The Brooklyn Hospital Foundation’s 2019 Founders Ball a Great Success

The Brooklyn Hospital Foundation’s Founders Ball was this year a sold-out affair that attracted more than 700 guests and raised more than $1.4 million. The net proceeds will fund clinical advancements in the borough’s oldest and only Downtown Brooklyn hospital. In the midst of the do-gooding was some serious fun, including dancing and casino games!

This year’s event, chaired by Robert Knakal, Chairman of NY Investment Sales, JLL, and Cynthia Knakal, a community champion and emerging philanthropist, highlighted The Brooklyn Hospital Center’s (TBHC) success in meeting healthcare challenges. The evening also celebrated distinguished honorees as it gears up for the hospital’s 175th Anniversary in 2020. Honorees included four exceptional individuals who are making tremendous contributions to the robust and rapidly growing Brooklyn community:

• Founders Medalist: Dino J. Veronese, Chair of the Foundation’s Board
• Walter E. Reed Medalists: TBHC’s Dhanan J. Etwaru, MD, Chair of Urology, and Linus M. Yoe, MD, Associate Program Director of Internal Medicine
• Robert B. Catell Emerging Philanthropist: John A. Catsimatidis, Jr., Red Apple Group

The theme of the evening, “Healthcare Puzzles and Solutions,” focused 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 TBHC’s emphasis on patient and family comfort and reflects the expertise and commitment of an organization with a long history in this region.

Sponsors included: Accuity Delivery Systems, BSE Global, Mount Sinai Health System and St. George’s University. Schneps Media and Everything Brooklyn Media served as media partners.