St. John's Episcopal Hospital nets roughly $140,000 from golf outing

Nearly $140,000 was raised through St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s 24th annual invitational golf tournament held at the Seawane Club in Hewlett Harbor on June 28.

The money will be used to buy new, state-of-the-art equipment for the Far Rockaway hospital’s Margaret O. Carpenter Women’s Health Center. Carpenter is a Lawrence resident and longtime St. John’s supporter.

Joe Caraccia, senior vice president of Long Island-based Jzanus, a frequent contributor of several of St. John’s fundraising initiatives, was the golf tournament’s honoree. Jzanus provides an array of health care services. The outing included 124 golfers, 200 dinner guests and 40 sponsors.

“I am happy to say that this year’s golf tournament was a complete success,” Nancy Leghart, executive director of St. John’s ICARE Foundation,” stated in a news release. “Our supporters really came through for us, and the communities we serve will benefit greatly from the women's healthcare services that we will be able to provide as a result of the money that we raised.”

St. John’s is the only hospital on the Rockaway Peninsula and serves the Five Towns as well.

Hospital officials said the women’s health center is expected to open early next year. The center, at 105-38 Rockaway Beach Blvd. in Rockaway Park, will offer gynecological and obstetrical services, maternal fetal medicine, urogynecology, gynecological oncology, breast surgery, nutrition, behavioral health, 3D mammography, bone density and ultrasound.

The 3D mammography machine will allow clinicians to see breast tissue details more clearly to uncover breast cancer that may have otherwise been hidden by overlying breast tissue.

The bone density machine can measure women’s bone density to diagnose for osteoporosis and provide a fracture risk assessment. The ultrasound machine will produce quality high-resolution images.

Quoting Harry S. Truman, Caraccia stated in the release: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit,” while he added, “Everyone contributed and participated in the success of this event, and what was accomplished is simply amazing.”

To donate to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, go to ehs.org/givenow.