Auxiliary President Kiley Kendall and Treasurer Lorrie Hawk present a check for $240,000 to hospital board Chairman Kevin Gray and President and CEO Bruce James. The funds will be used to purchase new equipment for the hospital's mammography department. (Submitted)

DOVER (WJER) - Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Auxiliary members say it was another successful year of fundraising as they mark their 70th year supporting the hospital. 

Auxiliary President Kiley Kendall says they presented hospital officials with $240,000, the sixth year in a row they’ve donated more than $200,000 from a single year of donating. Kendall says this year’s efforts will go to buying two new pieces of equipment for their mammography department.

“We’re presented with a list every year, and we hand pick what we put our money toward, and ideally it stays local and it is something that would benefit everyone,” she says. “Men and women both can get breast cancer, and so we thought that was a really good use of our money this year.”

Hospital spokesman Darrin Lautenschleger says to date, the auxiliary has raised nearly $4.5-million for the hospital, with more than $1.3-million being raised since 2014.

“Our president and CEO and the chairman of the board, Bruce James and Kevin Gray, each basically would shake their heads when they consider how hard they see the members of the auxiliary working,” he says.

Kendall says they are taking no time to rest as they begin their 71st-year of raising funds.

“It’s on to the next round of fundraising. Our annual hanging basket sale is coming up. That is Friday, May 10th, at the South Entrance of Union Hospital Cleveland Clinic and then also the rummage sale at Tuscora Park takes place on May 15th and 16th,” she says.

Kendall credits the auxiliary’s hardworking members and their captivating fundraisers for bringing in another high total.  

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