Secretary Albright helps Lakeside celebrate

The first Friday in December starts out like every other day of the week at Lakeside - that is until someone famous walks in the main entrance. Then it becomes a day you will always remember for Lakeside residents, children, employees and volunteers. This year was no different, when Secretary Madeleine Albright arrived.

Following a tradition of world renown guest speakers, Secretary Albright visited Lakeside as part of the Lakeside Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner on Friday, December 6. Lakeside Beikirch Care Center residents Anna O'Geen and Joyce Eagleson were selected to represent the care center during her welcome. Sean Mickey and Danielle Ludeke represented Lakeside Child Care and presented Secretary Albright with a gift. The Amadeus Chorale of Greater Rochester and the Hilltop Singers from the Hill School in Brockport joined in the welcome by performing the national anthem, a capella.

After a press conference, Secretary Albright attended a reception with Lakeside representatives from administration, the medical staff, Twig Association and students from the History Department at SUNY Brockport, Maryann Mancuso, Vince Felder, Borislava Simidchieva, Stefan Christov and Jodi Doran, escorted by Dr. Kenneth O'Brien.

A sold-out audience of 830 guests attended the evening's Gala Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Rochester. This year's event held special meaning as Lakeside celebrated its 70th Anniversary in 2002. Bud Hendershot, honorary co-chair of Lakeside's "Building for the Next Generation" Capital Campaign, also announced successful completion of the campaign that evening. A group of 112 volunteers raised $3,154,138+ which will be used to renovate the OB Department and expand and renovate the OR Department at Lakeside. Capital Campaign volunteers were special guests of the evening and recognized for their efforts in the Program Book.

"This is a great event and I feel a sense of community moving throughout this room. I live in Washington, and I'm jealous of this spirit of cooperation toward the health system at Lakeside. I enjoyed visiting Lakeside today. I travel to so many places where health care does not exist that I am very glad to be here this evening where you all care enough to raise $3 million," Albright said.

"We need to work to improve health care in every nation and dedicate ourselves to bringing everyone the kind of community values that we celebrate here today that reflect the more fundamental values of this country," she said.