Donnegan, who succumbed to breast cancer last year, had served as president of the Kiwanis of the Nassau County courthouses, where she had worked as a clerk. Courthouse Kiwanis had requested the grant in Donnegan's honor. She also was a volunteer with the Adelphi program for four years.
In accepting the grant, Hillary Rutter, LCSW, the director of the Adelphi program, said, "Kathy was a devoted volunteer who had first come to us seeking help when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She always wanted to tell people about the support that the program provides and this grant will help us in doing that work."
Long Beach to host
annual Autumn Ball
The Long Beach Medical Center is hosting its 84th annual Autumn Ball on Saturday, November 18 at The Sands in Atlantic Beach .
The gala event will pay tribute to John A. Vitale, owner and chief executive officer of Barnum Island Properties, a consortium of restaurants and catering facilities that include Paddy McGee's, Coyote, Jordan's Lobster Farm and the Bridgeview Yacht Club.
³The Board of Trustees is pleased to honor Mr. Vitale for his entrepreneurship and committment to the economic vitality of Island Park,² said Alfred Osterland, chairman. ³His accomplishments have greatly enriched Island Park's fine-dining and event industries.²
The Autumn Ball, Long Beach Medical Center's major fundraiser, will begin with a cocktail reception at 7 p.m., with dinner and dancing following at 8 p.m. For reservations or information on journal or sponsorship opportunities, contact the LBMC Development Department at (516) 897-1204.
Volunteers Honored
at South Nassau
Area residents who are members of the volunteer program at South Nassau Communities Hospital recently received their service awards for August and September of 2006.
The award recipients, as well as the department and/or capacity in which each volunteer worked, are listed below:
Adult Awards:
n From Oceanside: Daniel DiNardo, 150 hours blue bar; Vivian Horowitz, 150 hours blue bar, Elizabeth Wood, 150 hours blue bar.
n From Baldwin: Vanessa Vitale, 150 hours blue bar; Sandeep Dhamija, 150 hours blue bar; Radu Weiss, 500 hours pin.
n From Lynbrook: Anita Campoli, 150 hours blue bar; Ann Conneely, 500 hours pin.
n From Long Beach: Harry Bernstein, 2,000 hours gold bar.
n From East Rockaway: Nikki Calabrese, 150 hours blue bar.
n From Woodmere: Elisheva Levine, 150 hours blue bar.
n From Freeport: Joan Mann, 350 hours blue bar.
n From Valley Stream: Marie Parisi, 1,000 hours gold bar .
n From Merrick: Richard Gonzalez, 150 hours blue bar.
n From Rockville Centre: Eugene Sherman, 350 hours blue bar; Sarah Gruhn, 150 hours blue bar.
n From Inwood: Joseph Moyse, 150 hours blue bar.
Junior Awards:
n From Rockville Centre: Bianca Phifer, 100 hours pin; Andrea Rivas, 100 hours pin,
Celeste Menna, 500 hours pin.
n From Freeport: Maya Saunders, 100 hours pin.
n From Baldwin: Sarah Sicari, 100 hours pin.
n From Merrick: Jason Wong, 100 hours pin.
n From Malverne: Pauline Amato, 100 hours pin.
n From Oceanside: Meredith Bluver, 100 hours pin.
Volunteers are welcome throughout the hospital as clerical aides, in patient care areas, and in the Thrift and Gift Shops. The hospital also welcomes volunteers to run errands hospital-wide, to serve as patient escorts and buddies, and as ambassadors to
guide outpatients around the hospital. For more information, call the hospital's volunteer office at (516) 632-3928.
Winthrop physician named Healthcare Hero
Winthrop-University Hospital announces that Mark Weinblatt, MD, chief of the Division of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology and director of the Cancer Center for Kids, has been named a 2006 Healthcare Hero by North Fork Bank and Long Island Business News.
Weinblatt, along with Ann Sisalli, a volunteer at Winthrop¹s Diabetes Education Center, was formally honored during the first annual Healthcare Heroes reception at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, on October 12.
A nationally renowned pediatric oncologist, Weinblatt was recognized for his extraordinary committment to providing quality care, comfort, reassurance and hope to families and their children who are diagnosed with cancer and blood-related diseases.
³Dr. Weinblatt is an extraordinary man who makes it a priority to care for the entire family,² said Deborah Johnson, vice president of Administration at Winthrop. ³He is available around the clock, so when patients dial his number, a service doesn¹t answer, he does.²
Meeting with families in an office filled with books, toys and patients¹ letters and pictures, he connects with the children through his positive attitude and sense of humor. ³He even shuns wearing a physician¹s coat in favor of a cartoon tie and matching yarmulke,² added Johnson.
A father of four, Weinblatt is embraced by patients and their families. ³Countless parents note that it is his compassionate care that has sustained them through the most difficult journey in their lives,² said Johnson. ³Dr. Weinblatt doesn¹t just make patients laugh- he knows how to save their lives.²
