We are pleased to share that the plans for the 2009 St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Harvest Ball are well underway. The event, now in its 25th year, will take place on Saturday, November 14 at Lakelands Golf and Country Club in Brighton. We invite you to join us at this silver anniversary event - a celebration of the community's ongoing commitment to the Hospital and the health of the patients and families it serves.

Proceeds from this year's event will help to meet the urgent treatment-related needs of uninsured and underinsured patients who are ready to return home after receiving care at St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital. The Hospital is dedicated to providing care to all in need, and the number of uninsured and underinsured patients seeking services is growing. Gifts for this year's Harvest Ball will help with the cost of prescription medications and medical supplies such as prescriptions for cardiac patients, specialized formulas for new babies, or walkers for patients recovering from knee or hip replacements. These are just a few examples of the key medications and supplies that patients need - resources that are imperative to managing and improving their health when they return home. It is our goal to raise $80,000 to support this important part of recovery after hospitalization.

We are very excited to be involved in this time-honored and wonderful event and hope that you too will support this very important effort. Your gifts for the Harvest Ball will have a significant and positive impact on the patients and families who seek care at St. Joe's Livingston. Thank you for your consideration. We hope to see you on November 14.

Sincerely,

Jane and Paul Thielking, M.D.
2009 Harvest Ball, Co-chairs
Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology
St. Joseph Mercy Livingston