Neptune, NJ ― October 14, 2019 ― Hackensack Meridian Health Meridian Health Foundation is pleased to announce that its 22nd Annual Gala, honoring Gordon Litwin, Esq., chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Board of Trustees, will take place on Saturday, November 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. This signature fundraising event benefits Hackensack Meridian Health not-for-profit medical centers and community health programs in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to work alongside Gordon,” says Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “His leadership as the chair of our board of trustees has been invaluable and we are grateful for his many contributions throughout his decades of service to our organization. He has personally made a significant impact on health care in the state in New Jersey and enabled us to achieve significant milestones as a network.”
Litwin’s involvement with the organization began prior to both the formation of Hackensack Meridian Health and Meridian Health, when he served as chairman of then stand-alone hospital, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank. When Riverview Medical Center, now known as Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center, joined newly formed Meridian Health, Litwin served as the first chairman. He subsequently served three additional terms as chairman, including and leading into the Hackensack Meridian Health merger in 2016. While chairman at Meridian Health, Litwin also served for six years as a trustee of the New Jersey Hospital Association, and in 2005, was honored by them with the Healthcare System Trustee of the Year Award. Litwin now serves as chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Board of Trustees where he is a key member of all the organization’s boards and committees. In addition to his involvement with Hackensack Meridian Health, Litwin has been active in many other civic organizations in the community.
“We are thrilled to honor Gordon for his outstanding accomplishments and dedication throughout the years,” shares Joseph E. Stampe, president and chief development officer, Meridian Health Foundation. “His commitment, vision and leadership as a long-time trustee and volunteer has helped shape Hackensack Meridian Health’s success and growth and we are honored to recognize such an integral member of the Hackensack Meridian Health family.”
Named the Giving Heals Gala, the 22nd annual fete will feature reception-style seating, a delicious menu with an array of hors d’oeuvres and stations, live music, entertainment and black tie attire. Funds raised by the event all contribute toward a $150 million fundraising goal as part of Meridian Health Foundation’s Giving Heals campaign, which supports four important initiatives: strengthening oncology services, improving clinical outcomes, enhancing the patient experience and broadening clinical research and academic programs at the following Hackensack Meridian Health medical centers in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties: Bayshore Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Ocean Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center.
“I am humbled by this honor and grateful to my fellow trustees for their friendship and support,” says Litwin. “It is a privilege to serve this extraordinary health network and I look forward to being a part of its continued growth. Events like the gala allow us to gather and celebrate our incredible accomplishments.”
The Giving Heals Gala is generously supported by Platinum Sponsors: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and TeamHealth; Gold Sponsors: Envision Physician Services and Vee Technologies; and Silver Sponsors: Coastal Imaging, Compass One Healthcare (Crothall Healthcare and Morrison Healthcare), OceanFirst, TD Bank and University Radiology.
To make reservations, learn more about sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase 50/50 raffle tickets, please visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/MHFGala or contact Michelle Casserly, executive director of strategic events, at michelle.casserly@hackensackmeridian.org or 732-751-5112. To learn more about the Giving Heals campaign, please visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/givingheals.
ABOUT THE MERIDIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION GIVING HEALS CAMPAIGN
Giving Heals is a $150 million regional comprehensive campaign to raise funds for strengthening oncology services, improving clinical outcomes, enhancing the patient experience and broadening clinical research and academic programs. Publicly announced at the Meridian Health Foundation Gala on November 17, 2018, the campaign will run through 2020. Over $90 million dollars has been raised to date to support following Hackensack Meridian Health medical centers: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Bayshore Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.
Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children’s hospitals – Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals – Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital – Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals – JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.
Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 34,100 team members, and 6,500 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.
The network’s notable distinctions include having four hospitals among the top 10 in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Becker’s Health care’s “150 Top Places to Work in Health care/2018” list.
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it.
Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.
For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.
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