St. Catherine Hospital Auxiliary will host its 24th annual Wings of Healing tree lighting program at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the hospital, 4321 Fir St., East Chicago. The annual holiday event is open to the public. It offers hope to others and serves as a way to give back to the community through the auxiliary’s scholarship program.
The Auxiliary’s annual scholarship program provides educational assistance to area students who are pursuing careers in healthcare. For a $10 donation, individuals, businesses and organizations can have an angel hung on the Wings of Healing tree. Personalized Angel of Hope cards are sent to honorees or families to let them know of the donation and to extend an invitation to the Wings of Healing angel illumination ceremony. For a $25 donation, a keepsake angel ornament can also be mailed or presented to an honoree.
The special tree lighting ceremony will be held in the hospital’s chapel. Cardiac Catheterization Supervisor Eileen Mason will be the keynote speaker during the program that includes uplifting messages, music, and refreshments.
Director of Mission Integration/Volunteers Teresa Pedroza said the Wings of Healing program is a great way to honor a loved one over the holiday season.
“I feel it also honors the feelings of those who may be experiencing grief during the holidays,” she said. “It meant so much to me when I was gifted with a beautiful angel in memory of my father.”
The gift of an angel honors those who may be ill or are facing challenges in their life. It can also be hung to celebrate a victory or commemorate an important moment in a person’s life.
As a result of the Wings of Healing program, more than $110,000 in educational funding has been awarded to area residents through the scholarship program over the years.
To learn more about the program or to purchase an angel ornament, call 219-392-7009. To download a donation form, visit http://www.comhs.org/ways_to_give/pdf/Wings_of_Healing.pdf