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VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATIONHEALTH & HOSPICE
HOUSECALLS
105-Year-Old Hospice Patient
Shares Memories
VNAHG Expands Into Ohio
The Doctor Is In… Your Home!
Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice • Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Home Care & Hospice
Visiting Nurse Association of Englewood • Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio • Visiting Physician Services
2 | VNAHG HOUSE CALLS Winter 2018
Visiting Nurse Associationof Central JerseyHome Care and Hospice
Visi�ng Nurse Associa�on of Englewoodvna
Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health Group is New Jersey’s largest nonprofit Visiting Nurse Association
and provides a large scope of home-based health services in the state of Ohio. VNA Health Group helps individuals and families achieve their best level of health and well-being
by providing home healthcare, hospice, palliative and community-based care and operating private-pay
personal care services. A full range of primary-care services are available through VNACJ Community Health
Centers. Our unique partnership model with health systems leverages our clinical and technical resources to operate VNA of Central Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson
Visiting Nurses, VNA of Englewood, Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice, Visiting Physician Services and
Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio. Currently, we employ nearly 2,500 people and each year, we care for over
150,000 individuals and families, with a special focus on vulnerable populations such as children, older adults and those with serious and disabling chronic illness. For more information about VNA Health Group, call 800.862.3330,
visit www.vnahg.org and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VNAHealthGroup or @VNAHealthGroup.
800.862.3330 • vnahg.org
VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATIONHEALTH & HOSPICE
Member of VNA Health Group
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great
organization! 2017 was an incredible year for
VNA Health Group, marking a major milestone for
the agency as we joined with VNA of Ohio, the
first partnership across statelines. Growth has been
a core strategy of VNA Health Group, as our state
and country need to excel at helping people stay
healthy at home and healthy in the community.
Every day, I feel grateful to be able to serve as a
leader to our incredible team of clinicians,
businesspeople and support professionals.
As you’ll see in this latest edition of House Calls,
VNA Health Group remains focused on excellent
outcomes, quality and patient experience and is fiercely dedicated to
our mission of caring for those in the shadows who are most
vulnerable. From birth to end of life, VNA Health Group continues to
provide vital safety net programs for children, adults, seniors and
those living with a disability or mental illness.
Looking ahead 2018 marks the beginning of our 2018 – 2020 Strategic
Plan, focusing on three critical pillars that have been built to bring VNA
Health Group to the next level of excellence. The 2018 – 2020 Plan is
focused on people, quality and experience, and growth and innovation.
You’ll see through the featured patient stories and program highlights
that we are continuously looking at new programs and services and other
key initiatives that support the plan and address the needs of our patients
and their families. We will continue to work hard to be the best we can be
as we prepare for the next phase of our future.
Thank you for all you do for VNA Health Group, today and every day!
Sincerely yours,
Steve Landers, MD, MPH
President and CEO
Visiting Nurse Association Health Group
VNAHG.ORG 800.862.3330 | 3 @VNAHealthGroup Visiting Nurse Association Health Group @vna_health_group
One of Vivian DeStefano’s fondest memories is of Frank
Sinatra’s wedding to Nancy Barbato in 1939. The 105-year-
old loves to tell the story, from the comfort of her home in
Long Branch, to her VNACJ hospice care team. And her
team loves to listen.
Born and raised in Jersey City, Vivian and her family were
good friends with the Barbatos. When Sinatra was dating
Nancy, the two frequently came for Sunday dinner. Talking
about the good time they all shared at the wedding
brings on a great smile. “I am in awe of Viv. I just love her,”
says Hospice Volunteer Diane Vigilante, part of the care
team that also includes a hospice nurse, chaplain and social
worker. “I find articles about things that I know she likes,
and I have educated myself…about growing up in Jersey
City.” (See related story about Vigilante).
With the help of a live-in health aide, Vivian is managing
congestive heart failure. After she was hospitalized for
two weeks following a minor stroke, the hospital suggested
home hospice care, and the VNACJ team was quickly
assembled. For Vivian, this meant a whole new audience
for her stories.
