International Photographer and Medical Humanitarian Receives Hospital’s Highest Honor

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Annual Gala Raises More Than $4.5 Million to Support Hospital Programs

Flushing, New York - Last night, New York Hospital Queens raised more than $4.5 million –a total that is estimated to be the largest amount for a non-profit organization in the metro area – with its 12th annual A Spring Night Gala. The evening included a private performance by Grammy Award winners Earth, Wind and Fire in the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center.

More than 2,600 of the Hospital’s employees, family, and friends joined together to celebrate Kenro Izu, renowned photographer and Founder and President, Friends Without a Border. Mr. Izu was honored with The Pacesetter Awardfor his extraordinary efforts that have resulted in medical care for more than 400,000 Cambodian children—including 6,800 surgeries and the education of thousands of Cambodian health care workers.

Past winners of this award include Alice Coles, President of the Bayview Citizens for Social Justice in Bayview, Virginia; Sanduk Ruit, M.D., and Geoffrey Tabin, M.D., founders of the Himalayan Cataract Project; and Patricia Meili, known as “the Central Park jogger” who overcame a horrific assault and now dedicates her life to helping others. Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M. chaplain to the New York City Fire Department and a priest at St. Francis of Assisi Church, the first official casualty of the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, was honored posthumously.

All proceeds from A Spring Night Gala are allocated to capital improvement projects and continuing research and education programs at New York Hospital Queens.

New York Hospital Queens is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and is an affiliate of the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Queens Hospital Honors International Photographer and Medical Humanitarian-

Kenro Izu, renowned photographer and Founder and President, Friends Without a Border, receives the New York Hospital Queens’ Pacesetter Award for his extraordinary efforts resulting in medical care for more than 400,000 Cambodian children at the 12th annual A Spring Night Gala.  Mr. Izu was presented the award by George F. Heinrich, M.D., Chairman, Board of Trustees, and Stephen S. Mills, President and Chief Executive Officer, New York Hospital Queens.

Hospital Employees and Physicians Celebrated Hollywood Style-

Earth, Wind and Fire performs for thousands of New York Hospital Queens employees and physicians at the 12th annual A Spring Night Gala, which raised more than $4.5 million to support the hospital’s programs – setting a record for a one-night event.

Come One, Come All-

More than 2,000 employees and guests of New York Hospital Queens arrive at the State Theater at Lincoln Center for the hospital’s 12th annual A Spring Night Gala, which included a private performance by Grammy winning artists Earth, Wind and Fire.