The Cheer Guild of IU Medical Center, Inc.

Cheerfully Yours Newsletter

Summer 1999 Volume 44 Number 3

Cheer Guild Celebrating 75 Years

This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Cheer Guild. On April 2, 1924, twelve women headed by Mrs. Andrew J. Porter met at the Indianapolis YWCA and began the organization of the Riley Hospital Cheer Guild. By April 24, the charter group numbered 30 and in July of 1924, the first chapter affiliated with the Guild took the name "Knee Deep in June". In this our 75th year we have 181 chapters throughout the state and even one in Illinois and over 150 active, sustaining, lifetime and honorary members.

When the first patient of Riley Hospital was wheeled into their room there was a Cheer Guild volunteer there to greet him. The mission of the Cheer Guild has been to provide volunteer services and financial assistance to Riley and I.U. Hospital and their clinics. We strive to assist in the hospitals' promotion of health care and wellness and provide an outreach to patients, families, and the community.

The Cheer Guild purchases bereavement literature to assist grieving families who have lost a loved one; provides meal tickets in Social Services' Emergency Assistance Program; funds scholarships for IUPUI students in the health care fields; and procures hospital equipment such as dialysis machines, an organ procurement van and car seats. We provide donuts & coffee for the parents of inpatients each morning and much more. The thing we are probably most famous for is our Toyroom. We provide toys and crafts to help make the time pass a little quicker for our patients.

The Cheer Guild gets financial support from membership dues, donations from Chapters all over the state, individual and organization donors, the University Gift Shop and the Raggedy Man Gift Shop in Riley and various fundraisers.