New York City - For over a century, the Lenox Hill Hospital Autumn Ball has been one of the most glamorous evenings in New York's fall social season. It is also the largest fundraising event for the Hospital. In the past, LHH has honored people from Jacqueline Kennedy to ABC's Robin Roberts to Dr. Armando Grassi, Chairman Emeritus of their Neonatology and Pediatrics Department. This year, LHH celebrated the newly formed partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health Care System.

Marlene Hess, Erika and Peter Aron and Catherine Foster.

For 153 years, LHH has been a highly regarded destination for clinical services, attracting patients from the New York metropolitan area. Today, it's no secret. Healthcare in the United States is in a sort of chaos. It's unclear whether President Obama's Health Care Reform is a solution or another problem. One thing is obvious - in order for independent hospitals throughout the country to provide high quality care, to be best positioned for future reform and to be cost effective in a challenging medical services environment, they must be part of a larger entity.

To meet the challenge, in May 2010, LHH became the Manhattan flagship for NS-LIJ Health System, which is the largest, integrated healthcare provider in New York State and the second largest in the U.S. To date, NS-LIJ has invested over $34,000,000 into the Hospital's physical plant and new medical equipment, added 110 physicians to the staff and has hired more than 200 caregivers and personnel. The partnership has also opened an Urgent Care Center eight blocks north of the former St. Vincent Hospital. On top of this success, NS-LIJ was recently recognized with the National Quality Forum's prestigious 2010 Quality Healthcare Award.

Last week, when LHH held its annual Autumn Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria, the black tie gala drew a crowd of more than 900 to celebrate the new partnership. Fall foliage - harvest colors of orange, mustard, pink - and oversized orchids enhanced the Autumn-inspired Grand Ballroom. The Stringers provided music that kept the dance floor crowded all night long.

Friends and Family hosted by Lloyd and Vicky Goldman.

As for speeches, they were brief. William O. Hiltz, Chairman of the Lenox Hill Hospital Executive Committee, announced, "Tonight, we have raised more than $3 million thanks to your generosity in making this evening a resounding success." Last year, the Autumn Ball raised $2.2 million. Hiltz made a point to express gratitude to the Hospital's retiring President and CEO Gladys George for "her passion and dedication." The packed ballroom gave her an enthusiastic, standing ovation.

Richard Goldstein, Chairman of the NS-LIJ Health System Board of Trustees, credited LHH's 153-year history to its dedicated doctors and caregivers as well as its focus on providing high-quality care to the surrounding community.

Michael Dowling, President and CEO of the NS-LIJ Health System, highlighted how the partnership will benefit both the NS–LIJ Health System and Lenox Hill Hospital with shared goals of enhancing the quality of care. Dowling thanked the LHH staff for its support and collaboration. He then announced that the North Shore-LIJ Health System, in conjunction with Hofstra University, will open the first medical school in New York state in 35 years.

Guests included the Event Co-chairs Ellen and Daniel M. Crown, Candice and Richard Goldstein, Judith and William O. Hiltz, Phyllis and William Mack, and Roy J. Zuckerberg.

Additional notable guests included: Erika and Peter A. Aron, Phyllis and George Asch, Jean and Ralph M. Baruch, Susan and Mark Claster, Clo and Charles Cohen, Governor Jon Corzine and Sharon Elghanayan, Deborah and Philippe P. Dauman, Kathy and Michael Dowling, Nancy and Robert N. Downey, Bambi and Roger Felberbaum, Gladys George and Dr. Stuart Orsher, Victoria and Lloyd M. Goldman, Diane and Paul B. Guenther, Patricia and Edward Gutman, Marlene Hess and James Zirin, Jane and Michael Hoffman, Jeannie and George Irish, Iris and Saul B. Katz, Nancy and Jeffrey B. Lane, Kay and John T. McEnroe, Charles and Leigh Merinoff, Susan Merinoff, Ornella and Bob Morrow, Deborah Norville and Karl Wellner, Charlotte and Peter Schoenfeld, Mary and Ian Snow, Dr. Howard D. and Gayle Sobel, KT Sullivan and Stephen Downey, and Barbara and Donald Zucker.

Lenox Hill Hospital is a 652-bed, fully accredited, acute care hospital on Manhattan's Upper East Side. It has been recognized for excellence in heart and heart surgery; digestive disorders; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedic surgery and sports medicine; and in maternal/child health. LHH physicians are pioneers in the field of minimally invasive cardiac surgery, "off-pump" bypass surgery and many other cutting edge techniques for the treatment of heart disease, including robotic cardiac surgery, and the interventional treatment of carotid stenosis and aortic disease.

For more information, go to www.lenoxhillhospital.org.