June
2002
City enjoys Spring Gala for St. Francis Medical
Center
By
Colleen Miller
On
the blue-skied spring evening of May 11, nearly 600 of the Trenton
glitterati dressed in black tie and evening gowns strolled about
the courtyard of the Lafayette Yard Marriott Conference Hotel
sipping drinks and nibbling hors d'oeuvres. The reason? The 2002
Annual Spring Gala to benefit the St. Francis Medical Center.
The cause? Raising funds for new and enhanced cancer services
that benefit the Trenton community.
The
guests moved indoors to the hotel's ballroom for dinner, dancing
and an evening program, which sparkled with celebration and heart-felt
gratitude for those who contribute to St. Francis-from the volunteers
and medical staff to the donors and friends.
Founded
in 1874 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, the Catholic
health institution has been caring for the physical and spiritual
needs of patients and their families ever since.
Judith
M. Persichilli, president and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center,
bestowed the 2002 Spirit of St. Francis Award on Assemblywoman
Bonnie Watson Coleman. Coleman chose to share the award with her
church family at Shiloh Baptist Church, located on Calhoun Street
(now named the Rev. Howard Woodson Boulevard.) She credited her
achievements to her spiritual underpinnings and the support of
her church family.
The
assemblywoman's long career as an advocate for civil rights, the
disadvantaged and children was lauded. Coleman was thanked for
her support of the medical center and her work for programs to
help reduce the rate of minority heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Further
efforts in advancing the treatment of cancer in Trenton have been
made this year. The St. Francis Medical Center announced its newly
created Fox Chase Cancer Center at St. Francis, which will enhance
clinical services for patients through a close relationship with
the prestigious Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. New oncology
services will be available to patients at St. Francis without
traveling to Pennsylvania.
The
honorary co-chairs of the event were Mercer County Executive Robert
D. Prunetti and the Honorable Douglas H. Palmer, Mayor of Trenton.
The co-chairs of the 2002 gala were Dr. Jo Ann Chalal, Bruce Engleman,
Dr. Nenita P. McIntosh, Thomas McIntosh, Dr. Elizabeth A. Rosvold
and Dr. David Rosvold.
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