(March 17, 2008 - Rockville Centre, NY) - More than 200 attendees turned out in a show of support for Mercy Medical Center at The Friends of Mercy Medical Center’s 42nd annual Gentlemen’s St. Patrick’s Dinner.

The honoree at the black-tie event on March 13th at the Rockville Links Club was the Honorable Eugene J. Murray, who served as the mayor of Rockville Centre for over twenty years. Immediate past president of The Friends, Stephen McLoughlin, presented a check for $315,000 to Bishop John C. Dunne, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and Dr. Alan Guerci, Mercy’s president and CEO, representing the proceeds of The Friends’ 2007 fundraising activities.

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 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.

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