Make a Difference - Volunteer Today
For over 60 years the Torrance Memorial Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary has played an integral role in providing compassionate services to patients and visitors. With the opportunity to work throughout the hospital as a volunteer, you will help with big and small requests alike. For example, you might comfort patients recovering from surgery, provide information to visitors or play the piano to cheer up patients and visitors. You will be part of a team that is committed to helping others and enjoy a stimulating environment while volunteering at Torrance Memorial. Hospital volunteers interact with health care professionals, administrative staff and include nearly 900 dedicated people who give of themselves to make Torrance Memorial a leader in providing health care to our community.
The Volunteer Experience - Adults
Volunteers are encouraged to participate in areas where their talents are needed and where their interests can be expanded. A wide variety of volunteer assignments are available that range from those with a great deal of contact with patients and families to those with little to no patient contact. With our wide array of assignments and schedules we are able to accommodate those who work full- or part-time and/or have other commitments. Adult Volunteers are asked to give a minimum one-year commitment to a regular weekly schedule and join the volunteer Auxiliary. Orientations for new adult volunteers are offered four times during the year. You may review further details about our adult program by downloading our volunteer program information sheet.
College Students (Updated April 5, 2013) - College student volunteers (ages 18-25) must meet all requirements of the adult volunteer program (download
information sheet) and submit a pre-application questionnaire for consideration of an invitation to attend volunteer orientation. Due to high demand, limited spaces are available for college age volunteers. The next available orientation is in August, 2013. In July we will post information about when the pre-application will be available for download.
Please Note: There are no short-term, episodic, direct patient care, shadowing or observation opportunities through the college student volunteer program at Torrance Memorial.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers at Torrance Memorial may work closely with patients, families and visitors or may choose a position that does not interact with the public. Areas of service include but are not limited to volunteering in patient care areas, welcoming patients and visitors, providing information, assisting in waiting areas, volunteering in the Auxiliary gift shop, assisting staff, discharging patients, visiting patients, taking baby photos, and running errands for patients and staff. We also have unique programs such as pet visitation, sewing, knitting, piano, clowns, and much more. Please click here for an information sheet describing the adult volunteer program as well as the process and requirements for joining.
The Benefits of Volunteering
Enjoy the added benefits of volunteering when you join Torrance Memorial's team. In addition to experiencing the satisfaction of helping your community by volunteering you will meet new people and make new friends, develop new skills, become part of a team, offer comfort and support to patients and their loved ones, enjoy new experiences, enrich your life, be active and teach others. You'll enjoy cafeteria and pharmacy discounts, free parking, a uniform jacket, entertainment discounts and the opportunity to attend Auxiliary general meetings and an annual Recognition/Awards Luncheon.
High School Student Volunteer Program - Updated May 15, 2013
Please note: there are no summer, short-term, episodic, direct patient care, shadowing or observation opportunities through the high school student volunteer program at Torrance Memorial.
High School students ages 14-18 and currently in their freshman, sophomore or junior year of high school may apply to volunteer at Torrance Memorial. Being a student volunteer provides the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the health care field while often receiving community service credit with the student's school. To view the High School Student Volunteer Program Information Sheet click HERE to learn the requirements for joining a future high school student orientation.
We updated this section on May 14th and made available the pre-applications for the June 2013 high school student volunteer orientation. We received our quota of pre-applications within a 24 hour period and the pre-application is no longer available to download.
Please calendar yourself to check back with our website in mid-September 2013 for the announced date for the next pre-application availability.
High School Student Orientations are held three times per year: Spring, Summer and Fall. Our next orientation is slated for October 28th and October 30th.
Thank you for your interest in our High School Student Volunteer Program.
Contact Us
For information about adult and college volunteering at Torrance Memorial, contact the Volunteer Services Department at 310-517-4752 or send an email to adultvolunteerprogram@tmmc.com after reviewing the attached
information sheet. Please provide a contact phone number.
For High School Student Volunteer information, contact the Volunteer Department at 310-517-4752 or send an email to highschoolstudentprogram@tmmc.com.
Torrance Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary
Adult volunteers are members of the Torrance Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary. The Auxiliary Board of Directors for 2013 are:
| President |
Susan Lohn |
| President-Elect |
Schola Tsai |
| Vice-President (Hospital Services) |
Beth Zager |
| Vice-President (Membership) |
Sunni Won |
| Secretary |
Donna Cohen |
| Treasurer |
Pablo Diaz |
| Gift Shop Chairpersons |
Jeannine Frandsen and Spirit White |
| Special Events Chairperson |
Valerie Punzal |
| Public Relations Chairperson |
Allen Scarpetti |
| Program Chairperson |
David Sato |
| Parliamentarian |
Mimi Brody |
| Legislative Issues Chairperson |
Judy Shoemaker |
| Historian |
Diana Takenaga |
| Director, Volunteer Services (ex officio) |
Mary Matson |
Auxiliary Healing Garden Pledge
The Auxiliary invites you to participate in their $1 million dollar pledge to construct the Healing Garden in our new patient tower to open in 2015. The new healing garden will be named for the Auxiliary in honor of their many years of service and support to Torrance Memorial and in appreciation of their 5-year $1 million pledge to the new patient tower. To learn more go to https://www.torrancememorial.org/About_Us/Health_Care_Foundation/Donate_Now.aspx and click on "In Support of: Auxiliary Healing Garden Campaign".
The Luminaries
The Luminaries began in 1990, with a small group of women from the Palos Verdes Peninsula wanting to support Torrance Memorial Medical Center with their time and to raise money to benefit the hospital. In addition to the Luminaries membership, a high school volunteer program is offered. This teen group, the Novas, provides valuable experience and volunteer hours to the hospital.
Luminaries support the Woman to Woman Image Enhancement Center located in the West Tower, first floor. Women who are experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatments or other medical illnesses may receive a private image consultation and receive free products through this program. This program helps builds confidence and self-esteem as a woman is recovering from illness.
To attend a membership information meeting and learn more about the Luminaries, call 310-517-4752. Membership is open to Palos Verdes and Torrance residents. A new member meeting is usually held in March.