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John Legge Earns Employee Service Award

Duke’s Office of Durham Affairs recognizes staff member for volunteering record with Duke HomeCare & Hospice

John Legge has volunteered at Duke HomeCare & Hospice since 2007. Photo by Carolyn Colsher.
John Legge has volunteered at Duke HomeCare & Hospice since 2007. Photo by Carolyn Colsher.

The Duke Office of Durham Affairs has awarded John Legge with the Employee Service Award for his support of Duke HomeCare & Hospice. 

The office gives the annual award to a University or Health System employee who has performed outstanding volunteer service in the Durham community. Various non-profits in Durham submit nominations for the recognition.

Legge, director of risk management for Duke Health, began volunteering at Duke HomeCare & Hospice in 2007. Legge joined Duke in 1990, working as social worker helping children and families Pediatric Oncology and Brain Tumor programs. After switching to a position at Duke in Risk Management, Legge wanted to continue helping people in hospice care. 

“John provides the dying with compassionate presence, a calm and caring attitude, and the determination to get the job done, no matter the obstacle,” Carolyn Colsher, volunteer manager for Duke Hospice, wrote in the 2019 nomination form.  “He sees each patient as a unique mix of history and culture, personality and need.”

As a volunteer, Legge spends about four hours each week working at the front desk at Duke HomeCare & Hospice in Hock Family Pavilion. He greets guests and offers hospitality. He answers phone calls, sweeps and brews coffee. He also works with patients receiving hospice services at home, providing respite when caregivers need to run errands or take a break.  

“I am proud to work for the Health System, volunteer with hospice and live in Durham,” Legge said. “It is very meaningful that Duke values the connection we have with our community by making this award possible.”

Colsher, who nominated Legge for the award, lauded Legge’s ability to communicate sincerely with caregivers and patients during home visits. 

“All the patients he visits benefit from having someone come each week to give them extra attention and reassurance that they are still part of the larger community and cared about,” she said. “John Legge’s volunteer work exemplifies the best of community service and sends a message to his community that he cares enough to make a difference.”

As part of the award, the Office of Durham Affairs will contribute $200 to Duke HomeCare & Hospice in Legge’s name to honor his contribution to the community. 

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