ECMC Foundation 30th Springfest Gala Breaks Another Attendance Record for Annual Event
Three Distinguished ECMC Healthcare Professionals honored during Largest Gala in WNY; Distinguished Service Award presented to Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation and the ECMC Foundation ECMC on Saturday, May 11th presented Springfest Gala 2019, the largest not-for-profit gala in Western New York, which drew over 2,000 guests – the largest gathering in the event’s history – from the business, medical, and ECMC communities for an evening of entertainment, fine dining and celebration. Springfest 2019 raised the highest gross in its history – exceeding $1.2 million from Springfest festivities this year – to benefit life-saving medical services at ECMC.
Presented by Pegula Sports and Entertainment, this year’s Springfest Gala honored the distinguished service of: Jim Kelly, Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame Quarterback, Founder of Kelly for Kids Foundation, and Co-Founder, Hunter’s Hope Foundation; Thom R. Loree, MD, FACS, Chairman, Department of Head & Neck Surgery and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery for ECMC and Associate Professor of Surgery & Otolaryngology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, UB; Maureen Sullivan, DDS, Chief, Department of Dentistry, Division of Oral Oncology & Maxillofacial Prosthetics at ECMC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, UB, and Clinical Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, UB; and Donna Oddo, RN, BSN, SANE, Nursing Care Coordinator, Emergency Department, ECMC.
Honored for their distinguished service during Springfest 2019 are: Thom R. Loree, MD, FACS (2nd from left); Maureen Sullivan, DDS (3rd from left); Donna Oddo, RN, BSN, SANE (3rd from right); and Jim Kelly (2nd from right). Posing with the honorees are: ECMC Corp. President & CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD (left) and ECMC Corp. Board of Directors Chair Jonathan A. Dandes (right).
Ronald A. Raccuia, Chair, ECMC Foundation, said, “The Springfest Gala recognizes and celebrates the dedicated service of the nurses, doctors and the entire team at ECMC Corporation. With over 2,000 attendees this year, we have well exceeded our previous attendance records, highlighting the strong support ECMC Corporation enjoys throughout our region. This year, we honored three ECMCC clinicians who have made significant contributions to the institution and to our community: Dr. Thom R. Loree, Dr. Maureen Sullivan and Nurse Donna Oddo, RN, BSN, SANE. Additionally, we honored NFL Hall of Fame and Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, who is a great friend of, and advocate for ECMCC, as well as an inspiration to millions of people across our nation for his courage and perseverance.”
Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, President & CEO, ECMC Corporation, said, “Each year during Springfest, we celebrate the dedication, care and compassion of our ECMC Family. The 2019 Springfest Gala surpassed the number of attendees and the donation total for any previous year in the history of this event. The remarkable guest attendance, as well as the generosity of our sponsors, reinforces the significant impact our caregivers have on our community. We are truly grateful for this support as we build a new state-of-the-art Trauma Center and Emergency Department for our Western New York community, helping to provide more stories of hoping and healing for years to come.”
All proceeds from the evening will benefit the lifesaving medical services of ECMC, Western New York’s only Regional Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, which is now being updated with a modern, state-of-the-art facility that will double the capacity of the existing facility and will be able to treat Western New Yorkers for generations to come and give patients, its care teams and members of the entire community greater access to world-class care. The Foundation also supports ECMC’s Regional Center of Excellence for Transplantation and Kidney Care; Regional Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health; the Russell J. Salvatore Orthopaedic Unit, the newest orthopaedic, physical medicine, and rehabilitation facility in Western New York; and the area’s only Mobile Mammography Coach; as well as numerous other ECMC initiatives that directly benefit the Western New York community.
Springfest Gala 2019 was proudly presented by Pegula Sports and Entertainment. Other major sponsors included: Platinum sponsors M&T Bank, UBMD Emergency Medicine, Pepsi; Entertainment sponsor Russell’s Steaks Chops & More; Floral sponsor TOPS Friendly Markets; Gold sponsors Apogee Physicians, Buffalo Bisons/Rich Products, Great Lakes Medical Imaging, Kaleida Health, Seneca Diabetes Foundation, and Tom & Jodi Quatroche; Auction and raffle sponsors Elderwood, KeyBank, Russell Friedman & Associates LLP, and WellCare Health Plans Inc.
ABOUT ECMC FOUNDATION: From life-saving surgery for trauma patients to the extra support that makes a difficult time easier for visiting families, ECMC offers true care at every level. ECMC Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation, enhances what ECMC offers to our patients and community, secures the resources that make all the difference, and takes on initiatives to financially support the life-saving work of ECMC. As our community hospital, ECMC serves a range of patients and families across Western New York. Through generous community support and building connections throughout our region, the Foundation strives to make more possible for our patients, their families, and our community.
ABOUT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (ECMC) CORPORATION: The ECMC Corporation includes an advanced academic medical center (ECMC) with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is a Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences – the difference between healthcare and true care™.