ND community helps NYC hospital
By ERIN LaRUFFA
Associate News Editor
When the World Trade Center collapsed on Sept. 11, Cabrini Medical Center lost two of its ambulances — a loss that has impacted its ability to respond to emergencies.
However, the Catholic hospital, located in a poor neighborhood with a largely uninsured population, has not yet been able to replace either ambulance. Indiana native Anna Reilly wanted to do something to help, and so she contacted Marque, Inc., an ambulance manufacturer located in Goshen.
"This idea emerged as I personally struggled with the question of `what can I do to make a difference and know that my efforts will meet a real and pressing need?'" said Reilly.
Marque agreed to donate an ambulance at cost, roughly $70,000. So far, about $45,000 of that money has been raised, according to Reilly. Donations have come from Memorial Hospital, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and Notre Dame's offices of Campus Ministry and Student Affairs. However, that still leaves a substantial amount of money to be raised.
"The rest we're trying to get from individual donations, so it's broad based," said Reilly.
Notre Dame's student government has agreed to coordinate efforts on campus to raise additional funds from students.
"We're asking that the entire Notre Dame community take part," said student body vice president Brian Moscona.
"We need students to give just a dollar," added Reilly.
The ambulance was on display outside of the Joyce Center during the women's basketball game on Sunday. Moscona and student body president Brooke Norton joined Reilly's husband and children, as well as other community members, to collect donations from fans headed into the game.
"It seems like people, once they hear about the cause, are excited to participate," Moscona said. He added that most of the donations collected on Sunday were not from students. To collect donations from students, Moscona said the ambulance will be on campus through Wednesday.
Today, the ambulance will be outside of DeBartolo Hall from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., and North Dining Hall from 11:55 a.m. to 2 p.m.. On Tuesday, the ambulance will be on display outside DeBartolo from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., and South Dining Hall from 5 to 7 p.m. On Wednesday, the ambulance will be outside of LaFortune Student Center from 10:50 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., and again from 5:15 to 7:45 p.m.
Reilly said she and her fellow volunteers hope to raise all the money in time to present the ambulance as a Christmas gift to the hospital.
All News Stories for Monday, December 10, 2001
