Hospital fundraiser gets star treatment; $220,000 earmarked for cardiac services.

Byline: Linda Bock 

MILFORD - Hooray for Hollywood!

Hundreds of Milford Regional Medical Center supporters were given star treatment Saturday night as they raised more than $220,000 to benefit cardiac services at the community hospital. Glitz, glamour, searchlights, a red carpet and faux "Access Hollywood" paparazzi transformed Town Hall into a vintage Hollywood setting, as women in dazzling gowns and men in sophisticated black tie headed in for a night of martinis, dinner, orchestra music and dancing in the Grand Ballroom.

"There's something nice about putting on a black tie and suit," said black tuxedo-clad Elwin Elliott, 81, of Northboro. He serves on the hospital's board of corporators. Mr. Elliott and his wife, Gabriela Elliott, said they were delighted to be at the event to show support of cardiac services, but in particular, the new cardiac catheterization laboratory, with a planned opening this summer. Mr. Elliott winked and said, "I just hope I never need it."

In addition to the $3 million cardiac catheterization laboratory that should be operational this summer, there was plenty of buzz about Milford Regional Medical Center's new $25 million 54,000-square-foot Cancer Center which opened in February. Along with the new cancer center, the medical center began a partnership with Dana-Farber/Brigham and the Women's Cancer Center.

Kenneth J. and Louise Redding of Uxbridge attended the event; Mr. Redding previously served for 15 years on the medical center's board of trustees, and serves as president and chief executive of UniBank.

"The cath lab will be a part of cardiac services, and I think they do marvelous, marvelous work," Mr. Redding said. "The hospital is way ahead of its time, and the cancer center is absolutely a home-run for this area."

Before guests dined on catered chicken Oscar and roast beef, Paul Zekos of the Zekos Group made sure they worked up an appetite with a live, and lively, auction. Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin worked the crowd as Mr. Zekos auctioned off items such as two tickets and a parking pass to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's concert at Gillette Stadium Aug. 2 (they went for $1,000), two tickets to the New England Country Music Festival featuring Kenney Chesney, Keith Urban and LeAnn Rimes on July 26 (they went for $900), and a "once-in-a-lifetime" adventure to the Blue Moon Eco-Lodge on the island of Utila, Bay Islands in the Western Caribbean (those went for $5,075).

Edward Kelly, president of the medical center, took the opportunity Saturday to try to redeem himself with his wife, Rina. He had to attend a board meeting on the night of his wife's birthday March 31, so he arranged for Ms. Monroe to sing a breathy "Happy Birthday" to his wife.

"That was fun" Mr. Kelly said. "There is a lot of excitement here tonight with the new cardiac cath lab coming this summer. Eventually the lab will make a huge difference between life and death. The difference between 60 minutes and 90 minutes can make a significant difference in patient care."

Until the new lab opens, patients have to travel to another hospital to have the catheterization performed. Catheterization is a procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the heart through a vein in the arm to diagnose heart disease.

"We have a large group of extremely busy and progressive cardiologists, and when they have to order a catheterization, patients have to go all the way up to Worcester," said Nancy Tomaso, director of cardiology services. "I think we all know that this community hospital needs this type of service. The new lab will be on the first floor close to ICU and close to the surgical suite. The lab will have close proximity to the ER, and that's a plus for us."

After dinner, Oscar look-a-like statuettes were awarded to major sponsors. Then, a real star - Ruth Pointer of the legendary Pointer Sisters, and her daughter, Issa, - rocked the house. The dance floor was packed throughout their performance as the Pointers sang hit after hit, and their performance was donated for the benefit of the medical center. Ruth Pointer served as one of the honorary co-chairmen of the capital campaign five years ago for Milford-Whitinsville Regional Medical Center's recent $45 million patient care center, and has lived in Hopedale for more than

a decade. Her husband, Mike Sayles, is on the Milford Regional Medical Center's Health Care Foundation.

The project kicked off in 2003 and when it opened in 2005, increased the size of the hospital from 187,000 square feet to 224,000 square feet. The renovation expanded the number of surgery patient beds, as well as maternity, laboratory, cafeteria, office and meeting space. The medical center, at Routes 140 and 16, took on a brand new look with the construction of two three-story structures connected by a glass-enclosed cafeteria.

Sheba C. Verma, who works in the medical center's development office, said this is the fourth year for the popular, sold-out fundraising event. Every year has a different theme, and Ms. Verma said, "This year we picked Hollywood based on our CEO - he loves Hollywood." Francis M. Saba is the CEO, and he was at the event with his wife, Wendy.

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Performance artists The Gannett and Charlie Chaplin work an event held Saturday night at Milford Town Hall to benefit cardiac services at Milford Regional Medical Center.

PHOTOG: RICH DUGAS