St. Charles Hospital’s “At Last” Gala Raises $150K

 
Catholic Health’s St. Charles Hospital held its annual gala, in-person for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising $150,000 to benefit the hospital’s radiology department and purchase of a second computed tomography scanner. Appropriate for the times, the theme of the gala was “At Last.”
 
More than 180 guests participated in the celebration held on May 13 at Flowerfield in St. James, including special guest The Most Rev. Luis Miguel Romero, Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre, as well as Catholic Health’s President & CEO Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA, along with other Catholic Health senior leadership, St. Charles Hospital staff, and members from St. Charles Hospital’s Foundation Board of Trustees.
 
 “After two, long difficult years, we were finally able to be together in-person, and it was a wonderful feeling,” said St. Charles President James O’Connor. “At this year’s gala, we were delighted to honor our founders, the Daughters of Wisdom, with the Spirit of St. Charles Award. We also presented the prestigious Theodore Roosevelt Award to St. Charles Hospital Foundation’s Board of Trustees Member Holly Curry and her husband, John Curry, for their unwavering support, altruistic volunteerism and commitment they give toward St. Charles and the community we serve.”
 
Also at the gala, a special wish lantern was released in honor of St. Charles employee and biomedical engineer Ricky Ramirez who suffered from a severe case of COVID-19 in March 2020, with ups and downs, including the need to be intubated three times. After several months of hospitalization between St. Francis Hospital, where he received a life-saving treatment of an experimental medication, and his time at St. Charles Hospital for inpatient rehabilitation, Ricky turned a corner. Fully recovered, he was able to attend the gala and gave thanks to all who helped him on his road to recovery.
 
“Our wish lantern also paid tribute to all COVID-19 survivors and those we lost, and to St. Charles’ extraordinary healthcare heroes as they faced an unprecedented global health crisis with enormous courage and sacrifice,” said O’Connor.