As part of the University of Florida Medical Guild 50th Anniversary Project, the UF Medical Guild will donate $50,000 to the Shands Cancer Hospital at UF Garden of Hope. The gift will go to fund two large benches within the Garden of Hope and the guild will be recognized on the Shands Cancer Hospital at UF donor wall.
“The UF Medical Guild has a long history of service with Shands, the UF Health Science Center and the Gainesville community,” said Janice Nelson, UF Medical Guild president. “The Garden of Hope is a project that has the spirit to unite all the groups we have a history of supporting while at the same time reflecting our mission of friendship and service.
“We are sincerely pleased that our donation will be translated into a beautiful seating area that will represent a true symbol of our membership. We know the Garden of Hope will continue to blossom just as the Medical Guild will continue to cultivate friendships and serve the medical community into the next half century.” Susan Barcus, Shands chief development officer, agreed. “The UF Medical Guild has made a difference in the lives of Shands patients for the last 50 years,” Barcus said. “This gift will make a difference in our patients’ lives for many years to come.”
The Garden of Hope is a healing garden built to surround patients, families and our neighbors with an atmosphere of healing for the body, mind and spirit. The one-acre garden will be located on the southeast side of the Shands Cancer Hospital at UF. The garden will also serve as a community center for area residents and will be the site of public events such as concerts and Shands Arts in Medicine programs.
Lynn Marie Newman, UF Medical Guild former president and current chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee, said that a subcommittee comprised of UF Medical Guild members reviewed 14 applications for the gift.
She said all of the applicants were worthy, but in the end the Garden of Hope was the right choice.
“The subcommittee felt like this healing garden was something with which the UF Medical Guild members wanted to be associated,” Newman said.