Sinatra is just one subject in a wealth of stories Vivian
shared. She traveled extensively, and once encountered
Pope Pius XII while visiting the Vatican. Another time, in
1956, she chaperoned Smith College students on a two-
month, nine-country tour across Europe. And closer to
home, she liked to visit Atlantic City, and happily recalls
the time she won nearly $3,000.
Vivian helped to raise seven nieces and nephews, all of
whom visit her often. When she turned 100, they threw
her a large birthday bash at which the mayor of Long
Branch issued a proclamation declaring July 28th “Vivian
DeStefano Day.” Now, five years later, Vivian is still
enjoying life. Her secret to longevity and good health is
quite simple: “Treat people the way you want to be
treated. That’s all you have to do.”
105-YEAR-OLD HOSPICE PATIENT SHARED FOND MEMORIES WITH HER CARE TEAM
“They sent me home, and while some people think I went home to die, really, hospice is not about that at all. I tell everybody that these are the nicest people I have met in my life. Sometimes we just sit and chat.” -Vivian DeStefano, 105-year-old hospice patient
Vivian DeStefano, pictured with her hospice team Diane Vigilante, Volunteer; Janet Freed, Pastoral Care; and Kimberly Gagnon, Social Worker
Vivian passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on January 10, 2018.
4 | VNAHG HOUSE CALLS Winter 2018
While much has changed in the 105 years since the VNA
was founded, the generous support of our community
has remained a constant. As a not-for-profit, tax-exempt,
charitable organization, VNA has always relied on both
financial contributions and volunteer hours to fulfill its
mission. Yet placing a value on all this generous support
is nearly impossible. The influence, insight and impact of
our volunteers and philanthropists cannot be overestimated,
and they secure our ability to provide care to all patients
in need, regardless of their circumstances or ability to pay.
No couple better symbolizes the extraordinary value of
dedicated service to VNA than Diane and Frank Vigilante
of Fair Haven. Frank, a retired AT&T executive, has served
as a member of the VNAHG Board of Trustees since 1993,
donating countless hours of experience and advice. Frank
is passionate about hospice, as is his wife, Diane, who has
been a hospice volunteer for 18 years. She spends several
hours each week visiting patients in their homes.
In addition to all they have given of their time and talent,
Frank and Diane are generous VNA donors. They
support nearly every VNA special event and the 2020
Vision Campaign. They have also made a bequest to
the VNA in their estate plan.
“The VNA is a wonderful organization, and in particular, the hospice program is important to us. We have seen firsthand the benefits of how it can improve the end of life for patients and their families.”-Frank Vigilante, VNA trustee
Fortunately, the Vigilantes' commitment to serving VNA
is not unique. Many volunteers and donors come together
to contribute to our success. Charitable support, for
example, is the key to our ability to provide complimentary
hospice programs and a wide array of public health
and safety net programs for vulnerable children and
families. The majority of these programs receive some
public funding, but are often under-resourced. It is our
donors, therefore, who make up the difference and
ensure that we can continue to respond to those who
need our services.
Individuals support the VNA in many ways: attending
special events, shopping at the VNACJ Thrift Shop,
making a bequest or pledging to the 2020 Vision
Campaign. Many also serve as volunteers: for the Board
of Trustees and Institute Advisory Board, for hospice,
and for events, the Thrift Shop and our annual Seasons
of Hope program. Like the Vigilantes, our donors and
volunteers make an extraordinary difference. They
recognize a need, commit wholeheartedly and do what
needs to be done…priceless.
TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE – ALL ARE MISSION CRITICAL TO VNA
Frank and Diane Vigilante, longtime VNA volunteers and supporters
VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART OF VNAJoin Us and Make a DifferenceThe VNA relies on volunteers to assist with all aspects of our important mission. Volunteer opportunities are numerous and
include visits with patients and families, comfort calls to bereaved hospice families, help with special events, clerical and
administrative assistance or work in our Thrift and Consignment Shop in Manasquan. For more information and to discuss the
volunteer opportunity that is right for you, please call Pauline DePalma, Manager of Volunteers at 732.224.6933, or email her
at Pauline.depalma@vnahg.org.
