Griffin Hospital Recognizes Volunteers, Awards Scholarships

Griffin Hospital honored its volunteers for selflessly giving their time and talents to the hospital at its 2026 Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner held at Paradise Restaurant & Banquet Hall in Ansonia recently.

More than 150 hospital volunteers logged over 22,500 hours last year while serving as ambassadors, candy stripers, bakers, shuttle drivers, soft touch therapy providers, writers of vital patient stories and many more roles that benefited hospital patients, visitors and staff.

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“This dinner is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank each volunteer for everything they do through throughout the year,” said Griffin Health Director Planetree Programs and Services Elizabeth Laden. “Our volunteers are truly the heart of Griffin Hospital. They bring compassion, comfort, and connection to our patients, families, and staff in ways that cannot be measured, but are deeply felt every single day. They each help create the kind of environment we strive for - one that is not only clinically excellent, but genuinely human. We thank all our volunteers for the time and care they so generously give.”

Student Volunteers Honored

Griffin Hospital Volunteer Services also awarded its annual scholarships for high school and college volunteers.

For more than 50 years, Griffin Hospital has awarded scholarships to community students pursuing advanced education. In order to qualify for these scholarships, the students must have volunteered over 100 hours at the hospital, been in high academic standing, have been accepted into an accredited college or university, demonstrated initiative and perseverance, and possess exemplary moral character.

In recognition of their exceptional academic achievement, extensive community involvement, and dedicated work within the hospital, Alishba Baig and Abdalla Hanaif, both of Ansonia High School, won $2,500 Griffin Health Services Corporation Scholarship awards.