Gala co-chaired by Donovan and Raquel McNabb benefits Children’s Health
Pictured at the Virtua Gala benefiting the John M. Tedeschi Pediatric Institute are (left to right): Ron Weiss of Corporate Synergies Group (presenting sponsor); Donovan McNabb, honorary co-chairman; Richard Miller, Virtua president and CEO; Dr. John M. Tedeschi; and Dr. Al Ferrari, Virtua Foundation chairman.
The 2010 Virtua Gala raised more than $550,000 to benefit Virtua’s John M. Tedeschi Pediatric Institute. Held at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ on Saturday, March 6, the Gala raised more money than any other fundraising event in Virtua’s history. The Gala’s record proceeds result from the support of more than 170 sponsors and advertisers and 1,060 guests. Ron Weiss and Corporate Synergies Group served as the presenting sponsor of Virtua’s gala event for the seventh consecutive year.
“I am grateful to Corporate Synergies Group and all of the sponsors and contributors that have made the 2010 Gala a monumental success,” said Richard Miller, president and CEO of Virtua. “The funds raised from the event will have a significant impact on the patients and families we serve.”
NFL Pro Bowl Quarterback Donovan McNabb and his wife Raquel served as honorary co-chairs of the Virtua fundraiser. The McNabbs, who chose Virtua as the birthplace of their four children, have partnered with Virtua to raise funds to support the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Virtua’s new hospital in Voorhees. The NICU is part of the Tedeschi Pediatric Institute.
Virtua’s John M. Tedeschi Pediatric Institute is designed to improve the health of children in the region and nationwide. The $25 million philanthropic and programmatic endeavor connects Virtua's comprehensive pediatric program of excellence with a robust research arm that seeks out and employs evidence-based best practices in pediatric care. The Institute is named for Dr. John M. Tedeschi, one of the region’s most respected and beloved pediatricians who has dedicated his life to the health and well-being of children.
“The mission of the Pediatric Institute is to keep children healthy and reduce inappropriate hospitalizations by ensuring that the highest level of wellness and preventative care is available in every community throughout New Jersey and beyond,” said John M. Tedeschi, M.D. “The funds raised through the Gala bring us closer to meeting our goal to raise $25 million to support the Institute’s mission.”
For more information about the Virtua Gala or the John M. Tedeschi Pediatric Institute, contact the Virtua Foundation at 856-355-0830 or e-mail VHF@virtua.org.
Virtua is a comprehensive multi-hospital healthcare system headquartered in Marlton, NJ. Its mission is to deliver a world-class patient experience through its programs of excellence in cancer treatment, cardiology, orthopaedics, women's health, pediatrics, surgery, neuroscience and wellness. A non-profit organization, Virtua employs 8,400 clinical and administrative personnel, and approximately 1,800 physicians serve as medical staff members. Virtua has distinguished itself as one of the first Six Sigma organizations in healthcare, as an early adopter of clinical and digital technologies, and for its innovative partnerships with nationally renowned organizations such as GE Healthcare, Fox Chase Cancer Center and A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. It has been honored twice with the New Jersey Governor's award for Clinical Excellence and recognized with the Leadership Award for Outstanding Achievement by Voluntary Hospitals of America. Virtua has been honored as the #1 Best Employer in the Delaware Valley by the Philadelphia Business Journal and is the recipient of the Consumer Choice Awards by National Research Corporation. Virtua is proud to be the official southern New Jersey sponsor of the Go Red for Women and Start! Walking Movements. For more information, visit www.virtua.org or call 1-888-VIRTUA-3 (1-888-847-8823).