Four New Trustees Join Bayshore Community Hospital Foundation

The trustees of the Bayshore Community Hospital Foundation, who plan to raise major money for the expanding Holmdel-based hospital, now number 14.

The foundation announced Wednesday that it was expanding its board to add Hovnanian executive Nicholas Colisto of Marlboro, Meridian Health physician Adrian Pristas of Holmdel, Food Circus Super Market's Philip Scaduto of Middletown, and Two River Community Bank executive Ross Zimmerman of West Long Branch.

"We want to bring in the next generation and get them involved," said Foundation Chairman Wendell A. Smith, who has served on local hospital boards since the 1970s. Years ago, he said the Foundation's board was filled with representatives from local industry, like Bell Labs, Prudential and IFF, who represented many employees. But now, mostly due to attrition, the board feels the ranks need refilling.

A year after Bayshore Hospital was folded into the Meridian Health network, which includes Riverview Hospital in Red Bank, the Foundation has become inspired to approach fundraising from a fresh angle, said Smith. 

"We are going from event-oriented to donor-based fundraising," said Smith. Hosting golf outings, holiday balls and wine tastings is time-consuming and labor intensive, he said. The 14-member board will try raising funds by reaching out to people who are "philanthropically-oriented."

"If we are going to raise significant money, than we have to create a culture of giving." Ideas on the table are naming rights to the Bayshore Hospital's new "centers of excellence" like the cardiac care and upcoming pediatric emergency room, encouraging a donor to fund a cause dear to them, and an annual giving campaign. "We need to get the word out," he said. "In many ways, being ambassasdors for the hospital is an important role."

Board members serve three-year terms, with no more than three consecutive terms being served. They meet quarterly at the hospital. In between those meetings, they serve on committees such as the governance committee, which is a steering committee that identifies potential members of the board and deals with bylaw issues; an internal constituency committee; and a major donor committee.

Wendell Smith will be stopping down as chairman at the end of 2011. Taking his place will be Serena DiMaso, of Holmdel, the Foundation's vice chair who is currently the Holmdel Township deputy mayor, a Holmdel First Aid Squad volunteer, and trained lawyer. Colts Neck-based attorney Martin Pfleger, of Holmdel, will be vice-chair.

The other members of the board are: Bayshore Hospital supporter Secretary Barbara Ganz of Middletown; veteran fundraiser and Treasurer Moon Choo of Holmdel; attorney William J. Allingham of Holmdel; former Bear Stearns executive Louis R. Czubachowski of Holmdel; Matawan-based attorney Andrew DeMaio of Holmdel; former restaurateur / author Fern Esposito of Holmdel; Martin F. Pfleger of Holmdel; and longtime Bayshore Hospital supporter Janice Mitchell Vassar of Rumson.

“As our Foundation focuses in on its important role in Meridian’s mission to take Bayshore Community Hospital to a whole new level, we are very pleased to welcome these four new board members,” says David Flood, president of the Meridian Health Affiliated Foundations.

“They all have diverse and interesting backgrounds, talents, and experience, and each is highly involved in the community. I know the new Trustees want nothing but the best for the future of health care in the communities we serve,” said Flood.