VNAHG.ORG 800.862.3330 | 5 @VNAHealthGroup Visiting Nurse Association Health Group @vna_health_group
A SPECIAL FINAL WISH FOR A HOSPICE PATIENT PROVIDES PEACE OF MIND
Last August, the VNA’s RWJBarnabas hospice team
members fulfilled hospice patient Helene Purcell’s wish by
arranging for her to visit her beloved parish church. Saint
Philomena Church in Livingston had recently undergone a
major renovation, and Helene informed her social worker
that she wanted to see those changes for herself. The
team went into action, and through the Final Wishes Fund,
arrangements were made for Helene to make a visit. The
pastor at Saint Philomena, Reverend Monsignor Robert
J. Fuhrman, gave Helene a full tour. He and the parish
Musical Director then met with her privately to discuss
her wishes, including the music she wanted played for her
funeral Mass. With greater peace of mind and the comfort
of knowing she had been heard, Helene joined the hospice
staff for lunch out at her favorite restaurant. Helene made
a personal gift to the Final Wishes Fund to show her
appreciation for the experience and to help another
hospice patient.
The Final Wishes Program is funded through contributions and provides hospice patients with the opportunity to
fulfill their wishes without regard to financial obstacles. For more information, please contact Megan Knight,
Director of Development & Community Outreach, 973.370.8134 or email her at Megan.Knight@BarnabasHealthHCH.org.
Pictured from left to right Helene Purcell with Wardell Duncan, Volunteer Coordinator; Sarah Fabry, Hospice Social Worker; Megan Knight, Director of Development & Community Outreach and Michele Schweidel, hospice volunteer
VNA Children’s Auxiliary Hosts Annual Halloween Fest
Over 140 children and their families enjoyed the 26th Annual
Halloween Fest at Scothigh Farm in Rumson, New Jersey, on
Sunday, October 8. Hosted by the Visiting Nurse Association
of Central Jersey Children’s Auxiliary, this family event featured
festive autumn entertainment and activities. Proceeds from
the event support programs of Visiting Nurse Association Health
Group’s Children and Family Health Institute (CFHI). Sponsors
underwrote attendance for 15 families receiving care from the CFHI.
VNA of Central Jersey Children’s Auxiliary members (pictured left to right): Nikie Sourlis, Maryam Spector, Danielle Krasko, Allison Cea
6 | VNAHG HOUSE CALLS Winter 2018
It is a scene reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting: a
doctor toting a black bag knocks at the front door of
a patient’s home, while on the other side of the door, a frail
grandmother waits for her visit. While you may think
house calls are a pleasant service from the past, think again.
VNA’s Visiting Physician Services division makes house
calls to over 3,200 patients throughout New Jersey. Their
mission is simple: to enable patients to stay at home as they
age and focus on the patients’ quality of life by providing
convenient in-home medical care while at the same time
reducing hospitalizations and overall healthcare costs.
Dr. Evan Rubin and Dr. Sara Leonard are among the seven
physicians on staff with Visiting Physician Services (VPS).
They join the growing number of doctors helping to revive
the custom of house calls. We took some time to chat with
both of them about why they decided to practice house call
medicine and how it has impacted the patients they care for.
Meet Dr. Evan RubinQ: Why did you become a visiting physician?
A: Over the course
of my 15-year career
as a family
physician, I’ve
enjoyed treating
a wide array of
patients in both
traditional medical
office and urgent
care settings. Being
a house call doctor
with VPS the past
seven years has
been especially
rewarding, as I’m
not only providing quality medical care to individuals who
cannot leave their homes, but I get to know them on a
more personal level in their own environment.
