Bayshore Medical Center Foundation Raises More Than $138,000 at Annual Benefit for Bayshore Oktoberfest Celebration
October 22, 2019
Funds Raised Support the Dr. Robert H. Harris Emergency Care Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center Foundation hosted the fourth annual Benefit for Bayshore Oktoberfest Community Celebration on Friday, October 11, raising more than $138,000 in support of the future Dr. Robert H. Harris Emergency Care Center at the Holmdel-based medical center. More than 265 guests attended the soiree, which took place at Stillwell Stables in Colts Neck.
“This year’s Oktoberfest celebration was a fun event that raised a great amount of money for the Dr. Robert H. Harris Emergency Care Center at Bayshore Medical Center,” says Frank Citara, MBA, chief hospital executive at Bayshore Medical center. “In addition to benefitting the community, this expansion means so much to everyone who gives their hearts and souls caring for patients every day at the hospital. We are grateful to everyone who attended the event for lending their support.”
The Benefit for Bayshore featured an Oktoberfest inspired menu, décor and entertainment and was co-chaired by Carol Stillwell, owner, president and CEO of Stillwell-Hansen, Inc., and Mary Ann Larkin. Dima and Asaad Samra, M.D., a board certified plastic surgeon affiliated with Bayshore Medical Center, served as honorary chairs. The event was supported by capstone sponsor, Stillwell-Hansen, Inc.
“It was my pleasure to co-host and co-chair this fantastic event with my sister, Mary Ann,” says Carol Stillwell, who is also a Bayshore Medical Center Foundation trustee. “The new Emergency Care Center at Bayshore Medical Center is going to change the way this community receives emergency care and I am thankful to everyone who has supported, and who continues to support, this exciting initiative – particularly those who attended the Oktoberfest event. Thank you also to Dima and Dr. Asaad Samra for serving as honorary chairs and for your long-standing commitment that has greatly helped to bring this project to fruition.”
Construction for the new 32,000 square foot Dr. Robert H. Harris Emergency Care Center at Bayshore Medical Center is underway with the official groundbreaking taking place on October 17. Located on the Garden State Parkway side of the campus, it will contain 35 patient bays, swing space with capacity for pediatric care and new imaging equipment dedicated to Emergency Care Center patients.
“As a community member, foundation board chair and first responder, the new Emergency Care Center is personal for me,” says Serena DiMaso, who also serves as a New Jersey Assemblywoman. “I could not be more thrilled to support the Oktoberfest event every year knowing that the contributions will go to enhancing emergency care for our community.”
Funds raised at events such as the annual Benefit for Bayshore all contribute toward a $150 million fundraising goal as part of Meridian Health Foundation’s Giving Heals campaign. Giving Heals 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.
“This year’s Oktoberfest Community Celebration raised a great deal of money in support of this monumental project,” says Joseph Stampe, president and chief development officer, Hackensack Meridian Health Meridian Health Foundation to which Bayshore Medical center Foundation belongs. “We are grateful to everyone who attended the event and to those who have given separately to this initiative. Philanthropy will continue to play a major role in helping to sustain this project and we are always open to having a conversation with anyone interested in getting involved.”
To learn how you can make a gift in support of the Dr. Robert H. Harris Emergency Care Center at Bayshore Medical Center, please contact Jennifer Smith, vice president, development at Meridian Health Foundation, at jenniferl.smith@hmhn.org or 732-751-5100, or visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/GivingHeals.