72nd Annual Mercy Ball
Saturday, December 6, 2008
at the
Crest Hollow Country Club
Woodbury, New York
Reception at 6:30 p.m.• Dinner and Dancing
Black Tie

The Friends of Mercy Medical Center 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. The group sponsors several fund-raising events each year, including a black-tie St. Patrick’s Dinner in March and a Golf Classic in September.

The Mercy Ball, held on the first Saturday of December each year, is the single largest fundraising event held for the hospital. The first Mercy Ball was held in 1936 and this prestigious event has become the traditional kick-off for Long Island’s holiday social season. One of the annual traditions at the ball is the Mercy Honor Guard, comprised of high school seniors who escort the Grand March of dignitaries into the ballroom. This year’s Honor Guard will proudly be presented to the Most Rev. John C. Dunne, DD – Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The tradition of the Honor Guard originated in 1942, when high school boys substituted for their older brothers, then serving in World War II, who had been members of the traditional military Honor Guard. The Mercy Ball is a black-tie affair, with music provided by Current Affair (www.currentaffairmusic.com).

In the past three years, the Friends have raised over $1 million which supported a new radiology suite in the hospital’s Express Emergency Care Center, and for the new North Pavilion which opened in February, 2006. The Friends have committed all of their 2008 proceeds to support the Department of Radiology & Imaging at Mercy with the recent acquisition of new state-of-the-art equipment for the hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center, including an additional MRI and ultrasound equipment. The new equipment will enable Mercy to provide the inclusive care needed from screening mammography to interventional procedures to surgery, with all the patients’ information, including images and reports easily accessible and available on site to our physicians. Mercy will be able to provide women the opportunity to receive all of their imaging and diagnostic services in one location.