Gambling for a good cause

Long Island healthcare industry leader and Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce President Greg Schaefer was honored at South Nassau Communities Hospital’s third Annual Casino Royale on Mar. 10, at the Coral House in Baldwin.

Casino Night attendees put their gambling savvy and instincts to the test at Vegas-style Black Jack, Craps, and Roulette tables, and “Off to the Races,” which allowed those attending to “go for broke” for a variety of prizes. In addition cocktails and a buffet were offered.

Schaefer is a Rockville Centre native, father of two and a community leader. He is the recipient of several community leadership awards, including South Nassau’s 2016 Casino Night honoree.

Proceeds from the 3rd Annual Casino Royale will support South Nassau’s “Emergency Department Expansion (ED) Campaign.” The campaign is a five-year, $10 million fundraising initiative to help pay for a $57 million renovation of the Oceanside Emergency Department. The expansion project will increase the Emergency Department’s square footage from 16,000 to 30,000 square feet, increasing its overall size by 87% and giving it the necessary room to accommodate a projected 80,000 patient visits each year as well as establishing dedicated areas for behavioral health and pediatric emergencies.

Joe Calderone, senior vice president of corporate communications and development at SNCH, said, “With more than 350 attendees, this was our most successful Casino night event yet. We are very grateful to all who came to help the ED Expansion Campaign and especially to our honoree, Greg Schaefer of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce and Better Home Health Care, for his support.”

Calderone said the 2016 Casino Royal raised a total of approximately $170,000 in support of the ED Campaign, 11.5 percent increase over last year’s event ($152,330 gross in 2015).