HOWARD BALDWIN NAMED 2011 CIRCLE OF MERCY GOLF OUTING HONORARY CHAIRMAN

The Mercy Community Announces New Partnership with CT Whale’s Howard Baldwin   

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –(March 30, 2011)— The Mercy Community, which offers an integrated continuum of care and services for seniors, is pleased to announce Connecticut Whale Chairman and CEO Howard Baldwin as the 2011 Circle of Mercy Golf Outing Honorary Chairman. The Circle of Mercy Golf Outing, now in its eleventh year, is The Mercy Community’s annual charity tournament benefitting the people it serves and the programs that it delivers.

A West Hartford resident and Connecticut mainstay, Howard Baldwin has always shared a passion for the community and sports. In 1979 Baldwin was the man behind bringing the WHA’s New England Whalers to a merger deal with the NHL, thus creating the Hartford Whalers. Baldwin has been the driving force behind professional hockey in Connecticut for more than 30 years. During his time at the helm of the Whalers, Baldwin spearheaded one of the most successful community relations programs in professional sports.   He established the Whalers Foundation for Giving and a Whalers Teaching Chair in Pediatric Oncology at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

The ‘Whale’ and Whalers namesake, colors, and logo had been absent from Connecticut since the team left Hartford in 1997. In 2010, Baldwin announced that he would take control of the marketing and business operations of the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack franchise, the top affiliate of the New York Rangers. In 2010, the name was changed to the Connecticut Whale, to pay homage to the great hockey history and tradition that exists here in Connecticut. Today, Mr. Baldwin’s commitment to the community still holds as true as it did more than 30 years ago.

“I’m so excited to be partnering with an organization like The Mercy Community. The work that the folks at Mercy do each and every day with the residents and clients there is simply remarkable. The compassion they show for every individual that they touch is inspiring, and something that the Connecticut Whale and I want to be a part of for a long time to come,” said Baldwin.

“The commitment of Howard Baldwin to serve as the Circle of Mercy Golf Outing Honorary Chairman exemplifies the mark of a truly great man, and a great Connecticut organization that shares our values of bettering the community,” said Mercy Community President and CEO, William J. Fiocchetta. “Howard is an outstanding person, and we couldn’t be happier that he is involved in our charity tournament.” says Fiocchetta.

The tournament, which is a scramble format, will be held Monday, June 13, 2011 at The Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford. Registration for the event is $275.00 per individual golfer and $1,100 per foursome. The day of golf will also include a buffet lunch, cocktail hour, dinner, awards, and a silent auction. The Circle of Mercy Golf Outing is a JetBlue Challenge Tournament, awarding vacation packages and other fabulous prizes.

Sponsorships, at a variety of levels, are also still available for organizations that wish to support the residents, clients and programs of The Mercy Community. Sodexho Senior Living will serve as Title Sponsor for the third consecutive year.

For more information about The Mercy Community, The McAuley, Saint Mary Home, or the 2011 Circle of Mercy Golf Outing, please call Christine M. Looby, director of community relations, at 860.570.8305 or visit www.themercycommunity.org.