In the photo from left to right, volunteer Steve Landy, volunteer Dennis McCauley, John Francis, administrative director of ambulatory services at St. Vincent�s, Bernadette Kingham-Bez, St. Vincent�s executive director, and Lillian Neuman, Excel program coordinator, preparing to leave for the Knicks game.
Volunteer Gives Adolescent Patients A Memorable Evening
One volunteer's desire to give back to his community led to a memorable evening of fun at a recent Knicks game for a group of 10 adolescents and chaperones from the St. Vincent's Excel adolescent outpatient chemical dependency program.
Dennis McCauley of Rye, who volunteers at the Excel program, contacted his former employer, ABC TV, and arranged for the donation of its corporate box at Madison Square Garden for the game. The group also was invited to go down on the floor for the team's warm-ups.
"It was such a thrill for all of us, especially the kids," said Lillian Neuman, coordinator of the Excel program. "We are so grateful to Dennis for making this happen."
Ms. Neuman said the adolescents who went on the trip were chosen because they had remained clean and sober, and had followed the program's rules, done their schoolwork and observed limits at home. The Excel program offers a full day program for adolescents who are unable to remain in their home classrooms, and an evening program for those who can remain in their home schools.
