The original Mask Project took place in Tel Aviv, where a million dollars was raised for a school for handicapped children. Prince Charles held the second event in London, where he raised $250,000 for charity. Now the Mask Project comes to New York, where it will support the Charity Care Programs of the Home Care and Hospice services of the Catholic Health Services of Long Island, including Westbury-based Nursing Sisters Home Care. Good Samaritan Home Care, Good Samaritan Hospice, Mercy Hospice, and St. Charles Hospice will also benefit.

The Mask Project is a unique fund raiser that will require the effort of many to be successful. Haim Misholy, a Long Island sculptor and plastic surgeon recently agreed to create a mold for the project's signature clay mask. Randy Blume, president of Hands On Clay, Inc. in East Setauket will produce and fire 500 clay masks from this original mold. The masks will be distributed to a group of celebrities, artists, sports figures, local business leaders, authors, musicians and politicians.

Those selected will then paint, sign and return the masks, which will be placed on exhibit at various locations and auctioned at a Gala fund-raising event, to be held in October of 2000.

In the past, celebrities such as Kirk Douglas, Katie Couric, Bob Hope and Robin Williams have participated in the project.

"We are so fortunate to have received the approval to bring this exciting project to New York for CHS Home Care and Hospice Services," said Special Projects and Events Manager Elizabeth Wilson.

Home Care and Hospice programs are becoming an increasingly important part of the total health care delivery system of today, explained Patricia A. Mirza of Nursing Sisters. Hospital stays are becoming shorter, and patients are often sent home for the final stages of recovery. That is where home care and hospice services come in.

"Because CHS is a nonprofit health care system," said Mirza, "this commitment to charity care is what makes nonprofit health care so special. Those who are less fortunate are entitled to receive the quality health care services they require. Never has a patient been turned away from Nursing Sisters due to their lack of funds."

For more information about the Mask Project, call 705-4108 or e-mail ewilson@nsvs.org.