I’m able to spend time with the patient and family and have
learned to respect their priorities and wishes; to know when
to become aggressive with medicines and when to make
the patient comfortable and to listen to their wishes. It’s not
just about textbook medicine. When you are talking about
this population that is at end-of-life care, you have to listen
as their priorities change.
Q: What types of patients do you see?
A: The majority of our patients are elderly and suffer from
multiple chronic diseases such as heart failure, diabetes,
hypertension, dementia and COPD. We also treat adult
patients with multiple sclerosis, ALS and muscular
dystrophy. Our patients are essentially homebound, in
that it would require a “significant or taxing effort to
leave the home” to receive medical care.
Q: How do you think house calls benefit patients and their families?
A: The biggest benefit is that patients can remain in
the comfort of their home and receive quality and
compassionate medical care. In addition, their hospital
admissions and visits to the ER are greatly reduced.
Patients also receive complete coordination of care, since
we can arrange for in-home diagnostic testing such as
bloodwork, X-rays and EKGs. Home visits also allow
doctors to see a patient’s bigger picture by treating them
in the context of their home environment. I learn a lot
by looking in kitchen cupboards or the refrigerator. For
families and caregivers, house calls help reduce the stress
and anxiety of transporting a sick loved one to the doctor.
Q: What is your role as Medical Director?
A: As Medical Director of VPS, I provide guidance and
leadership, overseeing the activities of VPS clinicians. I’m
also responsible for medical protocol and strategic
development, utilization review and quality assurance. As
VPS continues to expand and grow, I help integrate the
newer physicians into our unique system of healthcare,
always stressing the importance of making sure that
providing quality healthcare is in the forefront of what they
do, and making sure that their patients’ wishes are heard.
The relationship with the patient is incredibly important in
order to provide that quality healthcare. You never know
what you are going to find behind each door. Every patient
has their own story. It’s not just a diagnosis, it’s a life.
THE DOCTOR IS IN…YOUR HOME!
VNA’s Visiting Physician Services Provides Home-Based Primary Care
Dr. Evan Rubin, Medical Director, Visiting Physician Services
VNAHG.ORG 800.862.3330 | 7
Meet Dr. Sara LeonardQ: Why did you choose to study geriatric medicine?
A: I chose
geriatrics because
it embodies all
of the values of
family medicine
that mean the
most to me, such
as being able to
take care of the
whole patient,
not just an organ
system or disease
process. I like that
I am able to assist
patients through
all aspects of their medical care while always being
mindful of the impact various treatments and procedures
will have on their overall quality of life. I routinely engage
in discussions with my patients that empower them to be
active participants in their medical care rather than
passive recipients.
Also, being able to see someone in their own environment
truly enables me to provide better care. It offers insight
into key social and environmental factors that may be
missed in an office or clinic setting.
I joined VPS in 2016, as I felt their mission was perfectly
aligned with my interest and passion for helping the elderly.
Q: Describe a typical day.
A: No two days are the same, and every visit is unique. I
typically see six to eight patients in a day. My first visit might
be a new patient in Toms River, where I can easily spend
45 minutes obtaining a full medical history, reviewing
medications, performing a physical exam, assessing memory
and cognition, and performing a safety check for fall
hazards. My next visit might be a follow-up for a patient in
Manchester who had an exacerbation of her COPD.
Between visits, I may find myself providing strategies for
dealing with dementia-related behavioral issues to a
patient’s daughter via telephone. As I visit with my patients,
I listen to stories about their grandchildren or life
experiences. We are often seen as extended family. From
time to time, I’m struck by the realization that for certain
patients, I may be the only person visiting them that month.
As Assistant Medical Director of VPS, I look at ways to keep
our VPS patients healthier and out of the hospitals as well
as ways that we can improve the care we provide. I also
provide education on the current geriatric guidelines and
assist with the electronic health record in terms of training
and efficient utilization.
Q: What are your biggest rewards and challenges?
A: I am fulfilled and encouraged by the reactions of my
patients, who often tell me how very grateful they are that
I take the time to not only visit them in their homes, but to
also truly listen to them and provide thorough explanations
to ensure they understand their health issues and treatment
plans. Knowing I am making this kind of impact with my
patients is unbelievably rewarding.
With regard to challenges, there are the obvious challenges
of driving long distances daily, in all types of weather and
traffic situations, and seeing patients outside of a controlled
office environment. There is also the greater challenge of
making sure that house calls themselves remain a viable
option for our frail elderly and homebound patients. We
need to work hard to demonstrate the high value of what we
do to Medicare and our legislators so that we can continue
to be there for those who need us.
Q: Do you think house call medicine will continue to grow?
A: With people living longer and the aging population
continuing to grow, I think the demand for house call
physicians is going to grow as well. People want to stay in
the comfort of their homes as they get older. Technology will
also fuel this growth, as medicine has become very portable,
with laptops, tablets, smartphones, mobile diagnostics and
telehealth. From an economic perspective, house calls help
minimize the need for ER visits, hospitalizations and excess
utilization of unnecessary resources. This has a positive
impact on overall healthcare expenditures, saving Medicare
a significant amount of money.
I think house calls are the future of healthcare. For me, house
calls enable me to practice medicine the way I always
wanted to, and I love it.
Dr. Sara Leonard, Assistant Medical Director, Visiting Physician Services
Learn More For more information about Visiting Physician
Services, please call 732.571.1000 or visit
www.vnahg.org/vps.
8 | VNAHG HOUSE CALLS Winter 2018
Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio has merged with Visiting Nurse Association Health Group with the goal of establishing
enhanced home healthcare delivery in the communities they serve. Each organization boasts more than a century-long
commitment to home care and community health. The partnership will help both highly respected organizations deliver
improved health outcomes for patients while expanding access, meeting the increased demand for post-acute, mental
health and population health services, and supporting financial sustainability.
An effective model of home-based mental health treatment used by VNA of Ohio may offer a solution that can close
persistent treatment gaps for behavioral health and addiction in New Jersey. VNA Health Group is exploring the feasibility
of offering home and community-based mental healthcare and addiction treatment in New Jersey, replicating VNA
of Ohio’s Cleveland-area model, which is highly regarded. A team of psychiatric nurses, social workers and state-tested
nursing assistants provide clinical services to individuals with mental illness and to those who are recovering from
addiction. They care for people with a range of diagnoses and concerns, including psychotic, cognitive, thought and
anxiety disorders and, often, for individuals who are discharged from psychiatric hospitals and facilities.
“VNA of Ohio has a cadre of twenty-five nurses with psychiatric certifications going out into their communities every day.
We want to learn about their model and what VNA Health Group can do to help people in New Jersey who have mental
illness live healthier lives,” said Dr. Steven Landers, President and CEO of VNA Health Group.
The need for mental healthcare and addiction programs in New Jersey is urgent:
• Among New Jersey adults with mental illness, 60.8 percent received no mental health services
• 60.9 percent of adults with depression went untreated
• 51,000 individuals in New Jersey had used heroin in a recent year, more than double the national average
VNA HEALTH GROUP EXPANDS TO OHIO
Merger Will Strengthen Both Organizations' Ability to Serve Their Community
Connected Health Institute Breaking Ground
VNA Health Group’s Connected Health Institute is buzzing with new developments and
innovations! The newly established Advisory Board is led by Neal Oristano, former Vice
President of Global Segments and Architectures at Cisco Systems. A technology guru,
Mr. Oristano has been tremendously influential in guiding the 21-member board. It is
defining strategic goals and introducing new resources for funding support as the Institute
works to become a nationally recognized leader in researching, developing and testing
technologies that improve patient care.
As new digital and mobile technologies show tremendous promise in linking patients,
caregivers and clinicians, one focus for the board is finding new technology partners
who may be interested in the pilots and demonstrations the Connected Health Institute
has implemented. These include:
To learn more about Connected Health Institute, visit www.vnahg.org/connected-health.
• Wound care management
• Telehealth
• Secure text messaging for patient education
and engagement
• Virtual behavioral health treatment
• In-home emergency response system
• Monitoring device for knee replacement
• Video conferencing
Neal Oristano, Chairman of the Connected Health Institute Advisory Board
VNAHG.ORG 800.862.3330 | 9 @VNAHealthGroup Visiting Nurse Association Health Group @vna_health_group
“For many years, my wife Barbara and I have been VNA supporters. Now we give
annually to the Visiting Nurse Association through my IRA. We love the VNA
and being able to support their mission by using this convenient financial strategy.”
-Peter and Barbara Carton
Information about the IRA Charitable Rollover:• The gift must be made by a donor age 70½ or older
• The gift must be transferred from a traditional or Roth IRA directly to VNA
• The gift must be completed in calendar year 2018 for the 2018 tax year
• The gift cannot exceed $100,000 per taxpayer per tax year
• The charitable IRA rollover is now permanent
Benefits of the IRA Charitable Rollover:• Your gift will be put to use today, allowing you to see the difference it
is making
• You pay no income taxes on the gift
• The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you
benefit even if you do not itemize
• If you have not yet taken your required minimum distribution for the year,
your IRA Charitable Rollover gift can satisfy all or part of that requirement
Twilight Done Right Seminars Demystify End-of-Life Planning
Over 50 community members came
out to learn about hospice and the
services our organization offers to
people in their homes. A total of 22
seminars are on the schedule for the
year to educate hundreds of senior
community members about home
healthcare services. The seminars
also demystify advanced care
planning, an important step that
everyone is encouraged to take.
For more information and a
schedule of upcoming Twilight
Done Right Seminars, or to reserve
a seat, please contact Megan Knight,
Director of Development &
Community Outreach,
973.370.8134 or email her at
Megan.Knight@BarnabasHealthHCH.org.
A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT VNA
IRA Charitable Rollover Gifts
Learn More Please contact the VNA Foundation Office at
732.224.6780 or email foundation@vnahg.org to
find out how to put your IRA to work for the VNA.
10 | VNAHG HOUSE CALLS Winter 2018
“GEAR TO GROW” PROVIDES BABY AND TODDLER GEAR TO MOMS IN NEED
A new VNA Children’s Auxiliary initiative provides
parents in need with essential equipment for
their young children. Children’s Auxiliary member
Stephanie Hoitt of Colts Neck is spearheading
the “Gear to Grow” program, encouraging
donations of new or gently used items that VNA
patient families need — anything from strollers
and baby carriers to educational books and toys.
She personally stores and organizes the gear in
her home, and often makes pickups of items she
knows will benefit a young family.
In less than two years, Gear to Grow has become
an important resource for VNA families.
Stephanie communicates directly with staff at
the VNA Children and Family Health Institute,
and together they have created a steady and
efficient system for identifying and supplying
items that are needed. Earlier this year, for example, the VNA’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Food Nutrition Service
program reached out to Stephanie to ask for a changing table to be used by mothers who attend nutrition education
classes. Stephanie contacted her network, located a table and quickly delivered it to the WIC location in Perth Amboy. “We
are so grateful for Gear to Grow, and for how the program adapts to the needs of our families,” said Colleen Nelson, Vice
President of Clinical Operations for the VNA Children and Family Health Institute. “Gear to Grow has served over 70 families
so far, and no request has been too big or too small.”
For more information about the VNA Children’s Auxiliary, or if you have new or lightly used baby gear that you would like
to donate, please contact the VNA Foundation Office at 732.224.6780.
Stephanie Hoitt, Childrens Auxiliary Member, pictured in the basement of her home with Gear to Grow supplies
VNA’s History Wall and Tree of Life Reflect a Great Tradition at New Headquarters
Supporters, friends, trustees, business associates and members of the community helped
VNA usher in a new era at the Open House of VNA’s new headquarters in Holmdel, New
Jersey. Guests particularly enjoyed the History Wall depicting important moments in the
organization’s evolution. The History Wall offers perspective and inspiration to staff and
visitors alike, reminding all of VNA’s growth and tradition of delivering expert,
compassionate care, at homes across the state, each and every day.
