HEALTH CARE HEROES
ONE COMMUNITY, ONE CAUSE
W
hile nations around the world battle COVID-19, the communities served by Morristown Medical Center have united in honor of health care heroes. In 2020, donors contributed more than $4 million in monetary donations and in-kind gifts to support COVID-19 relief efforts at the hospital. From ventilators, vital medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to restaurant gift cards through the Serve it Forward program (a partnership with the Morristown Mayor’s Office), the outpouring of support was critical in the face of this deadly virus. Additionally, community members throughout New Jersey gave generously to the Atlantic Health System Team Member Relief Fund, which provided support to caregivers in need.
Margaret A. Darrin Charitable Trust When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Margaret A. Darrin Charitable Trust sought out impactful ways to help patients battling the disease. A need was quickly identified. Through a $235,000 grant from the Darrin Trust, Morristown Medical Center’s Sameth Emergency Department was able to convert 11 exam rooms into negative-pressure rooms, which have separate exhaust systems removing 99.97 percent of airborne contaminants. Read the full story: f4mmc.org/negative-pressure
Teen-Led Learning Academy Last summer, Eric Zhao, a volunteer junior courier at Morristown Medical Center and junior at Ridge High School had an idea. The Basking Ridge, New Jerseynative and his friend, Chris Dong, came together to offer a learning academy in chemistry, algebra and physics to fellow students. Within a week, his friends — Gordon Li, Allen Zhao, Darren Jia and Andrew Zhang — were on board as teachers, and classes began at Ridge Learning Academy on July 20, 2020, for five weeks. More than 30 students registered, many for more than one topic, and Zhao gave the entirety of the registration fees to Morristown Medical Center.
local restaurant revenues. The group -- now a 501©(3) nonprofit organization, spurred 117 other independent FLAG groups nationwide. They were recently recognized by the New York Life Foundation through its Love Takes Action Award program. Awarded a $50,000 grant to give to a nonprofit of their choice, they chose Morristown Medical Center. This was followed by a $360,000 grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's Sustain & Serve NJ program to expand their meal delivery to Morristown Medical Center, helping both caregivers and local restaurants alike. Read the full story: f4mmc.org/flag-grant
Read the full story: f4mmc.org/learning-academy
Front Line Appreciation Group (FLAG) Liz Bernich, a financial services executive recruiter from Chatham, New Jersey, and Gina McGuire, a publicschool administrative assistant in Madison, New Jersey, found themselves at the center of a national trend after they launched FLAG of Chatham/Madison. Their efforts culminated in more than 30,000 meals delivered to Morristown Medical Center team members, during the height of COVID-19, equating to more than $200,000 in
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Give today to the COVID-19 Support Fund: f4mmc.org/covid-19-support
