Foundation News | Hackensack Meridian Health   

Foundation News | Hackensack Meridian Health

A Golden Dome of Gifts to Impact Patient Care in New Jersey Forever

The philanthropic spirit of our donors has the tremendous ability to inspire hope and effectuate positive change. It also has the incredible power to fulfill our mission to transform health care here in New Jersey. With the continued commitment and confidence of the Golden Dome Foundation, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation has been able to accomplish so much over the last three years.

The Golden Dome Foundation, a non-profit organization that was founded in 2015 by the late Robert H. Harris, M.D., and his wife, Mary Ellen Harris, to support charitable causes, has made the impossible possible for several of our hospitals. Although Dr. Harris passed away in 2017, Mary Ellen, the organization’s current president, has made it a priority to continue supporting institutions that align with the values he held dear.

Since 2018, the Golden Dome Foundation has made extraordinary gifts to benefit Hackensack Meridian Health. In 2019, a generous gift from the Golden Dome Foundation named the Dr. Robert H. Harris Emergency Care Center at Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel.

“Bayshore Medical Center is an important part of the community, and our neighbors deserve access to the best care available," says Mary Ellen. "My husband, Bob, for whom the building was named, had a love for medicine and great respect for the work of the care team at Bayshore. As a pioneer in innovative research, he was always trying to improve the quality of life for the people his work impacted, and I know he'd be proud to help improve the working environment for clinicians, while enhancing care for patients.”

“Bob was an innovative leader in medicine and always wanted to improve the quality of life for patients, especially for those patients his work had the power to impact,” says Mary Ellen. “His love for medicine and the most compassionate care was dear to his heart, and I know he would be honored to give to so many important health care initiatives and programs in our community.”

In 2021, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation received incredible charitable donations from the Golden Dome Foundation. These benevolent donations have been put towards initiatives that will help improve and enhance access to care for patients and the surrounding communities at:

  • Bayshore Medical Center’s emergency department (The Evelyn and Harold Harris Crisis Center);
  • Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Neuroscience Institute (The Dr. Robert H. Harris Neuroscience Treatment Center);
  • Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center’s Heart & Vascular Center (The Dr. Robert H. Harris Heart and Vascular Center);
  • Ocean for necessary equipment;
  • Jersey Shore for Neuroscience equipment

This past June, the Golden Dome Foundation made two additional gifts - one for ICU and surgical equipment and a Legacy Challenge match at Bayshore and the other for a synaptive MRI for use in the Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris Zap-X Center for Noninvasive Neurosurgery at Jersey Shore.

The extraordinary support from the Golden Dome Foundation has remarkably benefited our patients and team members. We thank Mary Ellen and the Golden Dome Foundation for their continued confidence in all that we are able to accomplish. Their heartwarming generosity proves that when we come together to support health care in our backyards, we are stronger together.

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Driving Health Care Forward

There is nothing more inspiring than giving back to support health care, especially as we continue through the current health crises. At Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, we have so many fantastic third party vendors and sponsors that work closely with their local communities to raise integral funds for our various programs and initiatives. Over the last few years, car dealerships throughout New Jersey have contacted our development teams to partner together, and we are so grateful.

For every new car sold at Circle Hyundai in Shrewsbury through the end of August, part of the proceeds will be donated to support the expansion of Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center - the largest and most comprehensive cancer center in New Jersey - at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The cancer program expansion allows John Theurer Cancer Center to offer the most advanced cancer care closer to home for patients in central and southern New Jersey.

To mark Suicide Awareness Month in October, Route 18 Autogroup in East Brunswick will be donating a percentage of each car sale to support behavioral health services at Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic.

We are so appreciative of Route 18 Autogroup and Circle Hyundai, as well as other car dealerships that have given back in previous years. Your support and thoughtfulness allow Hackensack Meridian Health to transform health care in New Jersey.

The support of our donors means the world to us. Thank you for all that you do in support of our patients and team members - today and every day.

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