Maureen Bradley

In 1995, I began volunteering at Bellevue Hospital Center, reading to children in the Pediatric Resource Center as part of Children of Bellevue's pediatric literacy program called Reach Out and Read. Three months after I had begun volunteering, the director of the program asked me if I would work for her part-time as her bilingual program assistant. I accepted. It was the first job I enjoyed and the first one where I felt I could make a difference.

Four years later, I left my position at the hospital, but the hospital has remained very near to my heart. I continue to volunteer on both inpatient and outpatient pediatric units, reading to children and interpreting in Spanish. In addition, I have volunteered with Children of Bellevue's Junior Committee on several benefit events. My experience at Bellevue proved to be a major turning point in my life. The talented, dedicated staff members taught me so much by their examples. I learned from the children as well. Their strength is truly inspiring. At Bellevue Hospital Center, I came to understand that kindness, love, and empathy are part of the cure, that all people speak the language of the heart, and that helping people by caring for those in need is one of the most appealing of all possible human accomplishments.

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