Darlene Roland has a deep, long-term connection to Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
It began when she was a patient at the hospital at age 19. Her experience then, and later as a hospital volunteer and Auxiliary president, led Darlene to establish a charitable gift annuity at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital in 2012. Last year, she arranged for a gift in her trust after her lifetime. Both gifts support Barnes Lodge, a hospitality house near Barnes-Jewish Hospital for patient families.
"I was very attached to the hospital because I was a patient there for a month," Darlene says. "The staff and volunteers were like family."
Her devotion to the hospital led her to begin volunteering at the former Barnes Hospital.
"I wanted to do something good for others, like a payback and I knew the hospital was doing wonderful things," she says.
Darlene joined Barnes Hospital Auxiliary in 1978. She served as chairs of the Auxiliary's nominating committee, the Baby Photo Service, and the Wishing Well Gift and Flower Shops before she was elected president in 1985.
"It was a vibrant organization with such dedicated volunteers," Darlene says. "I made lifelong friendships and became even closer to the hospital. We also were outspoken advocates for patients."
That advocacy, combined with the passionate commitment of Auxiliary and hospital leaders, became a driving force in the creation of Barnes Lodge, which opened in 1985 to provide an inexpensive, convenient lodging option for families who travel to St. Louis for medical treatment.
Today, the expanded, 20-bed Barnes Lodge is consistently full as a welcome respite for families.
Darlene hopes her gift annuity and trust gift help the lodge continue to be there for families far into the future.
"I've had many illnesses so I can sympathize with what patients and families go through," she says. "Many families have to travel here for medical care from several hours away. Through Barnes Lodge, I want someone to have the best experience possible when they're here."