Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice to Host Meet-the-Artists Reception

Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice will host a Meet-the-Artists Reception for its new exhibit Art of Healing on Tuesday, June 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Samaritan Center at Voorhees, 265 Route 73 South, Voorhees, NJ.

This free event features the opportunity to view the new exhibit, interact with the artists, tour the facility, and enjoy light refreshments.

The exhibit, which runs through October 31st, features the work of three local South Jersey nature photographers: Larry A. Lyons of Woodbury, Joseph Perno of Moorestown, and Patricia Worley of Medford Lakes. Their exhibited works are available for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Samaritan’s not-for-profit programs and services.

“We are grateful to these local, highly-regarded photographers for sharing their work with our community, and offering our patients, families, visitors, and staff the comforting power of art,” said Mary Ann Boccolini, Samaritan president/CEO.”

Larry A. Lyons has been an environmental scientist for more than 30 years investigating and helping to protect aquatic and terrestrial environments in the U.S. and the Caribbean. Lyons hopes his photography will reinforce the need for protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitats. He is credited with numerous photography exhibits, including themes focused on African wildlife, the wildlife and National Parks of the American West, and the Land of the Incas in Peru.

Patricia Worley, a nature and travel photographer, educates through fine art photography. She is credited with nearly 20 different exhibitions since 2010. Worley is director of the Medford Arts Center, and is the resident artist and curator of the Hansen Warner Building Gallery in Medford. She is also President of Twilight Blue Photography, LLC, and Partner of Twilight Blue Photography Workshops, LLC.

Joseph Perno has been photographing people, places and things for more than 25 years. Passionate about his art, Perno’s goal is to take striking images that tell unique stories. The opportunity to exhibit his work at Samaritan is both personally and professionally gratifying for Perno. “I have regarded Samaritan as family since they took care of my sister 14 years ago,” he shared. “I go to the Tree Lighting Ceremony every year during the holidays to honor my sister, Michelle, and my mother, Marian, who also died of cancer. I try to do what I can to support Samaritan as they were there when our family was going through a devastating time.”

This event is open to the public but registration is required by contacting Barbara Rathgeb at 856-552-3214 or BRathgeb@samaritannj.org.

Photo Caption:

From left: Larry Lyons, Patricia Worley, Joseph Perno

Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice

Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980. Samaritan is the regional leader for hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, grief support and counseling, end-of-life education, and advocacy. Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief, providing care in their homes, assisted-living, or nursing home communities, and through two inpatient hospice centers: The Samaritan Center at Mt. Holly and The Samaritan Center at Voorhees. Two thrift shops, in Westmont and Pitman, support Samaritan services and programs. Samaritan is accredited by The Joint Commission, a member of the Home Care & Hospice Association of New Jersey, the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation, and a four-star-level hospice in NHPCO’s We Honor Veterans program, created in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For more information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org