(February 15, 2008 - Rockville Centre, NY) - The Friends of Mercy Medical Center will hold their
42nd annual Gentlemen’s St. Patrick’s Dinner on Thursday, March 13th at the Rockville Links Club. The honoree at the black-tie event will be the Honorable Eugene J. Murray, who served as mayor of Rockville Centre for twenty years.

Co-Chairmen of this year’s event will be Francis J. Darcy of Rockville Centre and Jeffrey Mulhall of Garden City who energetically support both The Friends and numerous other community activities.

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 advancement of medical and surgical care for the patients of Mercy Medical Center as well as construction at Mercy. The Friends raise funds for Mercy by sponsoring the St. Patrick’s Dinner, a Golf Outing in September and The Mercy Ball in December.

The Friends have raised over $1 million in the past three years, which supported the medical center’s Emergency, Trauma and Express Care facilities, including a new Express Care radiology suite, and the 2006 completion of the North Pavilion that allowed Mercy to transfer 160 of its patient beds into a facility housing state-of-the-art technology and the latest features in hospital design to promote patient safety and comfort.

The Friends traditionally present the proceeds of the previous year’s fundraising activities at the St. Patrick’s Dinner. It is one of the group’s most convivial events, and a significant fund-raiser for the Medical Center. Tickets are $300 per person, with 50/50 tickets also available. For reservations or information contact Mercy’s Development Department at (516)705-1021.

Contact: Mel Granick
Phone: (516) 705-2618
e-Mail: Mel.Granick@chsli.org