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Memorial Medical Center event to honor past director

by jmaloni

Press release

Fri, Aug 30th 2013 07:00 am

Nancy Gara to be feted at "Sing Sisters Sing Women's Health Celebration"

The Auxiliary of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will hold its second annual "Sing Sisters Sing Celebrate Women's Health" fundraising event on Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute in downtown Niagara Falls.

The event raises funds for women's health services at the hospital and its satellite facilities across Niagara County. Proceeds from last year's inaugural "Sing" supported the purchase of infant monitors for the hospital's expanded women's health OB/GYN unit.

The 2013 event will honor the late Nancy Gara, NFMMC director and member of the foundation board of directors. Gara was chairwoman of the "Sing Sisters Sing" event until her untimely death in May. She was a fierce advocate for women's health issues, and served as the "voice for those who had no voice," at the hospital for many years, said NFMMC President and CEO Joseph A. Ruffolo.

Gara was a 40-year veteran of the Niagara Frontier banking industry. Hired by Marine Midland Bank as a part-time teller in 1970, Gara rose through the ranks to become first vice president and branch manager of HSBC Center branch in Buffalo. She oversaw all retail and community activities for the former Marine Midland Bank and HSBC while managing the head offices in Niagara Falls and Buffalo. She was the officer-in-charge of closing the HSBC Center head office and safe depository upon the bank's branch network sale to First Niagara. At the time of her death, Gara was vice president and manager of First Niagara's Power City branch in Niagara Falls.

The "Sing Sisters Sing" event will include entertainment by Buffalo's Theresa Quinn Trio, a wine pull and basket raffle, and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Presenting sponsor for the event is Susan B. Schoellkopf and family. Wine pull sponsor is Women's Medicine of Niagara. Sponsors include B&W Heat Treating Co., Samual J. Civiletto, Esq., Evergreen Floral, First Niagara Bank, Helen Lenahan, Niagara County Community College, Niagara Family Medicine Associates, Niagara Gazette, Pine Pharmacy, Rich Entertainment Group, and Sparkle Marketing & Events.

Further information can be obtained at the hospital's website, www.nfmmc.org. Tickets, at $40, can be purchased by calling Patty Berggren at 716-545-7012 or Judi Nolan Powell at 716-525-7625.

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