PBMC Candlelight Ball: music, comedy & auction at the Suffolk Theater

Riverhead-based PBMC Health is gearing up for its annual Candlelight Ball with hopes of raising $375,000 for the ambulatory care services at the hospital.

Hosted for the first time ever at the recently restored Suffolk Theater, this year’s Candlelight Ball will be a supper-style, community event, recognizing Peggy and Stanley Zinberg of Remsenburg as community honorees and Dr. Agostino Cervone, a general surgeon at Peconic Bay as the 2013 Physician of the Year.

“This event is a fun way to bring our community together and recognize those who have gone above and beyond to help PBMC in our mission to provide the best possible health care to the East End Communities,” said Andrew Mitchell, president and CEO of the hospital.

According to Demetrios Kadenas, PBMC Health development director, the Zinbergs have been more than generous to the hospital in donating money for the renovation of the hospital’s admissions office and toward the new step-down unit, which is also known as the progressive care unit.

But aside from financial support, the couple, said Kadenas, has also been instrumental in guiding the hospital — Stanley Zniberg, a retired OBGYN, sits on the PBMC foundation and hospital boards and Peggy Zinberg, a retired nurse and nurse administrator, offers support to several hospital committees.

“They have offered significant leadership,” said Kadenas, adding that the venue for the ball was specifically chosen for the Zinbergs, who have a love of the theater.

The hospital is also thrilled to name Cervone, of Southampton, Physician of the Year, Kadenas said. Dr. Cervone, who has been with the hospital since 1999 and specializes in robotic and minimally invasive procedures, not only provides excellent care to his patients, but has also shown tremendous leadership and financial support to the hospital, Kadenas said.

Aside from recognizing this year’s honorees, the Candlelight Ball will also feature entertainment, raffles and auctions.

Headlining the event will be celebrity comedian Bobby Collins, who has opened for Frank Sinatra, Cher and Tony Bennett. John Luke, of Storage Wars NY will then take the stage to auction off a New York City getaway and a grand vintage dinner at Paumanok Vineyards for 12, prepared by well-known Long Island chef Tom Schaudel.

The event will also feature a car raffle, where the winner can choose from $20,000 or a brand-new car from one of five local dealerships and a Diamond Python Raffle, where the winner will receive a pair of diamond stud earrings and Michael Kors bag.

Tickets for the ball are now on sale for $300 each. They can be purchased by calling (631) 548-6080.