UF Health Spanish Plaines Auxiliary Foundation

05/27/2026

🫶Your donations allow us to continue supporting the UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital Auxiliary Foundation through areas such as the purchase of equipment, enhancement of programs and services, as well as providing scholarships for area high school seniors and hospital team members. ❤️

📦Donations accepted Monday to Saturday, 10:00am - 3:00pm.

05/06/2026

04/28/2026

We can't wait to be a part of this amazing Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo on Thursday, April 30 from 3-6pm!

Will we see you there? Let us know! 👇

04/15/2026

Happy National Volunteer Month from LeiLee the Clown!

Did you know you can volunteer at our hospital as a Clown? 🤡💙

Our amazing volunteers bring a wide range of talents, and for our volunteer Clowns, the mission is simple: create smiles and brighten days. Through magic, music, comedy, and playful moments, they help lift spirits and bring comfort to our patients—sometimes exactly when it’s needed most.

Whether it’s a quick laugh during treatment or a joyful distraction, these small moments make a big difference. 🧡

Meet Linda P., also known as LeiLee the Clown, who has served over 100 hours as a Clown at our hospital!

Q. What is your favorite thing about volunteering as a clown at the hospital?
A. My favorite thing about volunteering as a clown at Spanish Plaines Hospital is to see the faces of the patients light up with smiles when we “peek” into the room for permission to enter.
I love many things about hospital clowning. I especially love meeting many wonderful people who find themselves ill, sometimes confused and many times lonely. I love it when we sing a verse of “You Are My Sunshine” to a patient and the happy memories that song brings to the surface.

Q. What is your favorite thing about volunteering in general?
A. I love to volunteer because I feel useful to our community. During my 30 year career as a teacher in the Rochester NY city schools, I knew I was contributing to the lives of others. But after retirement, I felt lost. I had lost my purpose, my reason for getting up each morning. I didn’t feel needed. Then I became a member of Clown Alley 179 and I loved being able to contribute to my community again. I felt happy and contented, a part of something bigger than myself.

Q. Why did you join the Auxiliary group?
A. I joined the hospital clowns because I had previously worked at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY as a pediatric chaplain. I knew how isolating and lonely can be for the whole family. I also knew that most adults have “kids” inside who have happy memories of clowns in their lives.

Q. What's a fun fact about yourself?
A. I play the ukulele. That how I got the name LeiLee (uk- u- le-le)!

✨ Interested in making a meaningful impact in a truly unique way? Join us and help turn tough days into brighter ones! Call our Volunteer Placement Office today at 352.751.8176! ✨

04/09/2026

We 🧡💙 our Volunteers!

Continuing with National Volunteer Month, we are highlighting Marcia C! Marcia has volunteered with our Auxiliary Foundation at Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe of Lady Lake (YOTS) for over 4 and a half years and has more than 1000 hours of service!

Q. What is your favorite thing about volunteering in your department?
A. Decorating with the best of the inventory available every week! It is always a challenge to find decorative items to put together for a WOW display. Somehow it always comes together.
Q. What is your favorite thing about volunteering in general?
A. Volunteering is a way to make a statement of how valuable people are no matter what their status is. I am blessed to be able to give back to the community. It has always been a priority of mine.
Q. What is something you love about the hospital/area you work in?
A. Working at YOTS has been special to me because I have met so many people and share a common goal. Everyone is so talented. We make the store shine on Mondays!
Q. What made you join the Auxiliary group?
A. I saw an article in the newspaper for a decorator and thought “I would love to do that”!
Q. Do you sign up to volunteer with someone specific? Did you recruit a neighbor or friend?
A. I told my friends about volunteering at YOTS and recruited two friends to volunteer.
Q. What is a fun fact about yourself?
A. I grew up working at our family stores and as an adult I worked at the Marts in Atlanta for the clothing and gift shows! It was a great experience and one I looked forward to every show!

Thank you, Marcia, and our hundreds of incredible volunteers who help us further and promote the UF Health mission each and every day! Want to join our amazing group of volunteers? Call our Volunteer Placement Office today at (352) 751-8176!

04/09/2026

04/02/2026

Volunteer and make a difference! 💙🧡

Sign up here:
https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1830611832

Or call our Volunteer Placement Office at (352) 751-8176 today!

💰✨ Now Hiring Smiles & Small Change Experts! ✨💰

Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe is looking for friendly, dependable volunteers to join our Cashier Team!

If you enjoy meeting new people, sharing a smile, and being part of a positive, fast-paced environment — this might be your perfect fit.

🛍️ As a Cashier Volunteer, you will:
• Greet and assist our wonderful customers
• Operate the register (don’t worry — we’ll train you!)
• Help create a welcoming, happy checkout experience
• Be part of a team that truly makes a difference

If you enjoy meeting new people, sharing a smile, and being part of a positive, fast-paced environment, this might be your perfect fit. Come for the cause… stay for the friendships. 💕

👉 Learn more & sign up here:
https://ufhealth.org/.../uf.../careers-volunteering...

04/01/2026

Happy National Volunteer Month! We are so lucky to have an amazing group of Auxiliary Volunteers who help us throughout the UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital, at Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe of Lady Lake, and at our UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital Auxiliary Foundation Events!

Members of UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital Auxiliary function in many rewarding capacities including information desk hosts, retail specialists, patient advocates, goodwill ambassadors, and special projects. Over 700 volunteers currently serve in this dynamic group of men and women and provide thousands of hours of service to the hospital annually. Social functions and networking are a big part of this volunteer group!

To kick off National Volunteer Month, we are highlighting Bob D. who has been volunteering with us for 14 years and has logged over 300 hours in the Cath Lab!

Q. What is your favorite thing about volunteering in your department?
A. I get a lot of satisfaction of working in the Cath Lab. Many of the patients are outpatient. I greet them when they arrive and some of them are nervous; many of them have never gone through a procedure like a catheterization. I assure them that they are in a wonderful Cath Lab and that they are working with a great team. I can also tell them that I have also been through a procedure in this same Cath Lab and share my experience. Then after a procedure, many times I get to wheel that patient out and share how they are pleased with their experience.

One of my biggest enjoyments of volunteering in the Cath lab is that it makes me feel that I am working on a team and because I have been there so long, that many of the people that work in the Cath Lab consider me part of the 'team'; they call me 'Thursday Morning Bob'.

Q. What is your favorite thing about volunteering in general?
A. I get a lot out of volunteering because I have been very fortunate with my heart. I had a mechanical valve installed in my heart almost thirty years ago (a birth defect) and when I retired and moved to The Villages, I wanted to find something where I could give something back. I had no idea that it would be in the Cath Lab!

Q. What is a fun fact about yourself?
A. Because of my heart valve, I have always tried to stay very active to maintain my health. I try to eat healthy (other than an occasional pizza!) and I describe my usual weekly exercise activity as a 2-2-2 plan; two days riding my bike in the Sumter Landing Bicycle Club, two days playing golf on a championship course (and another nine holes with my wife and some other couples) and two days of either hitting the gym for a workout or going for a nice walk. So I always try to stay active by doing things that I can enjoy with friends. The Villages has been very good for my wife and I, we are very blessed!

An interesting fun fact that I can add is that at one time I co-hosted a show on the Golf Channel with Kraig Kann called "The Golf Channel Technical Workshop", which was a very enjoyable.

We are so incredibly grateful for Bob and all our volunteers who share their time and talents with us!

03/25/2026

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — UF Health hospitals have earned multiple national honors from Healthgrades, including placements among America’s 250 Best Hospitals and top…