At the Friends of Mercy Medical Center 28th Annual Golf Classic at the Hempstead Golf and Country Club, Friends President Sal Palazzolo, DDS (left) greeted Golf Co-Chairman Thomas Graham, honoree Joseph Tarulli and Co-Chairman Joseph Graham. The September 17th event raised more than $70,000 for the hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center. Drizzle turning to sunshine, combined with a large turnout, and the generosity of donors and participants enabled The Friends of Mercy Medical Center to raise more than $70,000 at their 28th Annual Golf Classic. Despite the challenging economy, the proceeds exceeded last year’s event by 40 percent.

More than 120 golfers enjoyed play on September 17th at the Hempstead Golf and Country Club and the post-outing dinner paying tribute to Joseph Tarulli of Garden City, president of County Carting in Freeport. Mr. Tarulli was honored for his many years of service to Nassau County community groups, and his current leadership in developing comprehensive recycling programs for local healthcare and educational institutions.

This year’s Golf Classic was chaired by Joseph and Thomas Graham of Rockville Centre, co-founders of AMG Development, a leading medical contracting and construction management firm. The principal sponsor was Neurological Surgery, P.C., the largest private neurosurgery practice on Long Island and in the New York Tristate area.

The proceeds from this year’s event support the new digital mammography and other state-of-the-art equipment that were part of the recently-completed renovation of the hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center. In the past four years, The Friends have raised over $1.25 million, supporting the 2006 completion of the hospital’s state-of-the-art North Pavilion, and enhancement of the medical center’s Emergency, Trauma and Express Care facilities, including a new Express Care radiology suite.