South Brooklyn Health Auxiliary, Inc. celebrated a historic milestone on Nov. 12 with its first-ever Excellence for All Gala — an inspiring evening dedicated to advancing the hospital’s mission of breaking down health barriers and delivering top-tier care to every community member.
Set against the backdrop of Guastavino’s in Manhattan, the gala brought together a powerhouse of community leaders, healthcare champions, and philanthropists, all united in their commitment to raising funds and awareness for South Brooklyn Health’s transformative efforts.
The evening kicked off with remarks from Chief Executive Officer of South Brooklyn Health Svetlana Lipyanskaya, who shared a personal story about her family’s immigrant journey to the United States in the late 1980s. She reflected on how South Brooklyn’s resources, including Coney Island Hospital, helped her family assimilate and thrive. She underscored the critical role of South Brooklyn Health in serving nearly one million New Yorkers, emphasizing the hospital’s ongoing commitment to its diverse community.
Lipyanskaya also highlighted the hospital’s vision for the future, including efforts to reduce health disparities, ensure safe birthing experiences for all patients, and provide vocational opportunities for young people in the community.
“Now more than ever we find ourselves with a mantle of responsibility to care for and support each other,” she told the crowd. “As a healthcare facility, we must listen to our diverse environment and be innovative in our drive to create programs that help reduce health disparities. We must do everything we can to ensure that every pregnant patient has a safe birthing experience and is set up for success as she grows her family. We have to ensure that our patients are armed with the tools necessary to manage their chronic diseases so that they can stay healthy and active. And we must look to the future, by building pathways for our young people to grow and develop successful careers so that they can continue to strengthen and support our community.”
Lipyanskaya encouraged guests to consider how they could support these vital initiatives, particularly through their contributions to the evening’s gala.
“It is certainly possible that one day, a graduate of the SBH Cares Program will be standing in front of you as the leader of South Brooklyn Health,” she said.
Following Lipyanskaya’s remarks, the audience watched a video presentation that chronicled the hospital’s storied history, from its founding nearly 150 years ago to its present-day transformation into a state-of-the-art healthcare provider. The video showcased the dedication of the hospital’s 3,500 staff members, illustrating their ongoing commitment to providing innovative care in a rapidly changing world.
Other speakers included President of the South Brooklyn Health Auxiliary Theresa Scavo, Clara Spera, granddaughter of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and emcee Monica Morales, an investigative reporter at PIX11.
Scavo spoke passionately about her lifelong connection to South Brooklyn, recounting the region’s recovery following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy. She credited the community’s resilience and the hospital’s leadership for securing nearly $1 billion in federal funding to rebuild the hospital into the modern,11-story Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital.
“The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital has literally and figuratively changed the skyline of South Brooklyn,” she said.
Spera shared her deep pride in representing her grandmother’s legacy at the event.
“South Brooklyn Health’s mission to provide high quality, patient-centered care with compassion, dignity and respect to a diverse group of people from all economic backgrounds is aligned with my grandmother’s life’s work,” she said. “Throughout her career as an advocate and then a jurist, my grandmother made clear that rights can be rendered meaningless unless they can be accessed by everyone, not just an elite few. She would be proud to lend her name to an institution like South Brooklyn Health, which serves a large and diverse community of people.”
She added that the funds raised at the gala will benefit the hospital system and help further Ginsburg’s mission.
“The funds raised at this gala will also address chronic diseases such as diabetes, which have a disproportionate impact on Black and Brown people; provide vocational and educational opportunities for at-risk young people; and training for South Brooklyn Health clinicians so they are well-equipped to care for patients who are from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. This is work of which my grandmother would have been proud.
Morales, who hosts “Monica Makes It Happen,” a show honoring everyday heroes, praised the efforts of Lipyanskaya and the South Brooklyn Health team.
Finally, Dr. Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, was introduced to share his insights on the role of public healthcare systems in promoting community health. Katz, who leads the largest municipal health system in the United States, spoke about the challenges and opportunities in providing care to diverse, underserved populations.
After recognizing Scavo and Spera with plaques, Lipyanskaya encouraged guests to continue supporting South Brooklyn Health’s mission by making direct donations.
“We appreciate each and every one of you for the generosity that you have shown in supporting this gala and our efforts to be good citizens and good neighbors,” she said.
South Brooklyn Health is located at 2601 Ocean Parkway in Sheepshead Bay.
Additional reporting by Ramy Mahmoud
