Stuspital Announces Spring Gala Fundraiser Honoring Legendary NY Knick Dave DeBusschere
NBA Commissioner David Stern And Bear Stearns Chairman Alan Schwartz As Gala Co-Chairman

(New York, NY, May 17, 2004) – St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital announced today that it will create a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art cardiovascular center named in honor of legendary NY Knick basketball player Dave DeBusschere. A 20-year board member of the hospital and one of the most adored basketball players of all time, DeBusschere died from a sudden heart attack in May 2003. Close to the one-year anniversary of his death, the hospital and his family are announcing the creation of this center to honor DeBusschere’s philanthropic legacy and raise critical awareness for cardiovascular health.

In conjunction with this announcement, the hospital will posthumously award DeBusschere with the Jack Dempsey Humanitarian Award at its annual Helen Hayes Gala on June 21. NBA Commissioner David Stern will Co-Chair the Gala Committee along with support from the New York Knicks organization. Details on both the cardiovascular center and the Gala follow.

“We are so pleased to honor Dave DeBusschere and create this unique center,” said Len Walsh, president of St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital. “His legacy touches all of us and we expect this center to extend his reach and help others maintain cardiovascular care.”

The Dave DeBusschere Cardiovascular Center
The center will be a much-needed community health resource for those who live, work or visit the vibrant neighborhoods of Midtown Manhattan and the Upper West Side. No facility of its kind currently exists in the area. The center’s goal will be to keep patients heart-healthy and focus on key cardiovascular health messages: that there are ways to prevent coronary disease, to slow its progress, and to treat it.
A team of experts will offer a full continuity of care -- a comprehensive range of services from diagnosis and prevention through treatment. Services slated for the Center include: assessing heart function, determining risk factors, developing personalized interventions for health and lifestyle, treating cardiac disease at every stage. In addition to these functions, the Dave DeBusschere Cardiovascular Center will offer community education on topics that relate to heart health.

The leading physicians at the Center will be Tien H. Nguyen, MD, Chief of Cardiology at St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital and an attending physician in Interventional Cardiology at both the Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center of St. Vincent’s Hospital & Medical Center and the Cardiovascular Institute of the Mount Sinai Medical Center and Johnny Lee, MD, Associate Chief of Cardiology at St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital and an attending physician in Interventional Cardiology at both the Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center of St. Vincent’s Hospital & Medical Center and the Cardiovascular Institute of the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital 2004 Helen Hayes Gala
St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital will hold its annual 2004 Helen Hayes Gala to benefit the Hospital and the new Dave DeBusschere Cardiovascular Center. The event will take place on Monday, June 21, 2004 at the Marriott Marquis and will posthumously honor Dave DeBusschere with the Jack Dempsey Humanitarian Award. The evening will also honor Broadway legend Patti LuPone with the Helen Hayes Award for her long-standing philanthropic activities.

David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, and Alan Schwartz, president of Bear Stearns Companies, will be the Co-Chairs of the Gala. The Honorary Gala Committee will include Senator Bill Bradley, Mel Davis, Earl Monroe, and Willis Reed.

St. Vincent’s Hospital, formerly St. Clare’s, has been nicknamed “Broadway’s Hospital” because of its proximity to the Theatre District. The legendary actress Helen Hayes was a benefactor of the Hospital, and the Gala, begun in 1983, was named in her honor. The Helen Hayes Award is presented to a person connected with entertainment whose charitable works have made significant contributions to the quality of life. Hayes presented the award every year until her death, when her son, James MacArthur, took over the role. The Jack Dempsey Humanitarian award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated love and service to the people of New York.