SHAREing & CAREing Plans 12th Anniversary Fundraiser

SHAREing & CAREing, an organization devoted to maintaining and restoring normal quality of life for women who have been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, will celebrate its 12th anniversary with a benefit and fundraising silent auction at Riccardo's by the Bridge, Astoria on November 15. Carrying on a longstanding tradition, Joseph Pistilli, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of First Central Savings Bank, will serve as master of ceremonies for the benefit and auction. Festivities start at 7 p.m.

SHAREing & CAREing since 1996 has honored members of the community and medical personnel who have aided in the fight against breast cancer. This year's honorees include guests of honor John Maltz, president of Greiner-Maltz, and Anthony Argento, president, Broadway Stages. Deirdre Henehan, M.D. and William Schwartz, M.D. will receive the SHAREing & CAREing Physicians Recognition Award.

Henehan is an assistant attending physician in hematology and oncology at Elmhurst Hospital Center and an assistant clinical professor at the Mount Sinai College of Medicine. Schwartz is chief of cardiology at the Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens and also an assistant clinical professor at the Mount Sinai College of Medicine. Andrew Latos of Latos Latos & DiPippo, P.C. will receive the Community Recognition Award.

The evening's festivities will include an open bar and a hot and cold buffet. For more information, call 718- 777-5766. SHAREing & CAREing was

founded May 7, 1994 by Anna Kril, Carol Scarano, Lucille Hartmann and Mary Demakos to serve and support women diagnosed with and treated for breast and other cancers exclusive to women. Among the services SHAREing & CAREing has provided are transportation for women undergoing treatment, pharmaceutical assistance and hair prosthetics, breast cancer educational outreach to schools, churches and civic organizations and support group meetings. More than 7,000 women and their families have been assisted by SHAREing & CAREing. "Many of them have said without SHAREing & CAREing they

really wouldn't know where to go or what to do," Kril said. "We deliver services from the initial shock of diagnosis through the trauma of surgery and/or treatment, with paperwork and encounters with insurance carriers. We challenge the discriminatory practices of some employers and deal with the personal humiliation and blow to selfesteem that result from breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. We accompany breast cancer patients along every step of the way that leads to new lives as breast cancer survivors. We're unique, and nationally, I think, SHAREing & CAREing is one of the best of its kind."