An enchanted evening
Our summer gala, Anchor Hope, was a resounding success, thanks to our sponsors, guests, benefit committee, hospital and foundation boards, staff and volunteers. We could not have done it without them! A special thanks to Monica Morales, six-time Emmy award-winning journalist and WPIX-11 News host, who served as our MC, and to our auctioneer Harry Santa-Olalla, who ignited the room with purpose during our paddle raise to fund relief for families who’ve lost everything, so they can begin again.
Guests enjoyed live jazz from the Duke Ellington Legacy as they sipped cocktails in the Edison Ballroom, magically transformed into a 1940s-style supper club. During a sumptuous dinner, our new video was premiered, vacations at luxury resorts in Mexico were auctioned and the generosity of our supporters exceeded our wildest dreams.
There is still time to donate.
Dancing in the streets
With a theme of “Defiant Joy,” the LGBT Network produced a day of celebration, visibility and vibrant dance and music performances for the Queens Pride Parade and Multicultural Festival on June 1 in Jackson Heights. According to news reports, more than 140 groups participated and attendance was estimated to be about 50,000 for its 33rd year.
The Floating Hospital was honored and delighted to participate. Declaring “Everybody Is Welcome” in our clinics on banners, paddles and tees, hospital staffers joined the marchers in the parade to show support for all the community members in Queens, where our main clinic is located. Staffers also joined the vendors in the festival to share vital health information.
The second oldest and largest pride parade in New York City, it is held annually on the first Sunday in June. It was founded by Daniel Dromm, a former NYC Council finance chair and school teacher, who wanted to counter anti-gay sentiment in the borough with “a family-friendly celebratory parade that would promote LGBT visibility and pride… in a neighborhood where many closeted gay people lived.”
He said, “I wanted people to know that lesbians and gay men were their family, friends, and neighbors.” The first parade was held in 1993 and attracted 10,000 people.
No cooking in ‘the kitchen’
On May 30, the “picklers” in the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association in New York and New Jersey and their guests dinked, aced, double bounced and volleyed their way through a day of pickleball to benefit The Floating Hospital at Centercourt Sports in Chatham, New Jersey. It was a day of fun and networking in support of our efforts to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.
We wish to thank the HBA’s Women in Healthcare Give Back and HBA Northern NJ, which sponsored the Pickleball for Health Equity event, and everyone who picked up a paddle for our cause. Kevin Douglas, our new director of philanthropy, and Linda You, director of clinical services, represented us in round robin play on the courts. Congratulations to Linda, who played with distinction and ended up as one of the day’s winners.
Health Ed. happenings
May was a very busy month in our Health Education department. Every Thursday had a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) class featuring science experiments, a paper rollercoaster, Shrinky Dinks and more. Cinco de Mayo was celebrated with Mexican history and treats. May 12 was “Melanoma Monday” with education about sun safety and sunscreen giveaways. National Fitness Day was marked on May 15 with a water taste test, fitness tests, juggling, jump rope and stretching. Perhaps the most fun and meaningful activities happened on May 22, a day devoted to babies. There was a baby food taste test, an obstacle course done while holding baby dolls or wearing a pregnancy belly, pregnancy/baby/breastfeeding trivia and word search games, handouts on breast feeding and lessons on diapering and swaddling. The month was capped off on May 27 with Career/Professionalism Day with resume building sessions, a pocket resume guide, mock interviews, flyers on how to look for a job and racks of professional clothing donations to choose from.
June is off to a great start as well with Pride Month commemorations every Monday, a Juneteenth celebration and lesson on June 18 (The Floating Hospital was closed on June 19) and the marking of World Sickle Cell Day on June 20 with a slide presentation and trivia questions. The last week of June is Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week with a Family Health and Fitness day on June 24 offering field day activities in the waiting rooms, a Hula-Hoop contest, exercise trivia, Zumba classes and more.
The Floating Hospital was proud to close our clinic in observation of Juneteenth this month. Our next clinic closure will be on July 4 for Independence Day.
