A celebration of art and community spirit took center stage on May 17 as Margaretville Hospital hosted its Fifth Annual Art Auction, CATCH: Community Art to Community Health. Held in the MTC Community Room, the event united art lovers and hospital supporters in a successful effort to raise funds for the hospital’s primary care service expansion.

The evening featured a vibrant collection of artwork from acclaimed local artists, including Laura Taylor, Ron Macklin, Gary Mayer, Lisbeth Firmin, and Judith Lamb. Guests bid on 40 live auction pieces—ranging from paintings and mixed-media collages to ceramics.  Previews throughout the spring allowed attendees to view the artwork in advance; an additional 25 pieces were available in a silent online auction, allowing supporters from afar to participate. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase art notecard sets featuring works by the East Branch Delaware River Plein Air Painters.

The evening also featured live jazz music from pianist Loren Daniels, delicious food courtesy of caterer Connie Kearney, and sparkling beverages donated by Bear Maple Farms.

Sponsors of the event included Margaretville Telephone Company, Alta Log Homes, Hubbell Farms, Phoenicia Diner, Richard A. Siegel and Polly de Mille, Sluiter Agency, BEAR Architects, Catskill Chapel, Coldwell Banker Timberland, Delaware Bulldozing, Hawk + Hive, and The Mountain Eagle.

“The event’s success demonstrates our community’s deep commitment to strengthening local healthcare,” said Emilie Adams, Margaretville Hospital Board Chair. “The funds raised will help support WMCHealth’s strategic initiative to expand primary care services at Margaretville Hospital, including essential facility upgrades. This brings us one step closer to our vision of accessible care for all community members.”

Thank you to all who attended and supported this event. To learn more and help advance healthcare at as Margaretville Hospital, please visit Foundations of WMCHealth or call 914-493-2575.

HealthAlliance Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, honored a notable physician and outstanding community leaders at its HealthAlliance Hospital Honors event on May 1^st.

Jamal Mahdavian, MD, President of the Medical Staff at HealthAlliance Hospital, was presented with the Physician Exemplar award. The 5 Spellman and 5 SMC Unit Nurses were presented with Care Champion awards, and Supporting Friends of HealthAlliance (SFOHA) was presented with the Community Champion award. The Beverly Finnegan Legacy Award, honoring the enduring legacy of Beverly Finnegan (whose generosity and dedication enriched our community) was presented in memory of Beverly Finnegan.

This year’s HealthAlliance Honors event was held at the Diamond Mills Hotel in Saugerties, NY. Proceeds benefited Advanced Surgical Services at HealthAlliance Hospital and the HealthAlliance Foundation.

“This year’s honorees were a truly wonderful group,” said Mary Ann Hildebrandt, Chair of the HealthAlliance Hospital Foundation. “HealthAlliance Hospital has been fortunate to benefit from Dr. Mahdavian’s longstanding passion for surgery and healthcare. We are so proud of the 5 Spellman and 5 SMC Unit Nurses who provide outstanding care to HealthAlliance patients every day. Supporting Friends of HealthAlliance have gone above and beyond in their work for the hospital for 100 years, and we were honored to remember Beverly Finnegan and all she did for the community. Congratulations to everyone who was honored at this year’s event.”

For more than 20 years, Dr. Mahdavian has provided medical services to the community as a surgeon. He has served as Vice Chair of Surgery, Chief of Surgery, Vice President of the Medical Staff, and most recently as President of the Medical Staff at HealthAlliance Hospital. His longstanding generosity and service have inspired countless others.

Thank you to all who attended and supported HealthAlliance Honors. To learn more and help advance healthcare at HealthAlliance Hospital, please visit Foundations of WMCHealth or call 914-493-2575.

Good Samaritan Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, honored to two outstanding community leaders at its 38^th Annual Spring Ball on April 6.

 Scott G. Luchs, MD, President of the Medical Staff and Director of Radiology and Interventional Radiology at Good Samaritan Hospital, was presented with the Sister Joseph Rita Award for Medical Excellence. And Aurelius J. “Aury” Licata, the founder of Licata Management, a well-respected insurance agency in Suffern, and a 30-year member of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation Board was presented with the Good Samaritan Hospital Medal of Honor for his outstanding service to the community. 

This year’s Spring Ball was held at the Edgewood Country Club in River Vale, NJ. Proceeds benefitted Advanced Cardiac Services at Good Samaritan.

“Our outstanding honorees serve our community with selfless dedication,” said Chair of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation Kevin Kern. “Good Samaritan has had the good fortune to benefit from Dr. Luchs’ passion for medicine and healthcare innovation. Aury Licata, in addition to his long-term support for the hospital’s mission and leadership on our Foundation Board, has been deeply involved in his community through philanthropy and leadership. Congratulations to both men on this well-deserved recognition.” 

