August 13, 2018

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, August 13, 2018—The Saratoga Hospital 36^th Annual Gala held on Wednesday, August 1, raised $317,520. More than 1,000 people attended the summer event, enjoying this year’s theme of “Havana Nights,” with Cuban-inspired cuisine and lively Latin music under the tents at the Polo Meadow at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The annual gala is a major source of support for Saratoga Community Health Center, which provides primary care, dental, behavioral health, and addiction medicine services to the community, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

The Gala’s live auction opened with a brief tribute to Amy Raimo, the hospital’s vice president for community engagement and executive director of Saratoga Hospital Foundation. Raimo died tragically earlier this summer. “The Gala is the highlight of the Foundation’s work. The event is renowned as a fun, exciting evening, full of energy, all focused on raising funds and awareness for an important community program,” said Frank Messa, chair of the Saratoga Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, who offered the tribute and toast to Raimo. “Amy personified that fun, energy and commitment.”

As is tradition, the event’s honorary chairs were Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson who made an extraordinary gesture in Raimo’s memory during the live auction. The philanthropic couple purchased naming rights for the Hospital’s Lawn Jockey to celebrate and honor Amy Raimo in perpetuity.

The tribute was followed by a brief video featuring patients from the health center sharing their stories, introduced by Angelo Calbone, president and CEO of Saratoga Hospital. “It’s important to remember the lives we touch at Saratoga Community Health Center, and the difference our care can make,” said Calbone. “The moving stories captured in the video are the evidence, the reason why The Gala is such a meaningful event.”

There were 170 unique auction items donated by individuals and businesses up for grabs that night, the result of months of preparation by the all-volunteer Gala Committee and Foundation team. “Every year, we set our sights on making The Gala something special,” said Jennifer Hennessy, co-chair of the committee. “It takes an incredible amount of energy and teamwork to pull everything together for a one-night celebration. The special work everyone at the health center does every day is our motivation.”

This is the first year Hennessy co-chaired the event with Wendy Lawrence. “The Hospital’s gala is truly an example of community collaboration,” said Lawrence. “It’s been incredible and so rewarding to watch hundreds of business and individuals come together with a shared commitment to the health and wellness of our neighbors in need, and we are beyond grateful for everyone’s generous support.”

Saratoga Community Health Center is located at 24 Hamilton Street. For more information, visit saratogacommunityhealthcenter.org.

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Meredith Woolford

Manager, Institutional Advancement

Saratoga Hospital Foundation

(518) 583-8779

OR

Peter Hopper

Director, Marketing and Communications

Saratoga Hospital

(518) 583-8679