Holy Name Press Releases

Holy Name Hospital and Russ Berrie Foundation Partner to Provide Community Program

March 7, 2007

HOLY NAME HOSPITAL AND RUSS BERRIE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE BERRIE RIPPLE COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM

TEANECK, NJ -- Holy Name Hospital and the Russell Berrie Foundation are proud partners in a community program that honors the birthday of the late Russell Berrie by empowering hospital team members to take a personal and active role in the health of the communities they serve.

Ceremonies to celebrate Berrie's birthday will be held on Friday, March 16 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ, in the Russell Berrie Hall.  Berrie's birthday is March 18.  

A number of organizations, including Holy Name Hospital, were encouraged to commemorate the event by initiating community projects that reflected Berrie's compassion and caring.  

Holy Name's program, titled the "Berrie Ripple", encourages Holy Name employees, physicians and volunteers to distribute vouchers redeemable for one of four free health screenings to neighbors in their own communities.  Recipients of the vouchers will choose from the following screenings: diabetes, bone and joint, colorectal health, and peripheral artery disease.  All screenings will be performed at Holy Name Hospital by medical staff and/or health professionals on specific dates throughout March.

Once an individual receives a health screening, he or she will also be given a voucher redeemable for one of four health screenings to pass on to another member of his or her community. The goal of the program is to create a "ripple" effect inspiring others to spread on and on the message of better health.  

"The hospital felt it only appropriate to honor the memory of Russ Berrie on his birthday by offering a program that exemplified his desire to improve the health of others. The program also reinforces the virtue of benevolence as one of the greatest gifts we all possess," said Michael Maron, president/CEO of Holy Name Hospital.  "By tossing the first 'pebble,' we create an initial, small ripple, but as others become inspired by his message and pass it along to their loved ones, they too will help to increase the impact of the Berrie Ripple."  

Berrie became a long-time supporter of Holy Name Hospital through his friendship with Sister Patricia Lynch, past CEO of the hospital. The Holy Name Regional Cancer Center, a leading cancer center in the New York Metropolitan area, was made possible by the generosity and benevolence of Berrie and his wife, Angelica.

"While Russ is no longer with us, the gift he has given continues to diagnose, treat and benefit thousands of cancer patients ever year all of whom provide living testimony to Russ and Angelica's generosity," said Maron.  "Russ and Angelica threw one pebble into our waters and indeed it has had a profound and ongoing ripple effect."

Holy Name Hospital is a fully accredited, not-for-profit, acute care community hospital located in suburban Teaneck, New Jersey.

The Russell Berrie Foundation carries on the values and passions of the late Russell Berrie, through promoting the continuity of the Jewish people, fostering religious understanding and pluralism, supporting advances in diabetes and humanistic medical care, celebrating unsung heroes and elevating the profession of sales.