WEST ISLIP, NY — Good Samaritan University Hospital has received the largest philanthropic commitment in its history, a $10 million matching pledge from the Donald and Barbara Zucker Family Foundation to expand and modernize its neonatal intensive care unit, Catholic Health said Thursday.
The funding will support improvements to the hospital's Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), including advanced medical equipment and technology, private patient rooms and dedicated spaces for family counseling, respite and support.
The hospital operates the only Level III NICU on Suffolk County's South Shore, serving newborns requiring specialized medical care. Good Samaritan delivered more than 2,500 babies in 2025, and its NICU treats hundreds of newborns annually, according to Catholic Health.
"This extraordinary commitment to Good Samaritan University Hospital is all about supporting some of our smallest, most vulnerable patients and their loved ones," said Gary Havican, interim president and CEO and chief operating officer of Catholic Health. "We are deeply grateful for the Zucker Family's generosity and the opportunity this matching commitment creates to build an even stronger future for neonatal care on Long Island."
The foundation's pledge establishes a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge to encourage additional donations. Catholic Health aims to secure the first $2.5 million in qualifying community commitments by the end of 2026, to raise $10 million in community support over four years.
Barbara Hrbek Zucker said her family's personal experience with neonatal intensive care inspired the donation.
"Our family experienced the need for world-class NICU care first hand," Zucker said. "When our youngest granddaughter was born, she needed specialized care to help her get a strong start. Thanks to her NICU team, she is now a thriving little girl, and we feel so fortunate that she got the right care."
The planned modernization is expected to provide greater privacy and comfort for families while improving the clinical environment for hospital staff.
Dr. Justin Lundbye, president of Good Samaritan University Hospital, said the project will focus on supporting both newborns and their families.
"The care provided in a NICU extends far beyond sophisticated technology," Lundbye said. "Our physicians, nurses and clinical teams care for babies at an incredibly vulnerable moment in their lives, but they also walk alongside parents and families."
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