Annual Auction Raises $270,000 for Support Program for Siblings of Seriously-Ill Children

June 22, 2010 - PRLog -- Oceanside, NY – The 2010 SIBSPlace (Survivorship in Brothers and Sisters) Annual Auction raised $270,000 in support of the program.  An essential community service of South Nassau Communities Hospital, SIBSPlace is celebrating its 10th year of free service to families throughout Nassau County.

The Annual Auction also honored and recognized the generosity and devoted efforts of SIBSPlace founder and South Nassau Communities Hospital board member Mr. Michael Schamroth and his family; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Basner; Mr. and Mrs. James Daly; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Janow; Mr. and Mrs. Al Perkell; The Laura Rosenberg Foundation, and The Wegman Family.  

“Since its founding 10 years ago, SIBSPlace has exceeded its mission of extending a loving and caring hand that helps families and children cope with the overwhelming stress and turmoil that results when a loved one is seriously ill,” said Joseph A. Quagliata, president and CEO of South Nassau. “Our guests of honor are a reflection of the teamwork that inspires South Nassau to fulfill its mission.  They are loyal and dear friends who generously give of their time, talents and treasure, and we are deeply grateful that they are on our team.”

The goal of SIBSPlace is to help children cope with feelings and needs due to a sibling or parent suffering with cancer or other type of devastating illness.  The only program of its kind in the United States, it is available to all children ages 5-17.  SIBSPlace provides a comprehensive program of support and guided recreation in which personal needs, unexpressed feelings and confusing experiences can be addressed by the well siblings.  A typical visit includes play, arts and crafts, psychoeducational group interaction, mentoring and tutoring.  Other special activities include animal therapy and field trips to local attractions.

“I thank the auction’s volunteer committee for working diligently and devoting immeasurable time and energy to the success of the evening,” said Elizabeth Nardone, vice president of development at South Nassau.   “We are also thankful to our sponsors and to every person who bid generously throughout the evening. Their generosity and benevolence is vital to ensuring the continued longevity of SIBSPlace.”

The Annual Auction committee is spearheaded by a group of concerned community members headed by Mr. Schamroth.  The co-chairs of the event were Shari and Lowell Frey, a member of the hospital’s board of directors, and Heidi and Jason Goldenberg.

# # #

South Nassau Communities Hospital is one of the region’s largest hospitals, with 435 beds, more than 875 physicians and 2,800 employees. Located in Oceanside, NY, the hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health and emergency services. In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, South Nassau provides emergency and elective angioplasty and is the only hospital on Long Island with the Novalis Tx and Gamma Knife radiosurgery technologies. South Nassau is a designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons and is recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. For more information, visit www.southnassau.org.