(February 1, 2005 -- Rockville Centre, NY) -- Mercy Medical Center celebrated its 68th Annual Mercy Ball on Saturday, December 4th at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY. Close to 600 participants were gathered at this spectacular event, sponsored by the Friends of Mercy for the benefit of Long Island’s Mercy Medical Center. The Ball raised $170,000, which was allocated to Mercy’s 18-bed acute cancer care unit.  Mercy is firmly committed to improving the lives of those diagnosed with cancer, and recognizes that effective and innovative treatment to cancer is an essential part of our core mission. We are committed to offering our patients greater access to the latest technology, resources and expertise here on Long Island.

The U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard set the stage for the event, as guests enjoyed an evening that included the Mercy Honor Guard of senior high school students, who escorted the Grand March of dignitaries into the ballroom. The honor guard members were then presented to Bishop William Murphy.

This year’s Ball Chairman was Robert Curran, MD, an internist at Mercy Medical Center, and the first physician to serve as the Mercy Ball Chairman. Mercy Ball 2004 Award Recipients included: Reeta Saharia, MD, the Chief Attending physician in the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic at Mercy was honored with the Sister Mary Nadine Casey, CIJ Award from Mercy’s Board of Trustees to the person who best personifies the mission of the Sisters of the Congregation of the Infant Jesus; Hermon Saunders, MD, a retired physician of Mercy Medical Center, received the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council’s Theodore Roosevelt Award for Outstanding Service; and Monsignor Francis J. Caldwell, pastor of St. Martha’s Church in Uniondale and the Chaplain for the Friends of Mercy was honored with The Bishop John R.. McGann Lifetime Achievement Award.

For information on events at Mercy Medical Center, please call the Development Department at (516) 705-1021.

Media Contact: Diane O'Doherty at 516-705-2619