News Friends and Colleagues Celebrate Sister Gertrude Levy's 90th Birthday with $2.3 Million Endowment

AUSTIN, TX -(November 16, 2009) - Friends and colleagues donated more than $2.3 million in honor of Sister Gertrude Levy's 90th birthday. Sr. Gertrude has served the patients, families, and associates of the Seton Family of Hospitals for more than 35 years and is the longest serving Daughters of Charity in Austin.

(Pictured left to right: Jesus Garza, Executive Vice President and COO for Seton Family of Hospitals, Sr. Gertrude Levy, D.C., and Most Reverend John McCarthy, Bishop Emeritus of Austin)

In honor of her birthday a celebration was held on Sunday Nov. 15 at Seton Medical Center Austin. Guests included Bishop John McCarthy, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Texas Senator Kirk Watson. As part of the celebration, the announcement regarding donations totaling 2.3 million dollar to her endowment was announced.

Sister Gertrude is a member of the Daughters of Charity, the founding organization of the Seton Family of Hospitals. The endowment, established when she turned 80, supports patients in need at Seton's three community health centers: Seton Kozmetsky in South Austin, Seton McCarthy in East Austin and Seton Topfer in North Austin.

'This endowment's support of the Seton Community Health Centers will never cease. It will continue to serve the poor, long after I'm gone,' said Sister Gertrude.

Sister Gertrude is a native of New Orleans and joined the Daughters of Charity when she was 17. She holds bachelor's degrees in education and math and has two master's, including one in counseling. For 37 years, she taught children of all ages across the southern U.S.

She moved to Austin in the early 1970s to teach at a local maternity home for unwed mothers. She later joined Seton and has served for more than 35 years. Sister Gertrude is the longest-serving Daughter of Charity in Austin.

Sister Gertrude is currently a community ambassador at Seton Medical Center Austin and works nearly full time, visiting with patients and their families every day. She has no plans to retire. 'I'm doing what I love, and it keeps me going,' she said.