On Thursday, February 27^th, Girls’ Night Out, the annual fundraiser for the WMCHealth Heart and Vascular Institute, was held at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel in Tarrytown. Emceed by the award-winning news reporter and anchor Tara Rosenblum, the event honored Westchester Medical Center Foundation Board Trustee and former longtime WMCHealth executive Kara Bennorth. The evening included a fashion show with clothing courtesy of designer Beverley Olivacce, a shopping boutique, accessories wall, raffles, dinner and dancing. Proceeds from the event benefit the WMCHealth Heart and Vascular Institute, which offers a wide range of cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery services, including heart failure and heart transplantation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and many more, to Hudson Valley residents.

View photos of event »

Westchester Medical Center’s Critical Care Tower to be Renamed Brenda Fareri Pavilion

VALHALLA, N.Y. (February 26, 2025) –– John and Brenda Fareri, whose support for the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) has been instrumental in the growth of the Network, have pledged a $5 million gift to support the construction of Westchester Medical Center’s newest patient tower. In recognition of their support, the building (formerly referred to as the Critical Care Tower) will now be known as the Brenda Fareri Pavilion.

In a ceremony held this morning at Westchester Medical Center, John and Brenda Fareri were recognized for their generosity by Network leadership, including WMCHealth’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, David Lubarsky, MD; Zubeen Shroff, Board Chair, Westchester County Health Care Corporation; and Michael D. Israel, former WMCHealth President and Chief Executive Officer.

Currently under construction, the $220 million, five-story Brenda Fareri Pavilion will span 162,000 square feet and house 128 private, state-of-the-art patient rooms—all equipped with the latest and most advanced medical technologies for intensive care. When complete, the Brenda Fareri Pavilion will facilitate the conversion of Westchester Medical Center’s entire inpatient service to all-private rooms, enhancing patient privacy and comfort.

The Fareri family played a major role in the development of WMCHealth’s Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, named after their daughter Maria, who passed away at the age of 13, 30 years ago. Today, the hospital is an advanced care pediatrics center, treating thousands of critically ill and injured children annually.

“This dedication is a testament to the Fareri family’s extraordinary generosity and the profound impact Brenda and the family have had on the well-being of our patients and the overall health of our entire community,” said Dr. Lubarsky. “The Brenda Fareri Pavilion will not only advance our mission to provide world-class medical care but also stand as a lasting symbol of the Fareri family’s unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence in our area. Their support ensures that countless individuals will receive the highest quality of care in a state-of-the-art facility.”

“Today, as we gather to celebrate this next step—the expansion of critical care services—we see another opportunity to ensure that patients of all ages receive the very best medical care when they need it most. Just as Maria’s legacy helped build a hospital that has cared for thousands of children, this new tower will elevate the care we provide for the most critically ill patients in our region,” said John Fareri.

“Thanks to the Fareri family’s visionary commitment to advanced pediatric care, WMCHealth’s Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital has been delivering exceptional care for two decades. Now, everyone who steps into the Brenda Fareri Pavilion will witness the Fareri family’s steadfast dedication to improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing patient experiences,” said Shroff, who is also Trustee of the Westchester Medical Center Foundation. “Their enduring support continues to inspire us and propel our mission forward.”

RIU Hotels & Resorts is an international company founded in Mallorca, Spain, with hotels and resorts in 21 countries (including five in the United States and two—soon to be three—in New York City). At the end of 2023, RIU began supporting Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital as part of the company’s Proudly Committed sustainability strategy, which focuses on child protection, education and health. RIU supports Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital’s Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy department, which uses art and other therapeutic tools to help children and their families cope with their hospital stay and treatment. Thanks in part to the generous support of RIU Hotels & Resorts, children are able to enjoy art and other therapeutic activities while Child Life and Creative Arts specialists guide the children and their families through the process, offering emotional and psychological support.