Healthy Living Newsletter
Mercy Pink Ribbon Ladies’ Day Success!
With applause and cheers for the champs, the 2007 Mercy Pink Ribbon Ladies’ Day Golf Outing came to a close in June, raising more than $17,000 to support economically disadvantaged area women in need of advanced diagnostic testing for breast cancer.
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| Each year, Wendy Palmateer, Chair of Mercy’s Pink Ribbon Ladies’ Day hosts a golf scramble team. In their carts, decorated with bright flowers and smiling faces are team members (from left to right) first row: Deborah Dickinson of Applegate; and Wendy Palmateer of Marysville; second row: Kimberly Kirchoff of Port Sanilac; and Kathy Jowett of Marysville. |
“Each year, we receive outstanding community support for this important financial resource for women who are uninsured or underinsured,” comments Homeira McDonald, MD, Chair of the Mercy Hospital Foundation. “Women who are beneficiaries of this funding could be your friends or your neighbors, but they are all in need of advanced breast cancer diagnosis. With the support of the community, we will be able to continue to help women in greatest need.”
“Not unlike past years, more than 150 area women attended this exciting nine-hole golf scramble. Many come for the golf, but all come to support Mercy’s Pink Ribbon endeavors,” comments Wendy Palmateer, Owner of Golf Country in Marysville, and the Chair of the Pink Ribbon Ladies’ Day Committee. In addition to the nine-hole golf scramble, area teams also participate in the annual Cart Decorating and Spirit Award competitions.
“The Cart Decorating and Spirit Award competitions are a lively part of the event in which many of the teams participate,” continues Palmateer, who is a founding member of the committee and has been active with the group for more than 12 years. “As a matter of fact, some teams come out just to compete in this section of the day.”
This year’s Spirit Award Competition was presented to the Feel Good Foursome, who has won the distinction for the past three years. Members include: Donna Schwartz, Paula McVety, Betty Veen and Stephanie Armstrong.
The Cart Decorating Award was presented to: The Neal Group; members include: Lori Neal, Karyn Peterman, Diane Francis and Terri Modzelewski.
“Not unlike the Cart Decorating and Spirit Award Competitions, the committee has always looked for ways to enhance the event, including adding a vendor sale geared just to women’s products and services,” continues Wendy. “The amount of support received each year has been wonderful.
“This year’s success is very meaningful,” she continues, “because it shows that even when our community is experiencing difficult economic challenges, support of local women in need hasn’t diminished. I’m grateful to everyone who is committed to this important community project.
Local Projects Fill Local Needs
“Supporting local women facing a breast cancer diagnosis is very important,” Wendy explains. “When I approached Mercy Hospital regarding this project more than a decade ago, there were no local breast cancer awareness events. Now, you can’t turn around without bumping into a Pink Ribbon fundraiser. Although it’s wonderful to see this heightened state of awareness, it’s very important to me that this is a local event in which all funds raised stay in our community.
“I believe in the work of national organizations to raise funds to fight breast cancer, but we simply can’t lose sight of our local needs,” she says. “That’s where I want to spend my efforts. Teaming up with local groups like Mercy Hospital and its mission to provide care to the poor and underserved is just a great combination.”
Corporate Sponsors Respond to the Call
Although great fun is had by all at the event, none of the fellowship in attending Pink Ribbon could be accomplished without the benefit of event sponsors. Mercy Hospital Foundation extends its gratitude to the Pink Ribbon Ladies’ Day major sponsors, including:
Lunch Sponsor:
- Citizens First Foundation
Gold Sponsor
- Mercy Auxiliary Volunteer Organization (MAVO)
Silver Sponsors:
- Woman’s Life Insurance Society
- WGRT Radio
Breakfast Sponsor:
Beverage Sponsor:
- Dependable Heating and Cooling, Inc.
Mercy’s Pink Ribbon Ladies’ Day celebrated its twelfth anniversary this year, and continues to grow stronger and stronger each year.
Next year’s event is planned for Thursday, June 26, and will again be held at Fore Lakes Golf Club in Kimball Township.
“Save the date,” concludes Wendy. “Teams start planning for their participation well in advance. We continue to look for women-focused businesses who truly would like to support less-fortunate women in our community by sponsorship of this event. You won’t believe how terrific it feels until you become involved.”
If you would like to become involved in Mercy’s event that really puts women in focus, call the Mercy Hospital Foundation at (810) 987-1047; or visit the Mercy Hospital Foundation Section of this website.
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