(L-R) Brian Joesten, Mercy Ball emcee; Friends of Mercy president Sal Palazzolo, DDS; and Mercy Ball chairman Marc DiSciullo, MD. Rockville Centre, NY - The 73rd Annual Mercy Ball (www.MercyBall.com), held on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, raised more than $67,000 for Mercy Medical Center. Over 400 people attended the glittering black-tie event sponsored by the Friends of Mercy, the 75-year-old organization of men who volunteer their time and efforts to support projects that advance the medical and surgical care provided to Mercy’s patients.

The proceeds from this year’s event, chaired by Marc DiSciullo, MD, of Muttontown, a long-time member of the Medical Center’s anesthesiology staff, support the recent acquisition of new digital mammography and other state-of-the-art equipment in the hospital’s newly-renovated Women’s Imaging Center. In the past four years, the Friends have raised over $1.25 million to support hospital facilities.

Jeannie Jaeger, winner of the Sister Mary Nadine Casey, CIJ, Award (center, rear) is surrounded by members of the Congregation of the Infant Jesus, founding order of Mercy Medical Center In ceremonies that included Most Reverend Paul Walsh, DD, Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre, Robert Curran, MD, of Wantagh, a long-time member and current president of The Medical Staff at Mercy, received the Theodore Roosevelt Award For Outstanding Service. The honor is presented by the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council to an individual contributing to the development of Long Island’s community hospitals in the spirit of the renowned former president and Long Island resident’s lifelong devotion to public service.

(L-R) Brian Joesten, Mercy Ball emcee; Alan D. Guerci, MD, Mercy Medical Center president and CEO; and Nancy B. Simmons, Mercy Medical Center executive vice president. The Sister Mary Nadine Casey, CIJ, Award was presented to Jeannie Jaeger of Oceanside, Employee Services Coordinator in the hospital’s Human Resource Department, in recognition of her nearly 37 years of service. The award honors a member of the Mercy family who best personifies the values of the Medical Center and the Congregation of the Infant Jesus whose members founded the hospital nearly a century ago.

Rick Myatt of Rockville Centre, a long-time member of The Friends of Mercy Board of Sponsors, received The Bishop John R. McGann Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented to a distinguished individual dedicated to volunteering time and effort in support of the Medical Center.

Most Reverend Paul Walsh, DD, Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre, greets members of the Mercy Ball Honor Guard. 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 construction of the new Hospital and advancement of medical and surgical care for the patients of Mercy Medical Center. In addition to the Mercy Ball, the group sponsors several fund-raising events each year, including a black-tie St. Patrick’s Dinner being held this year on March 11th, and a Golf Outing to be held this year on July 26th.

Jeannie Jaeger, winner of the Sister Mary Nadine Casey, CIJ, Award with Robert Curran, MD, winner of the Theodore Roosevelt Award For Outstanding Service.
(L-R) Brian Joesten, Mercy Ball emcee congratulates Rick Mayatt on receiving the Bishop John R. McGann Lifetime Achievement Award as Friends of Mercy past-president Stephen McLoughlin looks on.