“First Lady” Gloria Drummond Turned Tragedy into Triumph in Creating Important Community Asset
BOCA RATON, FL – December 11, 2011 – Gloria Drummond, who in 1962 began a journey that turned personal tragedy into a community triumph with the founding of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, died on Saturday, December 10th after a prolonged illness. She was 81 years of age.
Ms. Drummond, who had been inducted into the Boca Raton Historical Society’s Walk of Recognition and was a recipient of the Sun–Sentinel’s Publisher Award, moved from Michigan to Boca Raton with her husband and four children in the 1950’s. In April of 1962, her daughter Debra, nine, and son, Randall, three, were poisoned by tainted milk. The children died upon reaching the nearest hospital, ten miles away in Boynton Beach. Both Gloria and her husband, along with many residents of Boca Raton, believed the children could have lived had there been a hospital nearby.
Thus began the saga that would culminate in what came to be known as the “Miracle on Meadows Road”…Boca Raton Community Hospital.
Through Gloria’s steadfast commitment and leadership, she formed the Debbie-Rand Foundation in memory of their deceased children and to spearhead efforts to establish a hospital in the immediate area. As a fund-raising arm, Gloria invited a group of local women to start what would become the Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League. Over the next five years, the group would grow from 18 to over 700 members and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through a variety of projects and special events ranging from bake sales to the establishment of a thrift shop.
These efforts served as the seed money for the building of the new hospital. When Boca Raton Community Hospital finally opened in June of 1967, the League was ready to provide volunteers and to continue raising funds to support Hospital initiatives.
Over the years, Ms. Drummond had maintained a steadfast commitment to the League and played an instrumental role in its growth to more than 1,100 volunteers supporting over 60 departments in the Hospital. Since its inception, the Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League has contributed more than $28.8 million and an amazing two million volunteer hours to the institution.
“Gloria Drummond’s passion to see something good come out of devastating personal tragedy is one of the most compelling stories our community has ever witnessed,” said Debbie Leising, current President of the League. “Not only was she the driving force behind the creation of our Hospital, she also established and nurtured the development of one of the largest and most effective volunteer service and fundraising organizations in healthcare today.”
In August of 2010 and to celebrate Gloria’s 80th, the Hospital changed its name from Boca Raton Community Hospital to Boca Raton Regional Hospital. According to officials, the change was made to better convey the Hospital’s growing capabilities and footprint as an advanced, tertiary medical center.
Ms. Drummond was to be honored at the Hospitals 50th Annual Ball on January 21st, which will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fundraising efforts that resulted in the creation of Boca Raton Community Hospital. “All of us are greatly saddened that Gloria will not be with us at that time,” said Jerry Fedele, President and CEO of Boca Regional. “Yet we will need to go no further than a drive on Meadows Road to see the dream, determination and dedication that was Gloria Drummond.”
More:
https://www.bocaratontribune.com/pictures-from-gloria-drummonds-80th-birthday-party/