Recent Events

Hitting the Greens

Attracting about 140 golfers and 50 sponsors, Princeton HealthCare System Foundation raised a record $125,000 at its 2010 annual golf outing held June 15 at the Metedeconk National Golf Club in Jackson. Pictured from left to right are: Thomas V. Reilly, Vice President and General Manager, Turner Construction Company; Mark T. Jones, President, University Medical Center at Princeton; Bruce Traub, Chief Financial Officer, Princeton HealthCare System; Glenn D. Mekles, Vice President and Business Development Executive, Conner Strong; and Al Pierce, Managing Director, Solutions Advisory Team, Institutional Group at SEI Investments Development. Funds will go toward the Design for Healing Campaign for the new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. See photos of the event.

A Night of Thanks

On the evening of June 3, over 200 PHCS donors were contacted during PHCS Foundation’s inaugural Annual Giving Thank-a-thon, an event designed to demonstrate appreciation to members of the PHCS community. In a two-hour session from the Foundation offices, Foundation board members, Annual Giving Committee volunteers and PHCS clinical staff delivered the message that each gift is essential and directly impacts PHCS’ future. “Once people got over the initial surprise of getting a personal call, they were very eager to tell us how the hospital has helped them and their families,” said Alyson Landers, Foundation Board member and Chair of the Annual Giving Committee. The Committee plans to host additional Thank-a-thons this year. If you would like to participate, email or call Paula Linhares at 609.252.8704.

Women’s Luncheon

On May 20, about 60 women gathered at the home of Denise Wood, Co-chair, Major Gifts Committee (pictured at right, right), for a garden luncheon to hear updates on hospital projects and progress from (pictured at top, left to right) Linda Sieglen, MD, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs; Alicia Brennan, MD, FHM, Medical Director of Inpatient Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric Care at Princeton HealthCare System; and Susan Lorenz, DrNP, RN, NEC-BC, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. Said Ms. Wood, “Their thorough and exciting presentations provided an informative forum to learn more about the new hospital. I know we all left that afternoon motivated to get involved in this exciting community endeavor.” The event was co-hosted by Rachel Gray, Chair, Planned Giving Committee (pictured at right, left).

A Special “Thank You” Celebration

Once a year, a particularly touching get-together takes place at Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS). At the Celebration of Gratitude dinner, donors who have given gifts in honor of a PHCS staff member or physician have a chance to say “thank you” to them again, in person.

At this year’s gathering on May 16, donors and honorees met to enjoy food and animated conversation at the Celebration. Joseph Dubee was one of the speakers at the event.

“I don’t think there is any greater tribute you can pay someone than to make a gift in their honor,” said Mr. Dubee. “My wife, Beverly, and I have made tribute gifts four years in a row, and although we are not major philanthropists, we give more than we ever have before, because we have more reasons to give than ever before. “

Judith Sforza also attended, in honor of Peter Yi, MD. She and her mother both battled breast cancer with Dr. Yi’s help. “Even though my mother also struggled with Alzheimer’s near the end of her life, her face always lit up when she realized she had an appointment with Dr. Yi, whom she never forgot despite the disease. He made her feel so very special. I am grateful to him for the wonderful care he gave her, and now me.” (Mrs. Sforza’s experiences also spurred her to become a member of the Annual Giving Committee in February.)

That kind of response to their daily work is very much appreciated by physicians and employees, said Dr. Yi. “It’s so wonderful that people are recognizing the work we do to take care of patients. And the gifts go to such an appropriate use—for the new hospital and the state-of-the-art equipment so that we can continue to give the best quality of care that we can.”

Groups as well as individuals garnered thanks this year, including employees and nurses in the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit, Outpatient Infusion Room, Cafeteria/Nutrition Department, Special Care Nursery, Patient Financial Services, Religious Ministries, Oncology Unit, Emergency Department and Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Speaking for her staff, Mary Ricci, MSN, RN, Manager, Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation said, “It is always a wonderful experience to be recognized by our patients, many of whom have been in our cardiac health maintenance program for a great many years. Our nurses form bonds with them and are aware of what goes on in their lives. We have celebrated good news with them and grieved with sad news. Being honored in this way is always encouraging.” And it’s undoubtedly well deserved, by all this year’s honorees.

Pictured above: Donors Beverly and Joseph Dubee at the Celebration of Gratitude event on May 16.