Located adjacent to the History Wall is another important symbol of VNA’s traditions.
The Tree of Life Gifts of Remembrance Donor Wall is a beautiful memorial featuring
leaves imprinted with the name of a person the donor wishes to thank, honor, reward,
commemorate or memorialize. Charitable gifts enable our hospice team to continue
their mission of making a difference in the lives of patients and families.
These two very special displays perfectly capture the essence of VNA’s history
and its mission: to help families achieve their best level of well-being by providing
compassionate, coordinated care in their homes and communities.
VNAHG.ORG 800.862.3330 | 11 @VNAHealthGroup Visiting Nurse Association Health Group @vna_health_group
BEACH BALL GIVES HUGE BOUNCE TO VNA FUNDRAISING EFFORTS!
Under a canopy of brightly colored beach balls,
approximately 700 guests bid a festive farewell to
summer on September 16 at the 2017 Beach Ball.
Beautiful weather enhanced the festive atmosphere as
friends and supporters gathered to benefit the VNA.
The celebration on the sand was held at Chapel Beach
Club, generously donated by Nancy Mulheren and the
Mulheren Family. The evening honored longtime VNA
supporters and volunteers Liz and Tom Thees and
netted over $405,000; important funds that will help
VNA provide comprehensive healthcare to vulnerable
populations, children and the elderly.
Beach Ball guests, who were encouraged to “leave your
dress shoes at home with your formal clothes, and
come feel the sand between your toes,” danced the night
away to the music of The Rhythm Shop. They sampled
an eclectic menu of Jersey Shore-inspired food truck and
local restaurant fare as they bid on over 70 silent
auction items. Everyone enjoyed the exciting live auction
of one-of-a-kind vacations and experiences, including
tickets to Bruce Springsteen’s Broadway debut. Rumson
resident Melissa Barnett had an especially good evening,
winning the Grand Prize raffle for a 2016 Rocky Ridge
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4x4. “This was, once
Beach Ball Co-Chairs pictured (back row, left to right): Jamie Drummond, Sandy Mulheren. (Front row, left to right): Jesse Spector, Maryam Spector, Jill Drummond, Vanessa Mulheren
Pictured (left to right): Dr. Steven Landers, President and CEO, VNA Health Group; Beach Ball Honorees Liz and Tom Thees; Lynn Spector, VNA Foundation Board Chairman
again, one of the best community fundraising events
of 2017, and we are so grateful to our amazing Beach Ball
Committee, generous sponsors and attendees for their
support,” said Bridget Murphy, Chief Philanthropy Officer
at VNA Health Group.
If you are receiving House Calls for the first time
and wish to continue, please call 800.862.3330, or
contact us at www.vnahg.org/contact.
23 Main Street, Suite D1Holmdel, NJ 07733
VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATIONHEALTH & HOSPICE
Follow us on Twitter
@VNAHealthGroup
Like us on Facebook
Visiting Nurse Association Health Group
Follow us on Instagram
@vna_health_group
Change Service Requested
Power of the Purse Thursday, May 3, 2018Hosted by the Children’s AuxiliaryThis popular “Ladies' Night Out” features an auction of designer handbags.Riverhouse, Rumson Country Club, Rumson, NJ
Summer Soiree - Hosted by the Emerging Leadership BoardFriday, June 1, 2018Food, drinks, auction and live music Blu Grotto Ristorante, Oceanport, NJ
Barnabas Health Hospice Golf Classic Monday, July 23, 2018 Contact Megan Knight for more information, 973.370.8134
31st Annual Golf Classic and 19th Hole Celebration Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Rumson Country Club, Rumson, NJ Honoring Marilyn and Robert Broege
For more information, please contact VNA's Foundation Office at 732.224.6780 or email foundation@vnahg.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
P A I DPERMIT 352
BELLMAWR, NJ
FPO
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