CONTACT:
Linda K. Ross
Director, PMHS Communications
Pittsburgh Mercy Health System
412.578.6224, [email protected]
PITTSBURGH MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM’S 9TH ANNUAL REINDEER BALL
& ONLINE HOLIDAY AUCTION TO BENEFIT A CHILD’S PLACE AT MERCY
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (October 11, 2012) — Create a new holiday tradition for your family and make a
difference in the lives of children in our community. Join your friends for Pittsburgh Mercy Health
System’s 9th Annual Reindeer Ball, a spectacular holiday children's gala, Sunday, December 2, 2012,
from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue, Downtown.
Dance along with Martha, Frog and Toad, Lars the Polar Bear, Tacky the Penguin, Clifford, Curious
George, Mrs. Claus, and other favorite storybook and holiday characters to the sensational musical,
“A Winter Wonderland.” Craft awesome art projects, enjoy face painting, balloon and caricature
artists, a child-friendly buffet, decorating holiday cookies, and more.
Proceeds from the evening will benefit A Child's Place at Mercy, an invaluable Pittsburgh Mercy
Health System advocacy program that serves children who are suspected victims of child abuse and
neglect, as well as children in foster care. The program relies on the generous support of private
individuals to help achieve its mission. A Child’s Place at Mercy is part of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health
System, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.
Allegheny County Deputy District Attorney Laura A. Ditka, who supervises the DA office’s child abuse
and crimes persons units, will serve as the honorary chairperson.
Nearly 500 guests attended the Reindeer Ball last year. Since its inception, the event has raised more
than $650,000 for A Child’s Place at Mercy.
Tickets, which are $80 each for adults and $45 each for children, are on sale now. Tickets will not be
sold at the door. To purchase tickets, visit www.pmhs.org/events.
For additional information about Pittsburgh Mercy Health System’s 9th Annual Reindeer Ball, email
Connie Murray at [email protected] or call 724.934.3537.
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Pittsburgh Mercy Health System’s 9th Annual Reindeer Ball & Online Holiday Auction
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Additionally, for the fourth consecutive year, Pittsburgh Mercy Health System is hosting an online
holiday auction to benefit A Child’s Place at Mercy. Find the perfect gift for that special someone – or a
great bargain for yourself – while shopping from the convenience of home.
Place your bids on a football autographed by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders or
Captain Morgan Club tickets to a Pittsburgh Penguins game (good post lockout), a one-month
membership to X Shadyside 24-Hour Health and Fitness, a one-hour consultation at the Nutrition
Shoppe, a gift certificate to Salon Vivace Day Spa, design service for a custom-made jewelry piece from
The Collection in Shadyside, a paintball party for six at Three Rivers Paintball & Airsoft Park, a NY
SKYRIDE experience for two, tickets to live local theater and dance performances, popular family
attractions, and more.
The bidding gets under way at http://biddingforgood.com/pmhsauction on Thursday, November 1 at 9
a.m. The last bids will be accepted on Wednesday, November 14 at 9 p.m. The more you bid, the more
children who are served by A Child’s Place at Mercy will benefit.
For additional information about Pittsburgh Mercy Health System’s online holiday auction, email
Lorry Perkins at [email protected], or call 724.934.3538.
About A Child’s Place at Mercy
A Child’s Place at Mercy, part of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and sponsored by the Sisters of
Mercy, serves as the official Allegheny County Child Advocacy Center and is an accredited member of
the National Children’s Alliance. Founded by Dr. Mary Carrasco, A Child’s Place at Mercy provides
care to children who are suspected of having been abused or neglected, as well as to children in
foster care. A Child’s Place at Mercy’s multidisciplinary team has more than 95 years of combined
experience in the evaluation of suspected abuse and has conducted or supervised more than 20,000
assessments. A Child’s Place at Mercy also operates Mercy’s Kids, which provides intake and
discharge physicals. A Child’s Place at Mercy has four convenient locations: three in Allegheny County
(North Shore, Point Breeze, and Uptown) and one in Westmoreland County (North Huntingdon). To
learn more about A Child’s Place at Mercy or to make a donation in support of its important work in
the community, visit www.pmhs.org.
About Pittsburgh Mercy Health System
Pittsburgh Mercy Health System (PMHS), part of Catholic Health East and sponsored by the Sisters of
Mercy, is one of the region’s largest health and social service nonprofits and is also one of its largest
employers. PMHS includes A Child’s Place at Mercy, McAuley Ministries, Mercy Behavioral Health,
Mercy Community Health, Mercy Intellectual Disabilities Services, Mercy Parish Nurse and Health
Ministry Program, Operation Safety Net®, and Pittsburgh Mercy Family Health Center. Together,
PMHS programs and its 1,700 employees serve 26,000+ individuals annually at more than 60
locations in Southwestern Pennsylvania. To learn more about PMHS or its important work in the
community, visit www.pmhs.org.
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