$416,000 Raised at Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation's 20th Annual Spring Ball
The 20th Annual Good Samaritan Hospital Spring Ball, held on Sunday, April 10, 2005 at the Hilton Woodcliff Lake, in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, raised in excess of $416,000 to support the Suffern, N.Y. hospitals programs, announced Christine Palmer Maraia, Executive Vice President of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation. Long known as the communitys premier black tie event, this years ball featured a Gold Rush" theme, and honored Mr. Alan Elkin, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Active International with the Good Samaritan Hospital Medal of Honor, as well as Dr. Lawrence Katz, with the Sister Joseph Rita Award for Medical Excellence.
(PRWEB) May 3, 2005 -- The 20th Annual Good Samaritan Hospital Spring Ball, held on Sunday, April 10, 2005 at the Hilton Woodcliff Lake, in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, raised in excess of $416,000 to support the Suffern, N.Y. hospitals programs, announced Christine Palmer Maraia, Executive Vice President of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation.
Long known as the communitys premier black tie event, this years ball featured a Gold Rush" theme, and honored Mr. Alan Elkin, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Active International with the Good Samaritan Hospital Medal of Honor, as well as Dr. Lawrence Katz, with the Sister Joseph Rita Award for Medical Excellence.
We are thrilled with the tremendous outpouring of community support for this event, and for Good Samaritan Hospital in general," noted Event Chairperson Janetlee Pillitteri. In the past, weve been able to raise significant sums of money to support the mission of the hospital, and this year weve exceeded our own lofty goals. The generosity and support of the community have made this Spring Ball another milestone for Good Samaritan."
A highlight of the Spring Ball is the presentation of special awards honoring outstanding community leaders for their service and dedication.
Dr. Lawrence Katz was named as this years recipient of the Sister Joseph Rita Award for Medical Excellence. Dr. Katz is a skilled and caring physician who has been practicing in this community for over 30 years, during which time he has made significant contributions not only to the lives of his patients, but to the field of orthopedics in general. Dr. Katz is a nationally renowned orthopedist, and an innovator in the field, having been granted six patents on instruments that have upgraded total knee replacement surgery, making it more accurate and precise, and yielding better and more predictable outcomes.
The award is named after Sister Joseph Rita, a nurse and administrator at Good Samaritan Hospital, who was known as an "angel of mercy" for ministering to those in crisis, and was presented to Dr. Katz by his children, David Katz of Venice, California, and Julie Paresky of Miami, Florida, both of whom were thrilled to travel to the Lower Hudson Valley to honor their father.
My father, Dr. Katz, embodies the spirit of Sister Joseph Rita in the compassionate care he has extended within this community for well over a quarter century," noted David Katz in presenting the award. I am tremendously proud of him and his work, and I am thrilled to present him with this award."
This year, Mr. Alan Elkin, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Active International, was the recipient of the Good Samaritan Hospital Medal of Honor for his service to the community. Mr. Elkin has long been one of the mainstays and pillars of the community. Active Cares, a charitable foundation created by Mr. Elkin, provides the means for funding to over 500 individual charitable causes that are proposed by Active International employees including Good Samaritan. For his service and dedication to the community, Mr. Elkin received this years Good Samaritan Hospital Medal of Honor, which was presented by Arthur Wagner, President and Co-Founder of Active International.
The selfless devotion to the community that Alan shows day in and day out is unbelievable. I am pleased and proud to present the Good Samaritan Hospital Medal of Honor to my friend and business partner, Alan Elkin," stated Wagner.
We are indeed blessed to have the caring medical hand of Dr. Katz and the dedication to community service of Alan Elkin right here in our community," said Foundation Executive Vice President Christine Maraia. This years honorees have demonstrated exceptional commitment and service to the community. It is our distinct honor to pay tribute to them at the Spring Ball."
Proceeds to fund improvements at Level II NICU
As always, the proceeds from the Spring Ball will help Good Samaritan to fulfill its mission of providing good help to those in need. This years proceeds are earmarked for improvements in the hospitals Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Every year, through your efforts, the Foundation provides much needed financial support and funding that goes directly into defraying the costs associated with bringing advanced medical care to the community," said Michael Schnieders, Executive Vice President and Administrator for Good Samaritan Hospital. Tonight, the money raised will help to fund improvements and equipment at Good Samaritan Hospitals Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which provides both high tech and high touch care for ill and premature babies, allowing most premature or ill babies to remain in the care of the hospital where they were delivered, and keeping these young families together while providing superior neonatal care to those babies who need it."
The Gold Rush" theme was carried through in virtually every aspect of the evening, with servers wearing western garb, and decorations reflective of the theme.
As people walked into the hotel that evening, we wanted them to immediately begin to experience the ambiance and the excitement that the original '49ers felt as gold fever spread throughout northern California," said Event Chairperson Pillitteri. Our committee planned an elaborate evening that truly appealed to the inner prospector that lives in us all!"
Another highlight of the evening was the raffle drawing for many valuable prizes. The Grand Prize, a $6,000 credit for a Radisson cruise of the winners choice, courtesy of Active International, was won by Nancy Currey of Ridgewood, NJ. This years winners also included:
• Gold Mine Gift Basket: Jerry Vogel of Pomona, NY.
• $250 Gift Certificate from G. Anthony Jewelers: C. Cummings of Highland Mills, NY.
• 20" Flat Screen TV, compliments from Sharp: Hermine Chern of Narbeth, PA.
• David Yurman-Style Bracelet, compliments of The Jewelers Workbench: John Lagana of New York City.
• Dual Membership to Lifeplex Health Club: Art Wagner of New City, NY.
"We are thrilled at the turnout at the Spring Ball, but are most energized by the excellent response of the community in raising $416,000 for the continued work of Good Samaritan in our community," said Pillitteri. As people walked through our 'Gold Rush, they experienced an old fashioned evening of Western warmth and hospitality, but more than that, they knew that each and every one was doing their part for better healthcare in the greater Rockland County community."
Good Samaritan Hospital is part of the Bon Secours Charity Health System, which also includes St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, NY and Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, NY. Additionally, Bon Secours Charity Health System provides the services of a Certified Home Health Agency, two long-term care facilities, an assisted living and adult home facility and several other medical programs. For more information about this event or any hospital program, visit the website at www.goodsamhosp.org, or contact Good Samaritan Hospital at 845-368-5000.
Media Contact: John Lonsdorf, R&J Public Relations, LLC (908) 722-5757.
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