Meridian Health Foundation’s 21ST Anniversary Gala Raises Over $2.2 Million

Giving Heals Gala Honors Maureen and John K. Lloyd, FACHE, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health

Hackensack Meridian Health Meridian Health Foundation is pleased to announce its 21st Anniversary Gala, the Giving Heals Gala, raised over $2.2 million for the organization. Taking place at Harrah’s Conference Center in Atlantic City on Saturday, November 17, 2018, the event honored Maureen and John K. Lloyd, the co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, who were recognized for their dedication to improving health care for New Jersey residents. The signature fundraising event benefitted Hackensack Meridian Health’s southern region not-for-profit medical centers and community health programs.

In addition to honoring the Lloyds, the Giving Heals Gala served as the forum to launch the Meridian Health Foundation’s comprehensive capital campaign, funds from which will go toward strengthening oncology services, improving clinical outcomes, enhancing the patient experience and broadening clinical research and academic programs at the following Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Ocean Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center – Perth Amboy, Southern Ocean Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center – Old Bridge.

“What a tremendous honor to be able to celebrate my friend and co-CEO, John, and his wonderful wife, Maureen,” says Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “He has helped to shape health care in this state through his vision, leadership and philanthropy and we owe him a debt of gratitude. He will be greatly missed by the many individuals who have had the pleasure of working with him over the past 35 plus years.  We all wish him the best in his retirement.”

The Lloyds made the first donation to the Giving Heals campaign, which has already raised over $80 million toward the Meridian Health Foundation’s $150 million goal. The gala, attended by more than 850 people, will contribute to this historic campaign.

“It has been my privilege to serve as the leader of this phenomenal organization for the past 36 years,” says Mr. Lloyd. “Maureen and I were humbled to be honored at this impressive gala and are grateful to everyone for their support and friendship throughout the years. We believe wholeheartedly in improving health care for the residents of New Jersey and this country and are thrilled to have been able to have an impact on shaping it for our corner of the world. We know that Bob Garrett and the superb leaders of Hackensack Meridian Health will continue to work to enhance health care and emphasize the importance of philanthropy as a way to help heal.”

Guests of the gala enjoyed live music, dancing, a variety of delicious foods and a moving program that looked back at John and Maureen’s many accomplishments throughout the years.

“Events like the gala play a vital role in helping our medical centers and furthering health care initiatives for our community,” says Joseph Stampe, president and chief development officer of Meridian Health Foundation. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude for everyone who supported our annual gala, to everyone who joined us in celebrating John and Maureen and for the continued support of our friends, family and neighbors for their support as we embark on this groundbreaking Giving Heals capital campaign.”

The gala was generously supported by Platinum and Silver Sponsor: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey; Platinum Sponsors: Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. and TeamHealth; Gold Sponsors: Envision Physician Services, OceanFirst and Vee Technologies; and Silver Sponsors: Aetna Better Health of New Jersey, Coastal Imaging, Compass One Healthcare - Crothall Healthcare and Morrison Healthcare, Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP, John D. Gumina, M.D., Hackensack Meridian Health Meridian Medical Group-Primary Care, Monmouth Family Medicine Group, Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center – Medical & Dental Staff, Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center Medical Staff, Med-Metrix, TD Bank, University Radiology and Willis Towers Watson.

 

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH MERIDIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION

Meridian Health Foundation drives transformational philanthropic support for Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals and partner companies in Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties including: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Ocean Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Southern Ocean Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center – Perth Amboy and Old Bridge. Currently in the Foundation’s first comprehensive campaign, Giving Heals, more than $80 million has been raised to support oncology services, enhance the patient experience, broaden clinical research and academic programs, and improve clinical outcomes. Meridian Health Foundation has consistently been named a “High Performer” by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy for its exemplary performance in fundraising. For more information visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/GivingHeals.

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 16 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 - Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, and Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.

Additionally, the network has nearly 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 33,000 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 one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more consecutive years, 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, recipient of the John M. Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety and Quality from The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum, a six-time recipient of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” one of the “20 Best Workplaces in Health Care” in the nation, and the number one “Best Place to Work for Women.” The network was also named to Becker’s Healthcare’s “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2018” list.

Hackensack Meridian Health partnered with Seton Hall University to launch the first private medical school in New Jersey – Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University - in more than 50 years to address a growing shortage of physicians and dramatic changes in health care delivery. 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 and Carrier Clinic, New Jersey’s oldest and most respected behavioral health provider, signed a definitive agreement to merge.

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.