Press Releases

Annual Gala Will Support Hospital's Cardiology Department

(October 22, 2010 - Rockville Centre, NY) The Friends of Mercy Medical Center will hold their 74th Annual Mercy Ball on Saturday, December 4th at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The annual gala will support the acquisition of new state-of-the-art diagnostic cardiology equipment.

The chairman for the event this year is Christopher Kearns, of Rockville Centre, a
co-founder and managing partner of Capstone Advisory Group, LLC, a nationally known leader in providing multidisciplinary services and solutions to companies, lenders and investors.

Three major awards will be presented:

• Gregory Zito, MD, of Garden City, the hospital's Director of Surgery will receive the Theodore Roosevelt Award for Outstanding Service. The award is presented by the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council to an individual contributing to the development of Long Island's community hospitals in the spirit of the renowned former president and Long Island resident's lifelong devotion to public service.
• Eileen Obanhein, of Lynbrook, will receive the Sister Mary Nadine Casey, CIJ Award in recognition of her many years of service in the respiratory services department. The award honors members of the Mercy family who best personifies the values of Mercy Medical Center and the Congregation of the Infant Jesus whose members founded the hospital nearly a century ago.
• Donald Regan of Rockville Centre, a long-time member of The Friends of Mercy Board of Sponsors, will receive The Bishop John R. McGann Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented to a distinguished individual dedicated to volunteering time and effort in support of the Medical Center.

One of the annual traditions at the Ball is the Mercy Honor Guard, comprised of high school students who escort the Grand March of dignitaries into the ballroom preceded by a Color Guard from the United State Marine Corps, and are then presented to the Bishop. Following the program, guests enjoy a sumptuous meal and dancing into the night.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and complete event information, please visit on line at www.MercyBall.com, or call the Development Department at 516-705-2622.

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The Friends of Mercy was founded in 1935 as an organization of men dedicated to volunteering their time and efforts to raise funds for the construction of the new Hospital and advancement of medical and surgical care for the patients of Mercy Medical Center. In addition to the Mercy Ball, the group sponsors two more major fund-raising events each year, a black-tie St. Patrick's Dinner in March, and a Golf Outing in July. In the past five years, the Friends have raised nearly $1.5 million to support hospital facilities including new digital mammography equipment in the Women's Imaging Center; enhancement of the medical center's Emergency, Trauma and Express Care facilities, including a new Express Care radiology suite; and the 2006 completion of the hospital's state-of-the-art North Pavilion.