Caritas Gala Raises $358,316 to Support Opioid-treatment Services

SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center’s first annual Caritas Gala raised $358,316 to expand and enhance Mercy Behavioral Health Care’s opioid-treatment and addiction-recovery programs, including a new inpatient step-down treatment program for post-detox services, giving individuals a better chance at long-term recovery.

Themed “All You Need Is Love,” the inaugural gala was held at the MassMutual Center in March. John Sjoberg and Brenda Garton-Sjoberg served as honorary chairpersons of the event. Sjoberg serves as chairman of the board for Mercy and as vice chairman of the board for Trinity Health – New England. Garton-Sjoberg has served as honorary chairperson of Mercy Gift of Light.

“We are extremely grateful to the Sjoberg family for their unwavering support and commitment to Mercy and the Caritas Gala. Thank you to the Gala committee members, sponsors, donors, attendees, and volunteers who contributed to the event’s success,” said Allison Gearing-Kalill, vice president of Fund Development, Mercy Medical Center. “We are overwhelmed by the tremendous support of our community; these generous contributions enable us to continue to expand, enhance, and educate about our services in order to help more individuals fight the disease of opioid addiction.”

Plans are already underway for the second annual Caritas Gala, which will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the MassMutual Center. Honorary chairpersons are Dr. Mohamed and Kimberly Hamdani and Paul and Anna Mancinone.

Photos and videos from the 2017 Caritas Gala can be found at www.mercycares.com/caritasgala and on the Mercy Fund Development Facebook page. For more information about Mercy Behavioral Health Care services, visit www.mercycares.com/behavioral-health.