Donna J. Wright, the Director of Volunteer Resources at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, was named recipient of the New Hampshire Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Management today at the 22nd Annual Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism, held at New Hampshire Technical Institute. Governor John Lynch presented the award to Wright, who directly supervises about 100 volunteers at Elliot Hospital and is responsible for the administration of the hospital’s entire volunteer program, which includes nearly 500 adult volunteers and an additional 100 teens in a summer program.

Wright recently developed a Volunteer Ambassador program in the emergency department at Elliot Hospital, providing patients and visitors with information, comfort, and assistance to reduce the anxiety and discomfort related to waiting for treatment. She is also the Staff Support Unit Leader in the hospital’s Emergency Incident Command System, which assures logistical and psychological support to the staff in the event of a mass casualty situation.

One of Wright’s volunteers writes, “She brings a fabulous blend of capable, professional manager and warm, caring person to her work.” Another volunteer says, “I know I speak for myself as well as many others when I say that Donna is the main reason why many of us continue to volunteer at the Elliot.”

Wright is active with the New Hampshire-Vermont Association of Healthcare Volunteer Service Directors and the New England Association of Directors of Healthcare Volunteer Services. She also serves on the board of the NH Association of Volunteer Managers. Wright holds a Master of Science degree in Management from New England College and a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts. She has ten years experience in the non-profit field.

More than 300 people attended today’s Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism.