Foundation in Focus | Summer 2013

Volume 14 No. 3

Golf Classic Shatters Records With two courses and one crystal clear cause—and some famous New York summer weather—supporters of MJHS Foundation set new records at the 15th Annual Golf Classic on June 24, raising more than $1,060,000 for our health care services.

“This has been an amazing show of support for our patients, families and MJHS staff who deliver quality care with compassion, dignity and respect,” said Eli S. Feldman, President and CEO of MJHS, at the event. “This incredible fundraising milestone was reached because of repeat and new donors.”

Top: Marie Andreaccchio (center), President of Allen Health Care Services. Bottom: Golfers enjoy a day on the links.

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Greetings New Additions to the Team

Continued on page 4

L’shana Tova

A Shadow Brings Light New Additions to the Board Menorah Residents Get a Big Welcome Grant Enhances Spiritual Care Global Resource Coming Soon Passing the Torch

May this year of 5774 bring you and your family an abundance of joy, health and happiness.

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Greetings, 440 Ninth Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10001-1620 (212) 356-5300 info@mjhsfoundation.org www.mjhsfoundation.org DIRECTORS Estère du Boulay Burton Esrig

Eli S. Feldman Shmuel Lefkowitz

OFFICERS President Steven L. Topal Vice President David C. Wiener Secretary/Treasurer Peter P. Post STAFF Mason Beard, Director of Development, (718) 759-4058, mbeard@mjhs.org Emily Pring, Associate Director of Development, (718) 759-4651, epring@mjhs.org Amy Goodman, Assistant Director of Hospice Development, (212) 758-4335, agoodman@mjhs.org Chinwe Egonu, Database Coordinator, (718) 759-4133, cegonu@mjhs.org Dara K. Marsh, Development Coordinator, (718) 759-4335, dmarsh@mjhs.org

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Executive Editors: Diane Ashley and Mason Beard Coordinating Editor: Emily Pring Managing Editor: Audrey O. Waters

Mason C. Beard

At this time of new beginnings and the start of the Jewish New Year, I am so pleased to have this opportunity to connect with each of you. The past few months have been fast paced and exciting. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you at our Golf Classic (our most successful yet!) I have traveled throughout the system connecting with our many loyal supporters and advocates. I hope to see many more of you at our Hospice on Broadway event on November 13th!

In this edition of Foundation in Focus, we celebrate the exciting completion of renovations of Menorah’s first floor, allowing residents who have been displaced since Superstorm Sandy, to return home (page 7). We introduce an important joint initiative between the UJA Federation and MJHS, to enable the Jewish community to make informed decisions as they consider hospice care for themselves or a loved one (page 8). You can also read about Shadow the pet therapy dog, that brings joyful afternoons to our Menorah nursing home residents (page 5); just another example of the innovative programs the MJHS Foundation supports to bring comfort to the patients and families in our care.

You will learn of transitions, including the retirement of Chief Development Officer David Nussbaum and a tribute to his dedication to growing the MJHS culture of philanthropy (page 9). We introduce new staff (page 3), and announce exciting recent additions to our board (page 6). It is indeed a time of new beginnings and we are looking forward to a healthy and prosperous new year!

Again, thank you all for such a warm welcome. As you read the following pages you will experience what MJHS does best…caring every minute, every day!

Design Director: Tricia Chambers Contributors: Zayra Arrieta, Michael Madole and Duane McFarlane The articles in this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, provided credit is given to MJHS Foundation.

MJHS Foundation is the charitable financial resource development arm of MJHS. MJHS Foundation is charged with creating a culture of philanthropy and has a strong legacy of providing financial support to those with unmet health needs and to those who lack access to quality health care services.

JOIN US

Mason C. Beard Director of Development, MJHS Foundation

Bring your jazz hands and take in the high-flying, Tony-winning Broadway dazzler Pippin!

All proceeds benefit MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care.

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New Additions to the Team Earlier this year, we welcomed Amy E. Goodman to the MJHS Foundation family. Amy is Assistant Director of Hospice Development, where she will have three primary areas of focus: • Grateful Patients and Families Giving—raising this program’s profile and ensuring its continued success • Outreach to the Jewish community—developing new philanthropic support and opportunities while serving as liaison to this crucial community Amy E. Goodman

• Jewish End of Life Care—collaborating with community leadership to promote thought-leadership and advance best practices

Prior to joining MJHS Foundation, Amy served as program director and event planner in the Boston area within the biotechnology and interactive marketing industries. She also served as development director for a secondary service homelessness agency. In addition, she has served as chaplain intern at the MJHS Hospice Mollie and Jack Zicklin Residence and at the Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.

A native of Woodbury, Connecticut, Amy graduated with honors from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, majoring in history and African-American Studies. In May 2013, she completed her studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and received rabbinic ordination.

More recently, Dara K. Marsh joined us as Development Coordinator. In this role, she helps our team in the processing of gifts, planning and execution of special events and campaigns, research of prospective donors, as well as management of donor records. She also provides administrative support.

Dara K. Marsh

Dara has 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. From 2003 to 2011, she worked at Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, as team leader of the Donor Services Department. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the processing and acknowledgement of gifts $5,000 or greater. Most recently, Dara worked in the Development and Alumni Relations office of New York Law School, where she cultivated relationships with the school’s alumni at events and aided in the maintenance of their database.

Dara holds a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Purchase, a Master of Arts from NYU, and a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Administration from Baruch College. She is also a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an educational honor society, and serves on the board of a local young professionals’ organization.

For questions about hospice development, contact Amy at agoodman@mjhs.org. For general questions about MJHS Foundation, Dara can be reached at dmarsh@mjhs.org.

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Golf Classic Shatters Records Continued from page 1

Remarkable Support All donors were applauded for helping make a difference.

Special kudos were given to the co-chairs of the Classic, Christopher Brahe of the Brooklyn Nets; Burt Esrig of Eli S. Feldman the MJHS Board of Directors; and Joel Greenspan MD, of PC & Anesthesia Associates. The event’s top contributors included: • ALLEN HEALTH CARE • BEST CARE

• SPECIAL TOUCH HOME CARE • TD BANK

A Sporty Day With golf, poolside lounging and a special appearance

by NBA Hall of Fame star Darryl Dawkins, the Classic offered something for everyone. The event drew an all-time high of 255 players to the two courses, Old Westbury and Muttontown, in Nassau County. Fans of all sports teams queued up to be photographed with Dawkins.

“We are filling a crucial need that so many patients and their families have,” Mason said. “MJHS is building the first hospice inpatient residence in New York City that is equipped and designed to provide end-of-life care to children, as well as adults.”

Furthering the point, the evening also included a screening of the new MJHS Pediatric Hospice TV commercial, “In My Room” and a portion of the documentary Divine Prescription, featuring Rabbi Charles Rudansky of MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care.

In introducing the film clips, Burt Esrig observed, “By being here, all of us can say we support caregivers who do the most extraordinary things.”

Winning Big By coming together at Old Westbury in the evening, players were able to enjoy libations and gourmet dishes, bid in a silent auction and cheer for players who achieved special honors on the greens. Award winners included:

Old Westbury Top Foursomes First Place—Jared Shure, Bill Simione, Robert Simione, David Borman Second Place—Paul Essner, Bryan Pondrick, Greg Schafer, Rick Schaefer Third Place—Lester Epstein, Jerry Grossman, Joel Macher, Harvey Ostranger Fourth Place—Emmet Conlon, Michael O’Malley, Paul Wendolowski

Muttontown Top Foursomes Players from Bleakley, Schwartz, Cooney, and Finney, LLC, Northwestern Mutua l Life

Through it all, however, the focus was never far from the families who depend on MJHS services for their care. Mason Beard MJHS Foundation’s Director of Development, spoke of specific accomplishments during the evening program.

Abrams, Quentin Bishop, Joel Greenspan, Tom Geiger

First Place—Ron Chaffin, Richard Colligan, Saiful Khan, Brian Whitock Second Place—Michael

Third Place—Jim Davis, Michael Komarow, Gary Povil, Mike White Fourth Place—Craig Azoff, Bill Bottomley, Aida Rothmeier, Brian Rothmeier

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The applause continued as silent auction and raffle prizes were given out to lucky participants.

The dazzling bounty included: Diane Ashley—Trip with the Brooklyn Nets John Palmieri—Yankees game in the Delta suite Rose Pereg—50-inch flatscreen TV David Weisberger—Sony Handicam We were particularly stunned and touched when Rose opted to donate her TV to the soon-to-becompleted hospice inpatient residence!

With this year’s success celebrated, MJHS is ready to drive for the future. Keep abreast of special events and see more classic photos at MJHS by liking us on Facebook here and following us on Twitter.

ig and Christophe l Dawkins, Burt Esr rry Da n, pa ns ee Joel Gr

r Brahe

A Shadow Brings Light and Inspires Song When Shadow, a licensed pet therapy dog, visits Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, residents’ smiles are brighter.

Once a week for two hours at a time, this Brooklyn-born French poodle charms fans as he is petted, hugged and even serenaded.

His handler says that Shadow understands some Russian…or at least people who speak English with a Russian accent. We know he’s fluent in Brooklynese!

The MJHS pet therapy program, along with other therapeutic recreation activities across the system, helps participants become more active and engaged. Efforts also help residents recall memories and share stories about their lives.

Dynamic programs—and the people who create them—make a demonstrable difference in the lives of hundreds of residents, patients and families across New York. Your support makes this possible. Amazing photos can be liked and shared at facebook.com/MJHS01.

Shadow bonds with Menorah residents.

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New Additions to the Board MJHS Foundation has named two industry leaders to its board of directors: Ronald B. Milch and Steven Rotter. Ron has extensive Ronald B. Milch health care management experience and Steve brings insights gained from his years as a senior finance executive.

Both men are deeply familiar with the great works of MJHS Foundation in support of MJHS. For those who know him, Ron’s naming to the Foundation board makes perfect sense. His commitment to MJHS includes serving as current chair of the system’s board of directors, in addition to other leadership capacities. He is also a regular supporter of— and dapper presence at—Foundation events, including the recent Golf Classic and the upcoming Hospice on Broadway event to Pippin.

Ron has more than 45 years of senior leadership under his belt. Prior to retiring, he was President and CEO of Combined Coordinating Council, Inc. Earlier in his career, Ron held senior administrative positions in a number of leading medical facilities, including Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Montefiore Hospital Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital Center.

Steve is the CFO of Jack Resnick & Sons, Inc., one of the largest private owners of residential and commercial office properties in New York City. For more than 80 years, the company has been a major force in the highly competitive, dynamic Manhattan real estate market.

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Steve is also active in Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership and is deeply involved with UJA-Federation of New York (UJA) initiatives.

His commitment to MJHS is personal. When dementia and complications from other illnesses deeply altered his mother’s life, Steve called UJA for advice. MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care was recommended. Steve says that as his parents approached their 60th wedding anniversary, “MJHS Hospice gave my family the best gifts possible: spiritual support, medical guidance and physical help.” Steve’s mother left this world during Passover in 2010. He remembers holding her hands and knowing that she was at peace. It is Steve’s belief in a culture of giving that comes full circle through his board involvement.

“Ron and Steve have incredible knowledge, insight and professional networks within the health care arena. Their professional and personal Steven Rotter perspectives on the industry and philanthropy are invaluable and complement the board’s strong strategic counsel and development efforts,” said Steven L. Topal, Chairman of the MJHS Foundation Board of Directors.

“We are confident that their contributions will enhance all we do.”

Welcome, gentlemen.

Menorah Residents Get a Big Welcome Home

Menorah residents get a warm reception.

As Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, there’s no place like home. And the smiles, handshakes and hugs on display at Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care were further proof of this, as staff and friends welcomed residents back home to their first-floor rooms on May 23 and 24.

“I’m so happy, it’s overwhelming,” said one resident as she entered her room seven months after Superstorm Sandy displaced her and her neighbors to the dining area and other space on higher floors. “It’s going to take a couple of days for this to sink in. I’m really back!”

Many others had a similar reaction to being back in their original space. “It’s just like it was—only better!” gushed one resident as she admired the new carpet, freshly painted walls and brand new bed. Chatting by cell phone with her son, she added, “The TV will go in the same place and my closets are still big. I can’t wait to begin unpacking. In fact, I have to go…I want to enjoy my view. Talk with you later.”

Two residents, Ruth and Olga, who are part of a group of friends dubbed “The Golden Girls,” sat beneath the welcome sign and cheered each time they saw one of their good friends, bringing an extra sense of event to it all.

“This is so much fun,” Ruth said. “We’re just happy to be getting things back to normal after that awful storm.”

Olga added, “Menorah is home and being back in my own room is the best feeling of security.”

While Menorah remained open during and after Sandy, the water damage to the facility’s first floor was extensive. Fortunately, a construction crew was already on site—working on another part of the building—so the team was able to begin clean-up, rebuilding and renovation efforts immediately. In seven months time, they replaced walls, flooring and windows, as well as the electrical and plumbing system in affected areas.

By all accounts, the time since Sandy has been eventful.

In addition to the long road to renovation, Menorah’s residents have had a brush with fame. Some were featured in a New York Daily News story about receiving music therapy while temporarily living at the MJHS Hospice Harold and Muriel Block Residence in the Bronx.

And some have become stars on Facebook.

But in moving back to their original rooms, things came full circle and a spirit of new beginnings was on display throughout the facility. It seemed that with a little absence, home takes on a whole new meaning.

To read the Daily News story or to see more photos, go to facebook.com/MJHS01.

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Grant Enhances Spiritual Care for Holocaust Survivors The care that MJHS offers Holocaust Survivors is well-known and consistently praised. MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care is one of the best compassionate care models in the county because of the program’s sensitive insight into the unique physical, emotional, social and psychological pain and discomfort survivors experience when facing the end of life.

Earlier this year, the Claims Conference awarded MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care a two-year, $18,000 grant to help continue caring for survivors, particularly vulnerable population. This is the first-ever grant

Global Resource Coming Soon In collaboration with UJA-Federation of New York (UJA), MJHS is preparing to launch The Center for Jewish End of Life Care. A founding principle of the Center is that every person should maintain existing social, religious and family networks, particularly at a time of advanced illness.