For decades, Dr. Luchs has served in pivotal roles at Good Samaritan Hospital, leading committees and championing initiatives that strengthen healthcare in the Rockland and Orange County communities. For more than 30 years, Licata has been a cornerstone of Good Samaritan Hospital’s Foundation Board. He has championed the growth of planned giving, inspired others to join and set an example of steadfast support for the hospital’s mission.

The Spring Ball was hosted by The Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, the hospital’s philanthropic arm. To support advances in healthcare at Good Samaritan Hospital, pleasevisit Foundations of WMCHealth or call 914-493-2575.

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.

ShopRite customers can donate to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital when shopping at ShopRite stores February 2nd through the 17th,   We are grateful for the continued support of ShopRite and the ShopRite customers who generously give to support life-saving healthcare for local children. Last winter, 27 ShopRite supermarkets collected more than $92,000 in donations from shoppers to support programs and services at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. To learn how you or your business can partner with us to advance the quality of care in our community, click here.

We are incredibly grateful to Britain Nicholson and Robert Hess, representing all members of the Tuscarora Club of Millbrook, NY, for their generous $40k donation to Margaretville Hospital’s heliport campaign. This crucial project will ensure that emergency transfers run quickly and efficiently, providing a lifeline to patients in need of rapid care. Heliports are vital for rural hospitals like Margaretville Hospital, offering direct access to the WMCHealth Network, enhancing patient outcomes, and saving lives. Thank you for helping us take this important step forward!

Learn more about the Margaretville Hospital Heliport Campaign and how to support this cause »

Girls’ Night Out, the annual fundraiser for the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) Heart and Vascular Institute, will feature inspiring stories celebrating heart patients and their healthcare providers. The event promises a fun night of dinner, dancing, and a patient fashion show.

Award-winning news reporter and anchor Tara Rosenblum will emcee the event on Thursday, February 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel in Tarrytown. The event will also honor WMCHealth Foundation Board Member and former longtime WMCHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Kara Bennorth.

February is American Heart Month, and Girls’ Night Out aims to raise awareness about the importance of heart health, particularly for women whose symptoms may differ from those experienced by men. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, causing 1 in 3 deaths, or approximately one every minute, according to the American Heart Association.

The evening will include a fashion show with clothing courtesy of designer Beverley Olivacce, a shopping boutique, a beauty suite, accessories wall, raffles, dinner, and dancing. Attendees are encouraged to wear red attire.

This year’s honoree, Kara Bennorth, has nearly 40 years of experience in public affairs, marketing, communications and development in both healthcare and the public sector. Bennorth started her career at Westchester Medical Center in 1995 and progressed to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of WMCHealth.

Proceeds from the event will 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. To learn more about sponsorships for the event or to buy tickets or donate, visit WMCHealthGiving.org. Tickets can be purchased here.

For Annie Pevear, running has been a lifelong passion since her mother first encouraged her to lace up her sneakers at age 10. This fall, she transformed that passion into purpose, raising nearly $6,000 for WMCHealth’s Margaretville Hospital while training for and completing the 2024 New York City Marathon.

The fundraising journey began at Margaretville Hospital’s annual art auction in May, where Pevear learned about the opportunity to support the hospital through marathon fundraising. As a longtime runner and community member who has witnessed firsthand the vital role of the rural hospital, she eagerly volunteered for the challenge.

“I think it’s an essential thing to have in a rural area,” Pevear said, noting that the hospital is just 15 minutes from the Farm School in Roxbury, an educational farm where she works. “I’ve had to bring students to the ER when something happens, and they always get such good treatment there.”

Her fundraising efforts combined grassroots outreach with community events, including hosting a successful fundraiser at a local cidery. The campaign quickly gained momentum as community members, hospital board members and even strangers contributed to the cause, which will support the hospital’s current initiative to build a helipad.

A Boston native who moved to the Catskills nine years ago, Pevear approached the marathon with dedication, following a rigorous two-month training schedule that included running up to 60 miles per week. The marathon itself proved to be an unforgettable experience, particularly the final stretch through Harlem and into Central Park, where she was cheered on by students and families from her school.

“I love to run, so it felt good to run for a cause,” she reflected. “Some people who donated see me running on the roads all the time, so it felt like they could cheer me on for the marathon too. It was wonderful to turn my daily runs into something that benefits our whole community.”

The successful campaign highlighted the community’s commitment to maintaining quality local healthcare. “The community will really come together when people need things,” Pevear said. “Everybody can rally around the hospital because it’s so essential to everybody’s health and safety here.”