Swim Across The Sound Sports Gala & Auction To Benefit Connecticut’s First Responders

NEW HAVEN — St Vincent Hospital’s Swim Across the Sound will host its Annual Sports Gala & Auction on Wednesday, January 16, at Anthony’s Ocean View. The event will begin with a silent auction at 5:30 pm, followed by dinner at 7.

State Representative Stephen Dargan (D-115) is serving as the event’s honorary chair and Bobby Valentine, manager of the Lotte Marines of Japan and former manager of the New York Mets, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Speaker of the House James Amann will be presented with a special Legislator of the Year Award. Attendees will also be able to meet Ron Swoboda of the 1969 New York Mets; Bill “Spaceman” Lee, retired left-handed pitcher with the Boston Red Sox; and Howard Schwab, host of ESPN’s Stump “The Schwab” game show.

A first responder who has demonstrated support and compassion for cancer patients will be presented with the David Felner Caregiver Award. Mr Felner, a Stratford firefighter, died from cancer in 2002.

A live auction will take place after dinner.

Tickets are $100 each ($60 of which is tax deductible).

All proceeds from the event will benefit Connecticut state and local police, firefighters, correction officers, and EMS personnel and their families battling cancer. The event will be underwritten by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call St Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation Office at 203-576-5451.

The Swim Across the Sound was inspired by people whose lives had been touched by cancer and who were determined to turn that experience into positive, active steps to help others. One of the region’s most exciting and compelling athletic events, the Swim involves amateur solo swimmers and relay teams, swimming from Port Jefferson, Long Island, to Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport to raise pledges to help cancer patients and their families.

St Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound is a charitable grassroots organization run by St Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation. Recently celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Swim has a unique niche, providing cancer education, screening, and prevention programs at low- or no-cost for the elderly and underserved.

In addition, the Swim helps individual cancer patients on a case-by-case basis with specific needs, such as the funding of wigs and prostheses, medication assistance, free transportation to treatments and appointments, day-care scholarships and support groups.

The Swim does not support research. It does, however, raise funds through events such as the Swim Marathon, Breast Cancer Luncheon, Walk/Run for Cancer and Diabetes, and Prostate Cancer Celebrity Dinner.

Wherever possible, the Swim covers costs and expenses of events through corporate sponsorships, and staffing overhead is covered by the St Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation. The Swim raised $2.6 million in the 2007 fiscal year and helps more than 20,000 people annually.

For more information, contact St Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation at 203-576-5451 or visit SwimAcrossTheSound.org.