The Westchester Medical Center Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY. Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is a 136-bed advanced pediatric center that cares for the Hudson Valley’s most ill and injured children. The hospital is home to the Hudson Valley’s only Level I pediatric trauma and burn care programs, pediatric intensive care unit and its regional neonatal intensive care unit (Level IV).
New & Noteworthy
A new five-story, 162,000-square-foot Critical Care Tower is now rising on our Valhalla campus, slated to open in 2025. The $225 million state-of-the-art inpatient facility will be home to several advanced care services, including new cardiac intensive care to enhance treatment of patients facing complex, life-threatening cardiac illnesses. The building will be home to a total of 128 beds, including 96 private, ICU-capable beds.
Support the Critical Care Tower »
Our Greatest Needs
Westchester Medical Center Critical Care Tower
The Critical Care Tower is a new five-story, 162,000-square-foot building on our Valhalla campus, slated to open in 2025. The Critical Care Tower will provide advanced, life-saving services. The Critical Care Tower will enhance the treatment of patients facing complex, life-threatening cardiac illnesses, which will enable the expansion of Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Since the hospital opened in 2004, we have increased the number of beds dedicated for the care of newborns and children by nearly 50 percent. The Critical Care Tower project will provide the opportunity to add an additional unit and 15 private patient rooms to the Children’s Hospital for medical/surgical and mental health care needs.
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Child Life
Child life specialists are trained professionals with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events, including hospital stays and medical procedures.
NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is home to the only Level IV Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the Hudson Valley. As a Level IV facility, we care for some of the region’s tiniest and sickest babies.
Ways to Support
There are many ways to support Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY. Your donation will help us provide advanced care to children in the Hudson Valley region. Our goal is to set the standard for family-centered, compassionate pediatric healthcare.
Donations and Tributes (In Memory/In Honor)
Make a donation to pay tribute to someone important to you or commemorate the passing of a loved one.
Monthly Giving
Make regular donations and automatically donate a specified amount each month.
Planned Giving
Ensure your legacy through a planned gift that can also benefit you and your family through financial and tax planning.
Host a Fundraiser
Host an event — such as a themed party, walk-a-thon, raffle and more — with proceeds donated to Westchester Medical Center.
Change Makers
Be the change by becoming a Change Maker. Change Makers include schools, organizations and community members of all ages. Change Makers reach out to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and more to raise funds for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Participants receive a container to collect change and are encouraged to create a personalized fundraising web page. Annual Change Maker program fundraising activities will be celebrated during the 100.7 WHUD Radiothon every November.
Dance Marathon
Dance Marathon, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program, is a student-led, year-round movement uniting students across the U.S. and Canada to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Participants are encouraged to host events throughout the year (bake sales, game nights, fun runs, etc.) and create web pages that can be shared with family and friends on social media. The year culminates with a celebration — usually a dance where children cared for at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital are invited to attend and share their stories.
Extra Life
Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program, unites thousands of gamers worldwide to play games (video, tabletop, outdoor games and more) in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Since 2005, funds raised through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have helped Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital continue to provide high-quality emergency, acute, chronic and specialty medical services to babies, children and teens from the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Upcoming Events
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Holiday Toy Drive
Spark joy this holiday season by donating to our Holiday Toy Drive! Visit the link below to donate, purchase an item from our Amazon registry or create your own toy drive fundraiser.
WMCHealth Heart and Vascular Institute Girls’ Night Out
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Sleepy Hollow Hotel
Tarrytown, NY
Stories of Gratitude
“The NICU experience was amazing. Everyone was always so kind. It’s such a difficult job but they always remained friendly and helpful. There’s a lot to learn in caring for a preemie. They teach you so much.” —Jessica Franjul-Pena
“If you are in a position to provide a donation, I could not think of a better cause.” — Adam Cox
“I feel really blessed that Chloe and Contessa received world-class care at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.” — Saleena Gee
Read Chloe and Contessa’s story »
Read more inspirational stories »
Share Your Story
Do you have a positive story to share about your experience at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital? Tell us your story.
Your Support Helps
This year, charitable gifts from donors like you helped us provide exceptional medical care to your friends and neighbors in the Hudson Valley and supported essential programs and services including:
Art Therapy
Equipment
Milk Bank
Patient Family Nourishment Program
Patient Experience Programming
Nursing Education
Capital Improvements
Children’s Miracle Network
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, is a proud member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization that raises funds and awareness for 170 member children’s hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.
Since 1983, they have helped raise more than $7 billion for children’s hospitals including Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, helping us to provide high-quality emergency, acute, chronic and specialty medical services to babies, children and teens from the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Meet Our Board
Board Officers
Chair
Navy Djonovic
Vice Chair
Brenda Fareri
Vice Chair
Michael McCormack
Secretary
John F. Heimerdinger
Board Members
Jeremy A. Abramson • Robin Altman, MD • David Asprinio, MD • Kara Bennorth • Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson • Hedy R. Cardozo • John A. DeCicco, Sr. • David Demilia • Janet DiFiore • Jon Dorf • John Fareri • John M. Flannery, Esq. • Renee E. Garrick, MD • Lola Gazivoda • Susan G. Gevertz • Michael H. Gewitz, MD • Lianne Hales-Dugan • Jon L. Halpern • Barbara Hart, Esq. • Mitchell C. Hochberg • Michael D. Israel • Allen Kass • Leslie Lampert • Steven Lansman, MD • Ben Lieberman • Bill Madden • Rev. Hugh Marriott • Vincent J. Miller • Michelle A. Nicholas • Zubeen Shroff • Patricia Simone • Alana Sweeny • Mark S. Tulis, Esq. • Alfred P. Vigorito • Richard G. Wishnie • Julie Zielinski
Meet Our Team
Development
Irene Tsetsekos, Vice President, Development
Laura deBuys
Michelle Conrad
Kevin Cook
Paul Hochenberg
Howard Siegel
Hilary Sparling
Natalie Surin
Development Operations
Jessica Franjul-Pena
Robyn Halbert
Carol Weiss-Staudter
Events
Cindy VanderPlaat
Contact Us
914.493.2575
Mailing Address: 7 Skyline Drive, 3rd floor, Hawthorne, NY 10532
Tax ID
13-4095845
Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson is a partner of Thompson & Bender. Founded in 1986, the agency is the region’s premier advertising and public relations firm. As a partner in the firm, Mrs. Bracken-Thompson is responsible for a wide variety of clients representing a broad spectrum of business sectors including Fortune 500 firms; banks and financial institutions; educational institutions; not-for-profits; hospitals and health care organizations; the travel and hospitality industry; food and beverage sector; senior residential living; commercial real estate developers; environmental and business organizations, among others.
Rocco J. Pucino III is the VP/Retail Banking Officer at Ulster Savings Bank’s Kingston headquarters. In Mr. Pucino’s new role, he will is responsible for overseeing and directing the Retail Banking area by providing guidance and support to the bank’s 15 branch locations.
