HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION’S MOST AMBITIOUS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO DATE IS FOCUSED ON INNOVATION AND HUMAN-CENTERED CARE
BY JENNIFER KELLY PHOTOS BY AMESSE PHOTOGRAPHY
When the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation publicly launched its “Be The Difference” campaign in September of this year, board members knew their $1 billion fundraising goal was ambitious, but necessary. Aiming to revolutionize everything from the delivery of patient care to health equity, plus enhance medical education and research, the philanthropic arm of New Jersey’s largest hospital group set its sights on improving the health and lives of residents throughout the state one donation at a time.
“With a $1 billion goal, this campaign is the largest undertaking by a healthcare network in New Jersey,” noted Joyce P. Hendricks, president and chief development officer of the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation. “It is our aim to transform healthcare to meet the needs of patients today and in the future.”
Built on four key pillars (Better Delivery of Patient Care, Revolutionizing Medical Education and Supporting the Nursing Profession, Accelerated Research and Discovery, and More Equitable Access to Advanced Care), the campaign is comprehensive, spanning Hackensack Meridian Health’s entire network – every hospital and clinical area and is designed to propel the healthcare network, the field of medicine, and the health of the New Jersey region forward not in small incremental steps, but rather in big ambitious leaps
Hackensack Meridian Health Network Gala
“In designing this campaign, we established these pillars to align with the direction of Hackensack Meridian Health and to best meet the needs of our communities,” Hendricks continued. “Our efforts are focused on expanding and supporting patient care, ensuring that Hackensack Meridian Health has the most advanced technology and that all of our hospitals and ambulatory care centers are staffed with the best physicians in the region.”
The campaign will help to build a forwardthinking education program designed to mentor physicians who are humanistic, socially responsible, and collaborative. It is also helping to create groundbreaking research and new treatments for debilitating illnesses. Less invasive surgeries, more precise treatments, faster recoveries, and better outcomes are the Be The Difference goals
“We are focused on accelerating timelines to help the 20% of patients for whom there’s currently no drug or trial,” said David S. Perlin, Ph.D, chief scientific officer with Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery and Innovation.
Dr. Jeffrey Boscamp, president and dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, added, “We are addressing the urgent need for more clinicians and striving to build diversity reflecting the patients we care for, while having our students under – stand and focus their attention on the social needs that impact our communities.”
“We also wanted to make sure that we continue to have the best educated nurses and that we persevere in our efforts to treat New Jersey’s vulnerable, underserved population,” Hendricks continued. “Donations are key to helping us hire more healthcare workers, enhance our research efforts, and innovate in areas that improve care across the network.”
And now, the Be The Difference campaign is already more than halfway to its $1 billion target.
“We have raised $626 million so far and we are very excited about that,” Hendricks said. “But there’s still a lot more work to be done.”
Hendricks leads the fundraising efforts with Hackensack Meridian Health’s CEO, Robert C. Garrett, and also works closely with Eli Manning, former New York Giants quarterback and two-time Super Bowl MVP, and Peter Cancro, founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Subs, who co-chair the campaign.
“They are amazing, very much boots on the ground,” Hendricks said of Manning and Cancro. “They’re not just throwing their name on this, they are out there doing the work. They are a very important part of this campaign’s success.”
The galas and events are star-studded: Jon Stewart emceed the foundation’s 2024 Be The Difference Gala and Campaign Launch on September 14, and Hugh Jackman performed. Tracy Morgan (who was treated at Hackensack Meridian Health after his tragic car accident in 2014) was also in attendance.
“It was a very pivotal moment,” Hendricks said. “Having Jon and Tracy support our cause speaks to the magnitude of our efforts.”
According to Hendricks, their presence underscored the campaign’s main goal of providing a human-centered experience at each and every one of Hackensack Meridian Health’s care sites.
“Endeavors of this size are not possible without the efforts of a strong fundraising team, dedicated boards and volunteers, and of course, our engaged donors,” Hendricks said. “I am so proud of my fundraising team and our family of donors, who are very involved in the priorities and interests of this campaign. They are passionate about how their donations will impact care.”
The funding is already actively being utilized. A major expansion and renovation is already underway at Jersey Shore Medical Center, a facility upgrade is taking place at JFK University Medical Center, and there are academic medical center projects launching throughout the entire Hackensack Meridian Health network, as well as the construction of several ambulatory care sites. “Healthcare is changing and we are fundraising to meet those needs,” noted Hendricks. “We understand that New Jersey residents want additional treatment facilities for oncology and emergency care. We are tailoring our fundraising to take care of those needs.”
Hendricks and her team are now planning a full lineup of events for 2025, making a strong push to get the New Jersey community involved in Hackensack Meridian Health’s fundraising efforts. The campaign, which is slated to end in 2027, is already closing in on its $1 billion goal. If they surpass it, Hendricks calls it a victory for the entire state of New Jersey.
“We are facing a historic moment for this healthcare organization and for the quality of New Jersey healthcare in general,” she said. “That is why we’re asking the public to get involved in our efforts and asking them to ‘Be The Difference’ in the future of healthcare in this state.”
Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation
hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/donate/about-our-foundation
To learn more about Be The Difference or to make a gift, visit