Samaritan Announces Volunteer Service Award Winner

Published on: March 12, 2026

Watertown, N.Y. – At Samaritan, there are volunteers who serve at the hospital, long term care facilities, special events, off-site offices and on various boards of our respective entities. Initiated in 2023, the HIVE (Helpful Indeed – Volunteering Excellence) Award is a way to honor those volunteers who have contributed an extraordinary level of dedication and shown exceptional service to Samaritan while consistently demonstrating the organization’s HEART values, which are Honest, Empathetic, Accountable, Respect, and Trustworthy.

Why HIVE? The beehive is symbolic of teamwork, unity, growth, and development. At Samaritan, we are all caregivers, including those who have committed to showing extraordinary compassionate care as a volunteer. We need each other to care for our community.

The HIVE Award complements the existing DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®, the BEE Award (Being Excellent Every Day) honoring other outstanding staff members who support patient care, at the hospital and all outpatient clinics, the OWL (Outstanding Workers in Long Term Care) for the team of caregivers at the Samaritan Keep Home and Samaritan Summit Village, and the ELM award for exceptional leaders and managers. Altogether, we recognize the amazing caregivers of the Samaritan Health System and the culture we embrace.

Our first recipient for 2026 is Joliese Haynes. She serves as a volunteer with the storeroom team in the Medical Center, supporting the entire health system.  

A Samaritan Caregiver of the unit nominated Haynes saying, “Joliese consistently comes in to help sort letters in the mailroom, and her contributions are greatly appreciated. She is always friendly, outgoing, and a true joy to be around. She reliably volunteers three times a week, and her presence makes a meaningful difference. We are grateful for the energy and dedication she brings to the team.”

Those interested in recognizing a Samaritan volunteer may submit an online nomination at samaritanhealth.com/hive there are also paper nomination forms available at the Medical Center and Samaritan Summit Village gift shops. 

Pictured here is Joliese Haynes, HIVE Award recipient at Samaritan Medical Center.