Bikers Mark a Fundraising Milestone in Annual Charity Run to Support HackensackUMC Patients and Programs

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Bikers rode in full force to support Hackensack University Medical Center’s patients and programs in the HackensackUMC Foundation’s 13th Annual Motorcycle Charity Run. Breaking a rainy streak that persisted the past few years, skies were sunny and the pavement was dry as more than 600 bikers took to the streets for a great cause. In all, whether they rode a motorcycle or just came to enjoy the day, more than 800 people joined in the event that raised $487,000. This year’s fundraising total brought the overall event total, raised over 13 years, to more than $4,000,000.

The bikers rode from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford over the George Washington Bridge and back again, cruising along the Palisades Interstate Parkway to Ross’s Dock in Fort Lee. Skies were blue and spirits were high as HackensackUMC’s AirMed One helicopter did a flyover at the event.

“As HackensackUMC marks its 125th anniversary, with a history of providing world-class care to our community, it is important to recognize the contribution of our HackensackUMC Foundation,” said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Health Network. “The Foundation has provided steadfast and significant financial support to our patients and programs through the years. Events such as the Annual Motorcycle Charity Run offer our HackensackUMC friends and supporters a chance to come together and make a meaningful difference.”

The event’s major sponsors provided generous support and abundant food. They included the Sanzari Companies, Stony Hill Inn, Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn, Inserra ShopRite Supermarkets, Personal Touch Caterers, the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA Local 1804-1), Power Concrete and Roman Asphalt.

“Everybody enjoyed the day,” said Joseph M. Sanzari, chairman of the HackensackUMC Foundation Board of Trustees. “The beautiful thing about his event is that it brings people together – bikers, doctors, lawyers and even retirees – for a great cause and a great medical center.” Reflecting on the success and evolution of the event Sanzari said, “I started the annual charity run and motorcycle raffle 13 years ago in an effort to raise money to support the children’s hospital at HackensackUMC and it gets bigger and better every year.”

Proceeds from the event will support new initiatives and programs at HackensackUMC, including the expansion and renovation of the medical center’s Emergency and Trauma Center (ETC). HackensackUMC’s ETC, Bergen County’s only state designated trauma center, will expand to offer specialized pods and individualized treatment suites, providing care that is, as always, patient and family focused.

PHOTO CAPTION:

(Charity Run Photo B) Pictured l to r: Mark Sparta, vice president and senior operations officer, HackensackUMC; Richard B. DeSimone, chairman, HackensackUMC Advisory Board; Lawrence R. Inserra, Jr., chairman, HackensackUMC Board of Governors; Robert C. Garrett, president and CEO, Hackensack University Health Network; Helen Cunning; executive director, Development, HackensackUMC Foundation; Joseph M. Sanzari, chairman, HackensackUMC Foundation Board of Trustees; Joseph Simunovich, chairman, Hackensack University Health Network Board of Trustees; Ketul J. Patel, executive vice president, chief strategy and operations officer, HackensackUMC; and Sharon Scimeca, director, Special Projects/Major Gifts Liaison, HackensackUMC Foundation.

About Hackensack University Medical Center

HackensackUMC, a nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. It is the flagship hospital of the Hackensack University Health Network, one of the largest health networks in the state comprised of 1,140 beds, nearly 10,000 employees and 2,200 credentialed physicians. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey and one of the top three New York metro area hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report for 2013-14, and has received 10 national rankings in: Cancer; Cardiology & Heart Surgery; Ear, Nose & Throat; Gastroenterology & GI Surgery; Geriatrics; Neurology & Neurosurgery; Orthopedics; Pulmonology; Urology; and the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital ranked as one of the Top 50 Best Children’s Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery in the 2013-14 Best Children’s Hospitals list. HackensackUMC is among Healthgrades® America’s Best 100 Hospitals in 10 different areas – more than any other hospital in the nation, is one of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals™ for seven years in a row, and received the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 11 years in a row. The medical center has also been named a Leapfrog Top Hospital, and received 19 Gold Seals of Approval™ by the Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence. HackensackUMC is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls, and remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.   

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