By Chéye Roberson
Sentinel Correspondent
Greenwich Hospital hosted its annual Taste the Towns event at the Stanwich Club last Saturday night to honor three local EMS companies and raise funds to support the hospital by giving dinner guests a taste of the top cuisine from Fairfield and Westchester counties.
The Taste the Towns committee gave special awards to the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, Port Chester-Rye-Rye Brook Emergency Medical Service, and Harrison Emergency Medical Service.
The event drew more than 250 guests, and 38 restaurants and beverage distributors were represented. The fundraising goal was set at $25,000. Donations were also raised through a silent auction held throughout the night, in which patrons could use their phones to bid on prizes such as a collection of fine wines, sports club memberships, and beauty spa visits.
“It’s a really cool way to hold the auction, and on your phone you can keep track of it all night,” said Geri Corrigan, the Taste committee chair the Towns.
There were six different display areas spread throughout the party that featured the items up for auction. In the past, the event included a live auction; it was called “Great Chefs” and was conducted a bit more formally than it was this year, under its new name.
“The other event had hors d’oeuvres like now followed by sitting to eat at tables, but we thought it would be fun to have more moving around,” said Norman Roth, president of Greenwich Hospital. “Out on the patio we have a DJ. There’s a feel good casual atmosphere and we’re thrilled to bring it back to Greenwich.”
The patrons of the event stepped up to support the hospital and its community health efforts because many of them felt it the hospital needs it more now than ever.
“With cuts and taxation that have been imposed on hospitals state wide, it’s important to provide service to people,” said Rosa Fini, a pediatrician in town and patron of the event.
Fini was grateful to live in an area where community support can make a significant difference for the betterment of the program.
“Where happy to live in atmosphere where private people can serve the community and wish that this could be replicated in the rest of the state because I know hospitals are hurting,” she said.
The guests enjoyed the new take on the fundraiser, which allowed them to be up close and personal with the chefs, who were standing behind the food sampling stations in each room.
“The guests are enjoying the new set up and that they get to talk with the chefs,” said Corrigan. “There’s lots of rooms—you get to mingle—there’s lots of things to do and we’re thankful to all of our sponsors for all of this.”
“It’s been a wonderful evening. It feels like a cocktail party in your home with friends and colleagues,” said Norman Roth.
All the chefs who took part contributed a recipe to a booklet that was handed out to guests in bags with other related materials as they parted.
Although the night was filled with perks and fine dining, the focus of the event remained the efforts of the local EMS companies, who were distinguished from the rest of the crowd by wearing corsages.
“This is a wonderful for the hospital to recognize one of the underappreciated jewels of Greenwich,” said John Raben, chairman of the board of GEMS. “The staff deserves it and I’m glad they’re being recognized. Our ambulances are emergency rooms on wheels. The heart attack rate in our area is higher than in many others. Countless people are kept alive because of the GEMS.”
GEMS has served Greenwich for 30 years. It has members who have been on both sides of the emergency experience.
“I have been transported by ambulance when I was having a heart attack,” said Linda Grunow, a GEMS board member. “Anyone who has been transported by the GEMS understands their expertise and compassion.”
