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Hospital President To Join Mayor Delfino For Opening Day Parade At Gedney Field

Two prominent corporate citizens NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and IBM are teaming up to support the White Plains Little League baseball program that includes more than 1,000 local boys and girls as participants each year. The money will be used to help fund the construction of new restrooms and concession facilities at Gedney Park.

Dr. Herbert Pardes, President of NewYork-Presbyterian, will be on hand for the opening day parade and the opening games scheduled to begin this Saturday at 11 a.m. at Gedney Park in White Plains. He will join Mayor Joseph Delfino and other city officials and Little League organizers for the festivities kicking off the 2003 Little League season.

NewYork-Presbyterian, a fixture in White Plains since 1894, employs some 900 people at its Westchester Division campus on Bloomingdale Road. Dr. Pardes said that the hospital was pleased to become a sponsor of Little League Baseball in the city. This is an important outlet for so many children in the community. Both boys and girls get to play in a very well organized program. We work with hundreds of children who are in mental health programs conducted by our Westchester Division. We welcome the opportunity to reach out to children throughout the community by supporting such a positive and enjoyable program. Opening day at baseball parks large and small are happy celebrations across America.

The hospital's joint support with IBM, long Westchester County's best known corporate resident, is a reflection of the emerging collaboration between the two in White Plains. NewYork-Presbyterian has city approval to create a Center of Excellence for biotech research and advanced medical treatment on its campus. Gov. George Pataki announced the Center of Excellence designation in his state-of-the-state message this year. An announcement on the specifics of funding for the center is pending. IBM is in discussions with the hospital regarding potential collaborative participation in the center.

Joe DeMarte of IBM said the company is an active supporter of programs for young people nationwide and is pleased to be partnering with New York Presbyterian in White Plains.

Billy Ward, President of the White Plains Little League, said the organization is excited to be receiving this much-needed financial support. The Little League truly draws children from across our community. This year we are receiving support from nearly 100 businesses and organizations in our community, a demonstration of the community spirit that exists in White Plains. To be able to add NewYork-Presbyterian to this list is another major step forward for the Little League, its players and their players.