AUBURN - Empty seats were hard to find despite the bad weather at Auburn Memorial Hospital's Card and Games Party fundraiser Sunday afternoon.

Put on by AMH volunteers and hosted by the Knights of Columbus on Market Street, the event raised more than $1,500 for hospital renovations that will be matched by the Healthcare Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers Grant.

But without the people coming to play games, there would have been no money to match the grant.

“It's unbelievable that the weather has not had a bad effect,” said Judy Santillo, director of volunteer services at AMH. “We still have a full house.”

With their own games in hand, more than 50 people showed up to play, eat and vie for their chance at raffle prizes.

With hedge clippers donated by Home Depot, a platter donated by MacKenzie-Childs and a massage from Hands on Health Massage Therapy, there were a lot of exciting gifts, said Marianne White, an AMH volunteer who organized the raffle

“There are lots of things I think people would want to use,” White said. “Restaurant certificates, car washes, movie tickets, just lots of good things.”

White said they were grateful for the donations their party received considering that many of the businesses such as P&C, Wal-Mart and Tops also receive requests for donations from other benefits and fundraisers.

Mary Kelly, an AMH volunteer, said the Card and Games Party was a profitable event for the hospital, and portrayed how much Cayuga County residents valued their hospital.

“The affection people have for our hospital is clear,” said Kelly about the hospital's financial issues when it filed for bankruptcy. “The hospital was at risk for a while, but people rallied to support it and it has turned around.”

With help from the HEAL NY and the community, Santillo said the hospital will receive many needed renovations, upgrades and new equipment to complete that turnaround.

“It was unbelievable the state gave the grant to us,” Santillo said. “AMH will become a state-of-the-art health care facility for Cayuga County.”

With the issues facing the hospital as a backdrop, people such as Jay and Jan Goodrich and Mitzi and Lew Hill came out to support the hospital while having fun playing dominos.

“It's a lot of fun,” Jan Goodrich said. “We haven't got to the raffle yet, but we are anxious.”

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net