News
March 8, 2017The Community Hospice, Eddy Visiting Nurse Association, Palliative Care Partners Join for First Annual “Swinging on a Star Gala” Fundraiser
The Community Hospice, Eddy Visiting Nurse Association (Eddy VNA), and Palliative Care Partners will host their inaugural fundraiser, “Swinging on a Star Gala,” Saturday, Apr. 1, 5:30 – 11 p.m., at the new Rivers Casino & Resort, 1 Rush St, Schenectady.
Liz Bishop, WRGB CBS 6 News anchor, will serve as mistress of ceremonies. The evening will feature cocktails and gaming at the casino, a mission auction, followed by a scrumptious cuisine dinner, with musical entertainment from The Refrigerators, and dancing. About 500 people are expected.
The Swinging on a Star Gala is the first event to be held at the new casino, and brings together two premier Capital Region events and longtime favorites – The Schenectady Hospice Gala, and Eddy VNA’s Cuisine Magic. Proceeds from the new event will support the expansion of palliative care services in the community.
Palliative care is a specialized medical care that helps relieve seriously ill patients of the symptoms, pain, and stress of living with a serious or chronic illness, such as cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS.
“Palliative care is the single, largest opportunity to improve health care for people living with serious illness and their families,” said Michelle Mazzacco, executive director and vice president of The Community Hospice, Eddy VNRA, and Palliative Care Partners.
“There is mounting evidence that the addition of palliative care services results in less symptom distress, improved patient survival, and decreased family stress,” added Mazzacco. “Palliative care patients can experience a wide range of symptoms, including pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and depression.”
An interdisciplinary team works together with the patient’s community physician to not only treat the pain and other symptoms, but to help patients and their families understand the illness and make informed decisions about care. Patients can benefit from palliative care at any age and at any stage of an illness. It is also provided along with curative treatment.
Tickets for the gala are $150 each. Black tie optional. For more information or to attend, please contact (518) 482-4433, or register securely online at www.SwingingOnAStarGala.org.
