‘A privilege and a responsibility’: Maimonides Health hosts annual fundraiser for new Pediatric Trauma Center

Brooklyn’s biggest healthcare system, Maimonides Health, hosted its annual “Community for Kids” fundraiser on Dec. 6, proceeds from which will go directly to the Borough Park medical center’s new Pediatric Trauma Center.

The Maimonides Children’s Hospital is Kings County’s only comprehensive children’s hospital, and houses the borough’s only Pediatric Trauma Center emergency room.

“As a parent myself, I know there is no worse moment than when your kid needs to go to the ER — and that’s what makes me so proud of what our hardworking staff have been able to achieve for their patients and families across Brooklyn,” said Kenneth Gibbs, CEO of Maimonides Health. “Having the only pediatric Trauma Center in Brooklyn is a privilege and a responsibility, especially when we know that a trauma center increases chances for survival by 25%. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you on behalf of the entire Maimonides family for the contributions that keep this center open and [allow] us to make it even better.”

This annual fundraiser, held this year at the El Caribe Country Club in Mill Basin, has helped fund and operate Maimonides Children’s Hospital, with the event raising $221,000 in 2021. As of Dec. 8, this year’s event had raised $171,000.

Rivka Mintz, RN, VP and interim chief nursing officer, Frank Naccarato, secretary of the Board of Trustees and event co-chair, Kenneth Gibbs, president and CEO, Patricia Alegre, RN, senior staff nurse, Pediatric Critical Care (Kindest Care Award recipient), and Mary Loretta, RN, director of nursing of Maimonides Children’s Hospital.Maimonides Health

This year’s event honorees included Patricia Alegre, RN, senior staff nurse in Maimonides’ Pediatric Critical Care unit; Alexander Arroyo, MD, director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Maimonides Health; Dolores Catania, one of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey; Christopher Vanella, president of Community Electric Service Corp.; and Douglas Jablon, executive vice president of community relations and special assistant to the president at Maimonides Health.

Since the Maimonides Pediatric Trauma Center opened its doors in 2016, the facility has seen and treated more than 2,367 children — 1,628 of whom were admitted to the Children’s Hospital.

And in the facility’s Children’s Trauma Center, injured kids from across the borough will get to benefit from integrated facilities and personnel delivering a system of care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The new emergency pediatric department is still under construction, and is slated for completion in 2024.