The Brooklyn Hospital Foundation’s Founders Ball, which typically attracts more than 700 guests and raises over $1 million in net proceeds annually, funds clinical advancements in the region’s oldest and most celebrated voluntary hospital. This year’s event will highlight the Hospital’s success in meeting healthcare challenges, in addition to celebrating distinguished honorees as it gears up for its 175th Anniversary in 2020. This year’s event is chaired by Robert Knakal, Chairman of NY Investment Sales, JLL, and Cynthia Knakal, a community champion and emerging philanthropist. “Cynthia and I are so honored to be part of this great organization and event,” noted the real estate expert Knakal, “I have witnessed the strides made by the Hospital in innovation and facilities throughout my years of involvement. It is a reflection of clinical expertise and compassion for the people they serve.”
This year’s honorees (bios attached) include four exceptional individuals who are making tremendous contributions to the robust and rapidly growing Brooklyn community. They include:
- Founders Medalist- Dino J. Veronese
- Walter E. Reed Medalists- Dhanan J. Etwaru, MD & Linus M. Yoe, MD
- Robert B. Catell Emerging Philanthropist -John A. Catsimatidis, Jr. of Red Apple Group
The theme of the evening - “Healthcare Puzzles and Solutions” - will focus on how TBHC has taken the lead in expanding, modernizing and reimagining community healthcare. A total renovation of the Emergency Department is already underway. The Foundation is also leading a multi-year 175th Anniversary Celebration recognizing community-wide individuals and organizations that have made substantial contributions to Brooklyn. All of this further confirms the Hospital’s emphasis on patient and family comfort and reflects the expertise and commitment of an organization with a long history in this region.
The evening’s schedule is as follows:
- 6:00 – 7:30 pm Cocktail Reception/Press Party with Honorees and Celebrity Guests
- 7:30 – 9:00pm Awards Program and Dinner
- 9:00 – 11:00pm Casino
Among the early sponsors of this often-sold-out event are Accuity Delivery Systems, BSE Global, Mount Sinai Health System and St. George’s University. Schneps Media and Everything Brooklyn Media are serving as media partners. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or how to purchase tickets, please visit FoundersBall.org.
About The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) Since 1845, TBHC has been dedicated to providing outstanding health services, education and research to keep the people of Brooklyn and greater New York healthy. TBHC’s focus is ensuring optimal patient care through the use of advanced technology, innovative medical and surgical treatments and staff expertise. Located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, TBHC is a clinical affiliate of Mount Sinai Health System and an academic affiliate of The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As Brooklyn’s first voluntary hospital, TBHC is proud to be a part of an incredibly diverse community and is committed to Keeping Brooklyn Healthy. Noted as a world-class cardiac care center, TBHC was recognized for its exceptional heart failure care by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings. It also received the American Heart/Stroke Association’s Get with The Guidelines® (GWTG) Heart Failure and Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing some of the best medical practices for patient heart care. Most recently, TBHC was the recipient of a $25 million grant from the New York State Department of Health to expand and upgrade its Emergency Department facilities. This was the largest award in 2017 for any New York City health provider as part of the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program (SHCFTP).
