HAGERSTOWN, MD (November 29, 2005)—Washington County Hospital Auxiliary, Inc. will hold it’s annual Tree of Lights tree lighting ceremony on Sunday, December 4, 2005, at 5:00 p.m. in the main lobby of Washington County Hospital. A reception will follow the lighting of the tree.

Each year, the annual Tree of Lights campaign raises money to benefit hospital programs.

This year the Tree of Lights campaign, in collaboration with the Antietam Healthcare Foundation’s Festival of Trees, will again benefit Washington County Hospital’s special care level II nursery. This nursery is very important to the young families of our community. A level II nursery will serve newborns needing special or critical care in a fully-equipped neonatal nursery, under the supervision of a skilled team of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals trained in neonatal care.

Having a special care level II nursery at Washington County Hospital will reduce transfers of neonatal babies to hospitals farther away, eliminating further trauma for both the newborn and the new parents. Donations to this year’s Tree of Lights will help to purchase one CPAP flow generator for treatment of respiratory conditions and two

bili-meters which will measure light energy used for phototherapy in the special care level II nursery.

Last year, the Tree of Lights campaign provided an infant incubator/isolette and two

bili-lights for phototherapy in the new nursery.

The annual Tree of Lights campaign provides community members with a special way to honor or memorialize a loved one or special person by purchasing a light to be placed on the tree. This tree stands in the middle of the circle located in front of the main entrance of the hospital, and will be on display through January 2006. A recognition board, located in the hospital lobby, will display the name of the contributor as well as the name of the loved one being honored or memorialized.

There are five ways to contribute to this important campaign.

• A gift of $10 purchases one light in honor or memory of a family member or friend.
• A gift of $25 purchases one dove for the tree.
• A gift of $50 purchases one angel for the tree.
• A gift of $100 purchases a Life Light which will be lit annually and the name will be inscribed on the permanent Tree of Lights board.
• A gift of $500 purchases a light in the Circle of lights at the top of the tree and the name will be inscribed on the permanent Tree of Lights board.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Washington County Hospital Auxiliary through Wednesday, December 31, 2005. For more information, please call the Auxiliary office at 301-790-8143.

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