Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation Announces a New Philanthropic Partnership with HBO
March 07, 2018
Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation is excited to begin the New Year by announcing a philanthropic partnership with Home Box Office (HBO) to provide HBO Now programming gift cards for adults who are treated at the John Theurer Cancer Center.
"We are very grateful to HBO for demonstrating this true generosity of spirit and resources," said Ihor S. Sawczuk, M.D., president of Hackensack University Medical Center. "This will be a welcome distraction to patients while they are here receiving treatment and it also provides them the flexibility to continue watching at home."
HBO is donating gift cards to enable patients to try HBO Now programming during their treatment period at the Cancer Center.
"The HBO Now programming gift cards offer patients much needed respite during a difficult time," said David Jurist, an advocate for cancer patients, who has spent more than 35 years of service on various Hackensack University Medical Center boards and committees. The David and Alice Jurist Institute for Research is home to research, development and innovation on the medical center's campus.
This gift is made through the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation and The Eileen Fund, which honors the memory of David and Alice Jurist's daughter, Eileen. Patient, Raina Glesias, received the first card.
"What a great and thoughtful surprise it was to receive the HBO Now Programming gift card," said Raina. "It will definitely come in handy and help time pass during my chemo treatments to watch my favorite shows. Receiving the card really made my day."
The gift cards, which are being distributed at the John Theurer Cancer Center, can be used to access HBO Now programming in patients' homes or in the medical center on personal devices.
"Entertainment brings people together in so many ways. HBO is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation," said Pam Hacker, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at HBO. "Through this partnership, HBO is able to extend its entire HBO NOW platform to the patients at Hackensack in hopes of creating a more comfortable environment."
As part of a broader relationship between Hackensack University Medical Center and HBO, HBO employees paid a pre-holiday visit to the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital to play games with pediatric patients and provide a special guest appearance by Sesame Street's Elmo. This was the third HBO-sponsored visit to the Children's Hospital. The joy and happiness in the faces of the children were priceless.
Photo: David Jurist, of The Eileen Fund, presents Raina Glesias with the HBO Now programming gift card. Raina is the first patient at the John Theurer Cancer Center to receive the gift card, which can be used to access HBO Now programming in her home or in the medical center on her personal device.
About Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center, a 781-bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. Founded in 1888 as the county's first hospital, it is now part of one of the largest networks in the state comprised of 33,000 team members and more than 6,500 physicians. Hackensack University Medical Center was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Report's 2017-18 Best Hospital rankings - maintaining its place atop the NJ rankings since the rating system was introduced. It was also named one of the top four New York Metro Area hospitals. Hackensack University Medical Center is one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more years in a row. Becker's Hospital Review recognized Hackensack University Medical Center as one of the 100 Great Hospitals in America 2017. The medical center is one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country according to Practice Greenhealth, and received 23 Gold Seals of Approval™ by The Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence; receiving its fifth consecutive designation in 2014. Hackensack University Medical Center has created an entire campus of award-winning care, including: the John Theurer Cancer Center; the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women's and Children's Pavilion, which houses the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital and Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital, which was designed with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center and listed on the Green Guide's list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. Hackensack University Medical Center is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls and is Official Medical Services Provider to The Northern Trust PGA Golf Tournament. It remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events especially the Tackle Kids Cancer Campaign providing much needed research at the Children's Cancer Institute housed at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital. To learn more, visit www.HackensackUMC.org.
About HBO
Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world's most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services – HBO® and Cinemax® – to approximately 134 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the popular subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand® and Cinemax On Demand®, as well as HBO GO® and MAX GO®, HD feeds and multiplex channels. HBO NOW®, the network's internet-only premium streaming service, provides audiences with instant access to HBO's acclaimed programming in the U.S. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 60 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.
About HBO Corporate Social Responsibility
Drive philanthropic, pro-social, employee and community engagement initiatives with a focus on education to identify and nurture the next generation of creative storytellers.