Familiar with the pain that mental health, alcohol, and drug-related issues can have on a family, Ken and Carol Silbert recently gave $250,000 to Atlantic Behavioral Health at Morristown Medical Center. Their gift seeded the hire of a peer recovery specialist. Additionally, it increased the hours of a psychiatric advance practice nurse (APN). Both positions work closely with patients to maintain and prevent relapse issues.

 
 
 
 
 

The mission is simple – find children nationwide who need an extra dose of joy. The Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin Donuts), had to look no further than the patients undergoing treatment at Goryeb Children’s Hospital for young ones in need of a smile. 

One evening, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Liz Bernich, a financial services executive recruiter from Chatham, New Jersey, was on her phone looking at Facebook when a story caught her eye.  People in her childhood neighborhood of Huntington, New York, were delivering meals to front-line caregivers, and she thought she could do the same for Morristown Medical Center.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Margaret A. Darrin Charitable Trust sought out impactful ways to improve the lives of patients battling the disease.  A need was quickly identified, and through a $235,000 grant, the Morristown Medical Center Sameth Emergency Department recently upgraded 11 exam rooms into negative-pressure rooms, which protect against the spread of airborne infections.

Arriving for his appointment at the new Infusion Center at Carol G. Simon Cancer Center in March, donor, patient and former Atlantic Health System Trustee Bob Mulcahy couldn’t believe his eyes. A spacious room, full of natural light immediately put Mulcahy, a member of Carol G. Simon Cancer Center’s Philanthropy Council at ease, and to his delight he was led to a private space to sit during infusions while still being able to see his care team.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the United States.  To address this pervasive disease, each fall, organizations, communities and individuals nationwide take part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is recognized during October. In our region, many organizations and community members generously support the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Medical Center.  

This summer, Eric Zhao had an idea to launch an online chemistry boot camp for high school students in the area.  More than 30 students registered, many for more than one topic, and Zhao gave the entirety of the registration fees, totaling $1,630, to the Morristown Medical Center COVID-19 Support Fund.

Growing Forward Campaign Chairman Leslie "Les" C. Quick III is the definition of a philanthropist -- humane, kind and generous.  Late last year, Quick contributed $1 million to Carol G. Simon Cancer Center.