64th Annual Charity Ball

GUESTS TREATED TO A MAGICAL WINTERWONDERLAND

The Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center held its 64th Annual Charity Ball on Saturday, February 11 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. The event featured a cocktail reception, dinner and dancing to the contemporary band, Paris, underwritten by Centre Emergency Medical Associates.

A record-breaking 488 guests attended the event, making it the largest crowd in Charity Ball history. The event also set new fundraising standards, raising $156,000 for Mount Nittany Medical Center's Emergency Department. Sponsorships were at an all-time high, lead by top sponsors, architectural design firm FreemanWhite, construction management firm Alexander Building Construction, and emergency medical group Centre Emergency Medical Associates.

This year's Charity Ball committee was chaired by Nancy and Ted Ziff, MD, who, along with their committee, constructed a blue lighted "Winter Wonderland," complete with live evergreen and birch trees, courtesy of Lawnscape, in the President's Hall of the Penn Stater. The event featured several auction items, including a 5k diamond bracelet courtesy of Confer's Jewelers; a week-long stay in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, courtesy of Michelle and Eric Feese, MD; and a driving trip of Germany, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz of State College.

All proceeds from this event benefit Mount Nittany Medical Center's Emergency Department and will be designated to its expansion project. Steve Brown, Mount Nittany Health System President and Chief Executive Officer announced to guests, "This expansion will accommodate a broadening scope of care, provide a higher level of comfort, privacy and access for patients and their families, and build in flexibility and efficiency for staff, making the patient experience in the ED better." When completed in 2013, Mount Nittany Medical Center's Emergency Department will have a markedly increased bed capacity, and will include specialized features like pediatric-specific space and a behavioral health area.

The 65th Annual Mount Nittany Medical Center Charity Ball is scheduled for Saturday, February 2 at The Penn Stater Conference Center & Hotel.

For more information, contact foundation@mountnittany.org.

All proceeds from this year's event benefit Mount Nittany Medical Center's Emergency Department expansion.

Mount Nittany Medical Center's Emergency Department is sometimes physically overwhelmed, especially in the evenings, and often on weekends. To add to the complexity of triaging a busy waiting room, emergency medicine is different than it used to be. Even a handful of years ago, people are sicker today when they come to ER's and a higher percentage are admitted to inpatient departments after evaluation. Further, there is more testing and consequently more waiting than ever before.

Mount Nittany Medical Center's Emergency Department census has increased steadily; we were 10% busier this past fiscal year than we were five years ago. In terms of visits, that means that there were 5,000 more cases for doctors, nurses and staff to treat. That's an additional 14 people a day in an already bustling area of our Medical Center. And, chances are, at least some of those people have very complicated illnesses or injuries.

The Medical Center is expanding its Emergency Department to accommodate a broadening scope of care, provide a higher level of comfort, privacy and access for patients and their families, and build in flexibility and efficiency for staff. When completed in 2013, the Emergency Department will increase bed capacity from 28 to 48, and include features like pediatric-specific space and a behavioral health area.

This year's Charity Ball will benefit this much-needed and exciting Emergency Department expansion.

Your support is deeply appreciated.

Charity Ball SponsorSHIP Opportuntieis

• Platinum, Gold and Silver Sponsors receive an ad for sponsorship
• Exciting Raffle and Auction items available
• Dancing to EBE’s Entertainment Paris