Scheduled to open later this year, this phenomenal resource is dedicated to elevating conversations about the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of Jewish people affected by advanced and terminal illness. The center’s address, like the community it will serve, will have a global reach: It will be virtual, allowing users to access the center from anywhere in the world at any time of day.

Rooted in the belief that no one should spend their final days in pain, in fear or alone, the Center will be for everyone along the Jewish cultural and religious continuum.

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that the organization, also known as The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, has awarded to MJHS Foundation for “the provision of essential social services to elderly Jewish victims of Nazi persecution.”

The bulk of the resources will be spent on spiritual care, comfort and guidance to patients, whether individually or in group settings. More specifically, this funding will support the hospice rabbinical team as it visits with Holocaust survivors. As part of the grant, Rabbi Charles Rudansky, Director of Jewish Services and Pastoral Care, and Toby Weiss, Director of Cultural Sensitivity and Jewish Programming, will continue to further develop of community outreach and education events. The grant is effective January 1, 2013-December 31, 2014…and our mission to provide compassionate, culturally-sensitive care will always continue.

It will also raise awareness, encourage community-wide conversations and promote information-sharing about existing resources.

More specifically, the Center: • Drives the national conversation about Jewish end-of-life care • Increases awareness and understanding of end-of-life issues • Offers perspectives from thought leaders and members • Showcases best practices and personal experiences • Provides assistance ranging from support services, Jewish spiritual care and personal guidance to advance planning

With your support, this UJA/ MJHS global investment will be a tremendous resource for information and an incredible source of comfort to people all over the world. Be sure to check our site for the latest information on the Center’s launch.

Passing the Torch Earlier this year, David Nussbaum retired as Executive Director of the Foundation and Chief Development Officer for MJHS. While he is missed, the culture of philanthropy he helped create lives on.

“On behalf of the entire MJHS team, David Nussbaum I would like to thank David for his contributions in raising much-needed funds in support of our mission,” said Eli S. Feldman MJHS President and CEO. David came to MJHS in 2006 and made connection a theme in his work. He believed in raising funds by linking the families we care for to the staff members who do the caring; tying MJHS core values to the everyday tasks of providing care; and showing how donors’ gifts make it possible for patients to get care they couldn’t otherwise afford. Every fundraising effort he led was enhanced with personal touches, and he helped potential donors see just what it means to support our organization.

Almost immediately, he became known for bringing people of diverse backgrounds together and finding common ground in sometimes unexpected places.

For example, he once hosted a series of Ask the Rabbi lunches to help non-Jewish team members better understand the Jewish high holy days, as well as Jewish values, and how they tie back to the founding principles of the Four Brooklyn Ladies.

In recent years, the event expanded to two golf courses and grew the base of MJHS supporters. Board members, vendors, employees and donors united as fellow philanthropists, ultimately furthering the MJHS cause.

Similarly, David transformed the Employee Giving Campaign into a major fundraising source for MJHS. By making the effort completely driven by employees, the campaign brought new vitality and record-breaking success. Because of David, our employees have a profound sense of how their work and gifts help their fellow New Yorkers at times of greatest need.

With David’s guidance, we became a more giving organization.

David’s fundraising leadership was critical for MJHS. During his tenure, Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements were drastically slashed, leaving the organization to serve more New York families on less revenue. Thanks to David’s success, MJHS has continued to grow and provide care for New Yorkers, regardless of ability to pay.

Please join us in honoring David and wishing him well in his retirement.

Thank you, David, for giving us such a strong foundation and strengthening MJHS’ culture of philanthropy.

The results speak for themselves. Under David’s leadership, the Annual Golf Classic grew tremendously, continually beating its own record for sums raised.

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s u N I o J

ThANk you To our PreMIer sPoNsors!

Pre-show recePTIoN for INvITed guesTs

MusIcAL To foLLow

LATTANZI 361 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036

MusIc Box TheATre 239 West 45th Street New York, NY 10036

5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

8:00 P.M.

To reserve your tickets please call (212) 356-5300 or visit www.mjhsfoundation.org All proceeds benefit MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care

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ANNUAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE CONFERENCE Jointly sponsored by the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Medical Center & MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care, the stimulating conference for specialists will cover the practice of palliative care in varied disciplines.

December 2, 2013

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ANG LIN DINNER Grab a mic and wow the karaoke crowd at the 2014 Ang Lin dinner! Join us for our third annual evening of philatnthropy, artful cuisine and sensational singing on behalf of Ang Lin, the MJHS Asian Hospice program.

March 14, 2014 Questions? E-mail us at events@mjhsfoundation.org for a personal reply. To purchase tickets and get the latest information, visit us at www.mjhsfoundation.org

Thank You to our top Sponsors!

You can now find us on LinkedIn,Twitter and Facebook!

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