Successful Nightingale Benefit Concert Raises Money and Honors Nurse of the Year

May 7, 2024

As we celebrate National Nurses Week, Cortland Memorial Foundation is proud to announce another successful Nightingale Benefit Concert. Held last week at The Center for the Arts of Homer, the concert raised nearly $22,000 dollars for the Foundation, in support of Guthrie Cortland Medical Center.

Carey Wilk, Oncology Nurse Navigator for the Renzi Cancer Center at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center was honored as the 2024 Nightingale Award winner, named after Florence Nightingale, the mother of modern nursing. Carey was nominated by co-workers and community members, including a patient. She was recognized for her unwavering dedication to nursing excellence and compassionate service to our community. 

“There is no title more fitting for Carey than Oncology Nurse Navigator,” said Kansas Underwood, Chief Nursing Officer and VP of Operations at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center. “Carey is the source of comfort for our cancer patients and their loved ones as she guides them through their cancer journey. She is their constant and their rock.”

Fellow Guthrie Cortland nurses Susan Bravos, Katrina Brockway, Nicole Cornelius, Heather Griswold, Olga Levitskiy and Doreen Turner were also nominated for the award.               

“It is such an honor to be part of a night highlighting the men and women in our community who work tirelessly to keep our loved ones, friends and neighbors healthy,” said Sheila Ossit, Cortland Memorial Foundation Director. “And we couldn’t have done it without the generosity of a community that cares deeply about the work being done by our nurses.”               

Thank you to all our sponsors including: 

  • Guest Artist Sponsor of The Fall Creek Brass Band: Contento’s 
  • Nightingale Sponsor: Visions Federal Credit Union, who gave 25 pairs of tickets to Guthrie Cortland nurses 
  • Nursing Superhero Sponsors: Cortland Biomedical, Dental Arts Family Dentistry, First National Bank of Dryden, McNeil & Co., and WXHC 
  • Wine Pull Sponsors: Beak & Skiff 1911, Damiani Wine Cellars, Lamoreaux Landing, Long Point Winery, Sheldrake Point Winery, Wagner Vineyards