Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice Announces 2017 Heart-Themed Gala Plans

Mary Ann Boccolini, CEO of Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, announced that the not-for-profit organization’s annual gala, Hearts of Gold, will be held on February 11, 2017 at The Crowne Plaza, Cherry Hill.

Thomas/Boyd Communications Co-Founder and CEO Liz Thomas will be honored with Samaritan’s 2017 Circle of Excellence Award for her personal and professional dedication to Samaritan and the community.

“Liz is the definition of a heart of gold,” said Boccolini. “As a nine-year member of our Board and the immediate Past Chair, she’s advocated for Samaritan’s services for almost a decade. She is so generous in sharing her time, talent, and business skills in several leadership capacities with us, as well as other worthy organizations serving our community.”

Emceed by 6ABC Action News anchor Rick Williams, the event will include food, live music, games, prizes, and an auction. In addition, the winners of Samaritan’s popular Delightful Dining Raffle – where two lucky people each receive 12 $100 gift certificates to the area’s best restaurants – will again be drawn during the Gala. Winners need not be present to win.

Proceeds from the evening will benefit Samaritan’s programs and services, including hospice and palliative services, community education, grief counseling, and complementary therapies, as well as two inpatient hospice centers: The Samaritan Center at Mount Holly and The Samaritan Center at Voorhees – the newly opened first freestanding inpatient hospice in southern New Jersey.

“The proceeds from events like our gala enable us to continue to provide the highest level of care to any and all who request it,” explained Boccolini. “This year will be no different due to the generosity of all those with hearts of gold who support this fantastic event.”

For Gala or Delightful Dining tickets or sponsorship information, contact Julie Weitzman at (856) 552-3239 or jweitzman@samaritannj.org.

PHOTO:

Members of the Hearts of Gold Gala Committee: (from left) Lindsey Watson-McCarthy, Sandi Kelly, Sara Adelman, Chair Dianna Geist, Anita Bremer, Ellen Zinn, Valerie Andrews, Lisa Capelli, Jewell Sutherland

About 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 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 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO); the Home Care & Hospice Association of New Jersey; and is 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