. This year’s contest winners were the team of Human Resources, Education, Marketing and Pharmacy Director. Their winning entry featured a large box of gifts, flanked with personalized Christmas stockings, and topped with a giant storybook. The storybook included an original chalk drawing by Laura Monroe-Duprey, Pharmacy Director, who created the drawing specifically for the family’s gift basket.

The contest was judged by Denielle Thiebault, a member of the hospital’s Healthy Woman Advisory Council, and Reid Hardman, a member of the hospital’s Board of Directors.

From left: Renee Latterner, Maryemma Bachelder, April Guindon, Julie Kovencz, Laura Monroe-Duprey, and Bette Veldman, show off their winning contest entry. All the stockings and gifts in the box will go to a family in Lake Wales. Employees at Lake Wales Medical Center adopted a total of eight families for Christmas this year.