FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2004
CONTACT: Joyce Faria Brennan
Media Relations
Southcoast Health System
Phone: 508-961-5270
Fax: 508-961-5876
Pgr: 508-387-9605
brennanj@southcoast.org
www.southcoast.org/news/releases/
Southcoast Temptations raises over $90,000 for
new Southcoast Mobile Health & Blood Van
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — “Southcoast Temptations,” the fourth annual evening of wine
and chocolate to benefit Southcoast Hospitals, raised more than $90,000 with an attendance of 250
guests to benefit the purchase of a new Southcoast Mobile Health & Blood Van. An additional
$74,000 in gifts-in-kind were contributed toward the evening.
Ronald B. Goodspeed, MD, MPH, President and CEO, of Southcoast Hospitals Group, said
the community “benefits immensely from the free care and education offered on the van.” The current
van will be replaced with a new model in the spring.
“With more than 600,000 residents in the Southcoast Hospitals service area — and many
without health insurance – the need for a new Southcoast Mobile Health & Blood Van providing free
health care services and screenings is critical,” Dr. Goodspeed said.
The new Southcoast Mobile Health & Blood Van will continue the tradition of traveling
throughout the region bringing health screenings, education and other services to nearly 5,000
individuals who do not have ready access to health care, improving the health of young people, the
elderly and the medically under-served. Services offered on the van include blood pressure screening,
cholesterol screening, colorectal screening take home kits, pregnancy testing, glucose screenings, heel
bone density testing, pneumonia vaccines, flu vaccine (October to December), tetanus/diphtheria
vaccines, health education services and health care referrals to physicians and health centers.
The new van will also better accommodate the increased demand for community blood
drives and provide more privacy for patients under new federal patient privacy laws.
A Sweet Evening
This year “Southcoast Temptations” was held August 12 at a new location, Howland Place in
New Bedford. The event was hosted by Dorothy Cox Chocolates and Trio Liquors, who provided
chocolates, candies and more than 20 different wines from around the world. Food and beverages
were provided by 32 area restaurants and businesses. Entertainment was by Anita Asser and young
rising star music students. A silent auction of 81 items helped raise more than $5,000.
Southcoast Temptations was made possible by the hard work of the event committee, which
was co-chaired by Michele Carr and Dorothy Cox. Committee members included Kristine Bourgeois,
Anne Boxler, Jennifer Gelinas, Karen Goodspeed, Salma Haikal, Erin Knowles, Ron Melbourne,
Carol O’Connell, Kristi Ralton and Robbin Sadlers. The honorary chair was Stacey Charlton.
The event’s Crème de la Crème Sponsors were BankNewport, Fall River Five Cents Savings
Bank, the Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation and Meridien Karam. The event’s La Dolce
Vita Sponsor was Shields Health Care Group. The Champagne Truffle Sponsors were STAT
Ambulance Service of New England and ExpressCare 24 @ Charlton/First Physicians Corporation
The event’s Sip and Dip sponsor was the Southcoast Cardiac Surgical Associates. The event’s
Chocolate Merlot Sponsors were Fleet Bank and NSTAR. The event’s Cabernet Fudge Sponsors
were Borden & Remington Corporation, Prime Buchholz & Associates and Sparks Energy. The
event’s Wine Truffle Sponsor was Castelo Real Estate Inc.
Gift-in-Kind sponsors were Citadel Communications, Fall River Ford, NBC10/WJAR10,
Signs by Tomorrow and The Symphony Music Shop.
Tempting tastes were provided by B&M Clambake Company, Belmont Springs, Blount
Seafood Corporation, Blue Point Restaurant, Candleworks Restaurant, Captain’s Place, Century
House, Comforts of Home ~ A Personal Chef Service, Dorothy Cox’s Chocolates, Fairhaven
Chowder House, Garelick Farms, LaFrance Hospitality (White’s of Westport, Bittersweet Farm and
Rachel’s Lakeside), Lebanese Kitchen, LePage’s Seafood & Grille, M&C Restaurant, Ma Raffa’s
Italian Restaurant, Man Li Restaurant, McGovern’s Restaurant, Me & Ed’s Restaurant, Pa Raffa’s
Italian Restaurant, Panera Bread, The Pasta House, Phoenix Restaurant, Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar &
Grill, Ray’s Pizza, Riccardi’s Italian Restaurant, Smokey Bones BBQ & Sports Bar, Starbucks
Coffee, Sunrise Bakery & Coffee Shop, Trio Liquors, Venus De Milo and Wah May Restaurant.
For information on how to participate in next year’s “Southcoast Temptations” contact
Southcoast philanthropy office at 508-961-5353 or 1-800-925-9450 or send e-mail to
externalaffairs@southcoast.org.
Southcoast Health System, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is a community based
health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of health
services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes Southcoast
Hospitals Group, formed in 1996 from the merger of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St.
Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
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