Watertown
— The often quoted thought is true: “A hundred years
from now it will not matter
what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of
car I
drove. But the world may be different
because I was important in the life of a child.” This is
the maxim by which five award recipients live their
lives. The five will receive awards
during the First Annual Miracle Awards gala on Sunday, June 25th
at the historic Manor House in Pierrepont Manor, New York.
The event is being hosted by
Jim and Kathy Naklick of Creative
Imaging Fine Photography. The cost to
attend the gala is $75 per person, and will include a silent auction,
as well
as gourmet stations provided by Traditions of Syracuse/Yankel & Co.
Catering. For reservations, call
Children’s Miracle Network at 785-4053.
The
Miracle Awards, presented by Children’s Miracle Network and the
Miss New
York State Scholarship Organization, will honor individuals who have
demonstrated a long-standing commitment to children and contributed in
many
ways to bettering the lives of young people everywhere.
This
year’s Miracle Awards will be presented to Dr. Karl J. Komar, a
neonatologist
at Samaritan Medical Center and long supporter of Children’s
Miracle Network;
Dr. Ronald G. Perciaccante, a local pediatrician who pioneered the
first and
only local Cystic Fibrosis clinic; Drs. Marvin S. Reimer, and Sylvia J.
(Holloway) Reimer for their dedication to children’s healthcare
beyond our
borders; and Alan B. Tuttle, an artist who lead the first local Empty
Bowls
program with local school districts.
About
Dr. Karl J. Komar
Dr.
Komar, Chief Neonatologist at Samaritan Medical Center, has been a
long-time
supporter of Children’s Miracle Network of Northern New York at
Samaritan. He has served on the CMN Allocations
Committee since his appointment as Medical Director of
Samaritan’s Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit in 1993. His involvement in local children’s
healthcare
also included a past appointment of Medical Director for the North
Country
Children’s Clinic and member of the Fort Drum Family Support
Group. In 1997, Dr. Komar received the A.H.
Robins/Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories Miracle Maker Award for excellence in
patient
care, service to the community, and health education.
About
Dr. Ronald G. Perciaccante
When
asked what he considers his most significant accomplishment since
becoming a
pediatrician more than 25 years ago, Dr. Perciaccante will have one
response –
serving as Medical Director of the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Clinic at
Samaritan
Medical Center, a title he has held since the clinic opened in 1971.
According to Dr. Perciaccante, the average
life expectancy for a Cystic Fibrosis patient at that time was 15 years.
“Last year it was 32 ½ years, and this year
it jumped to 36 years,” states Dr. Perciaccante. In the
past, many of Dr. Perciaccante’s patients were
children. Today, because of advances in
medicine many children with CF are able to live well into their
50’s. Dr. Perciaccante has also received numerous
Physician’s Recognition Awards from the American Medical
Association, as well
as the A.H. Robins/Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories Miracle Maker Award for
excellence
in patient care, service to the community, and health education.
About
Drs. Marvin S. and Sylvia J. Reimer
Dr.
Marvin S. Reimer, a pediatrician with Child and Adolescent Health
Associates in
Watertown and Dr. Sylvia J. Reimer, an obstetrician/gynecologist
previously in
practice with Obstetric and Gynecologic Associates of Northern New York
and
currently serving as medical consultant to the Wellness Program, have
both
practiced medicine for more than 25 years each. In 1999, their
work took a monumental turn – decided to fulfill a
life-long dream of conducting medical missionary work in Africa.
They spent three years working at the
Mutambara Hospital in Zimbabwe, caring for patients suffering from
HIV/AIDS,
malnutrition, and tuberculosis. Many of
these patients were orphaned children.
The Reimers will be returning to Zimbabwe in July, because they feel
that “the experiences we have had continue to keep us involved in
promoting
medical care for poor people in developing countries.”
About
Alan B. Tuttle
Alan
B. Tuttle considers himself a “self-taught” artist with 25
years of experience
in painting and eight years in sculpting.
His artwork has been featured in international juried art competitions
and exhibitions, as well as in books and magazine articles. Mr.
Tuttle is the founder and chairman of
“Giving Back,” a not-for-profit program to raise awareness
about the plight of
the homeless and raise money for charities that aid them. The
program has been responsible for raising
over one million dollars since 1991. It
also showcases a series of his paintings of the homeless. It is
no surprise that Mr. Tuttle
spearheaded the Empty Bowls program earlier this year to help raise
awareness
of hunger and homelessness and raise funds for those local programs
that
provide relief. The Watertown City
School District and the Middle School at South Jefferson School
District
pledged their commitment toward making a difference. Under the
direction of Mr. Tuttle, and their respective art
teachers, students made 1,700 ceramic bowls of various styles and
decorations. Dinner tickets were sold
and attendees received the handcrafted bowls.
Students were inspired by Mr. Tuttle and vowed to continue in their
efforts on behalf of the homeless and hungry right here in our
communities. The first-ever Empty Bowls
program raised $26,000 for the local food pantries. Mr. Tuttle
feels honored for the recognition he has received for
his involvement with Empty Bowls. “I
think it is simply everyone’s obligation to do something to give
back.”
“We
felt these exceptional individuals should receive recognition for what
they do
for children,” said Children’s Miracle Network Director
Jocelyn Mejias. “These individuals have unselfishly given
so
much to so many without any expectation of recognition for their work.
We want them to know that their efforts are
recognized and appreciated, but also to inspire others to make a
difference for
local children and youth.”
Twenty-two
contestants in the Miss New York State Scholarship Organization also
were given
the opportunity to participate in the Miracle Awards by conducting a
fundraiser
of their own and making a presentation about their efforts during the
event. A special achievement award will
be presented to the contestant making the highest community impact
through her
fundraiser.
“We
are thrilled to be partnering with Children’s Miracle Network in
this event,”
said Miss New York State Scholarship Organization Co-executive Director
Carol
Brown. “It gives each contestant the
opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children, as well as
another
venue to highlight her own platform and accomplishments.”
The
Miracle Awards was created to honor individuals whose efforts,
dedication and
selfless commitment have inspired and touched the lives of children
they may
never know. You can join us in
celebrating this year’s honorees on Sunday, June 25th.
Tickets are $75 per person with black tie
invited. The event will include a
silent auction. Among the items will be
a print of an original painting by Alan B. Tuttle. Proceeds from
tickets sales and silent auction will benefit both
Children’s Miracle Network and the Miss New York State
Scholarship
Organization. Other sponsors of this
event include WWTI NewsWatch 50, Kinney Drugs, and DealMaker Auto Group.
For reservations and more information, call
315-785-4053.
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