Sunday, April 27, 2025
The Friends of Mercy held their 57th annual Gentlemen’s St. Patrick’s Dinner to raise funds for Mercy Hospital. The black-tie event, held on March 6, presented a check for $313,300 to aid in purchasing Oneview Healthcare, a patient engagement platform designed to enhance the in-hospital experience by providing patients with personalized information and entertainment at their bedside.
The event saw a large crowd of “gentlemen” from Rockville Centre and beyond come to the Garden City Hotel for an evening of supporting the hospital and enjoying each other’s company. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Mayor Francis Murray made appearances to support the cause.
The guest of honor was Greg Van Roten, the offensive lineman for the New York Giants. He was born on Feb. 26, 1990, at Mercy Hospital, grew up in Baldwin and Rockville Centre and attended Chaminade High School in Mineola.
He gave a speech sharing his journey from high school football to the NFL. Despite initial setbacks, including being cut from his high school team and struggling to be recruited after playing at Penn State, he persevered. He detailed his unconventional path through the NFL, including participating in regional combines and training without an agent.
Van Roten recounted his experiences with various teams, including the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders, ending up most recently for the 2024 football season on the Giants.
He emphasized the three things in his life that have been “paramount” to his success: family, community and passion for football. He concluded by highlighting the impact of the Friends of Mercy on his community.
“It’s time to inspire others to step up to ensure the future of Mercy possible and invest in the future of our community,” Van Roten said. “Because of your endeavors, Mercy has been here for me and countless other families and will be here for generations to come.”
A variety of items were auctioned off to add to the final donation amount, including footballs and jerseys autographed by Giants players and tickets to Broadway plays and baseball games.
