Contact:
Maureen Gillespie, Meridian Health
mgillespie@meridianhealth.com | 732-776-4166
Kaitlyn Krieger, The Charles Lafitte Foundation
kaitlyn.krieger@marcusgroup.com | 973-890-9590
NEPTUNE, NJ – April 8, 2013 – K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center is proud to announce a $700,000 donation from Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron of Brielle, in conjunction with the Charles Lafitte Foundation (CLF), in support of the pediatric expansion project.
Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron, co-founders & board members of the Charles Lafitte Foundation, created the organization eight years ago to support non-profits providing children’s advocacy and medical research. Since that time, CLF has changed many lives through the generosity of its founders who are also known for the telecommunications company, Vonage, headed by Mr. Citron.
“Giving back to our community, in particular to organizations which protect and serve children, is a core value of our family and aligns perfectly with the mission of the Charles Lafitte Foundation,” says Mr. Citron. “We are very impressed with the mission of the K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital and are excited to partner with an organization that is focused on bettering the health of children in this region.”
In recognition of this generous gift, the 30 bed acute care inpatient unit, which includes a teen lounge, playroom for young patients and a family lounge for children and their families, will honor Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron in conjunction with the Charles Lafitte Foundation.
Since 2007, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital has experienced tremendous growth in the demand for pediatric services. The $5 million pediatric expansion project will enable the hospital to continue providing the most advanced health services for the area’s sickest children close to home.
The expansion includes the addition of 14 private rooms for the pediatric unit for a total of 44 beds, an expansion of the pediatric intensive care unit, and a new location for the pediatric outpatient program with offices for more than 100 subspecialists.
“This expansion will give our outstanding caregivers advanced facilities they need to serve sick and critically injured children in our region,” explains John K. Lloyd, FACHE, president of Meridian Health. “Thanks to Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron and their generous stewardship of the Charles Lafitte Foundation, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital will continue to grow and offer the most comprehensive care for area families.”
About Charles Lafitte Foundation:
The Charles Lafitte Foundation (CLF) supports innovative and effective ways of helping people help themselves and others around them to achieve healthy, satisfying and enriched lives. The Foundation supports organizations working in four main areas: education, children’s advocacy, medical research & issues, and the arts. The Foundation underwrites programs that can become self-sustaining with long-term commitment and measurable impact. In determining grants, CLF looks for solutions that lead to independence and self-empowerment for individuals, and to the establishment of effective, long-standing programs and organizations. For more information about the Charles Lafitte Foundation visit www.charleslafitte.org.
About K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center:
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health family, is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – the first children’s hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties. With more than 100 specialists, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital is the largest provider of pediatric care in Monmouth and Ocean counties and the heart of Meridian Pediatric Network. Jersey Shore is the regional provider of cardiac surgery, a program which has been ranked among the best in the Northeast, and is home to the only trauma center and stroke rescue center in the region. Jersey Shore University Medical Center specializes in cardiovascular care, orthopedics and rehabilitation, cancer care, neuroscience, and women’s specialty services. For more information about K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, call 1-800-DOCTORS, or visit www.khovnanianchildrenshospital.com.
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