Founder's Day 2008
St. Barnabas chose Debbie Reynolds, Hollywood legend, to be the 2008 Hance Award recipient.
The Hance Award is presented annually to a person of national acclaim who has made a significant
impact upon the lives of Americans. The award is named for Brother Gouverneur P. Hance (1871-1954),
who founded St. Barnabas in 1900 as a place to provide care to those in need regardless of their ability
to pay.
Hollywood actress and singer famous for her starring role in the 1952 classic, "Singin' in the Rain,"
dancing alongside Gene Kelly. In addition to her love for entertainment, she is a life-long supporter
and fund-raiser for the Girl Scouts; and is founder and president of Thalians, a charitable organization
for emotionally disturbed children. Reynolds is actively involved in collecting and preserving Hollywood
memorabilia and her long-time dream to one day establish a Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum
is finally coming true.
The day-long celebration was held Thursday, April 24 and included a visit by Reynolds to St. Barnabas
Nursing Home, an exclusive fund-raising luncheon at The Washington Place and a fund-raising dinner
and silent auction at the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. The dinner was attended by
nearly 400 guests, who bid on dozens of silent auction packages.
Proceeds from Founder's Day benefits the
St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which annually provides more than $5.6 million in free care to poor
and low-income patients at St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas and The Arbors at St. Barnabas. Since its founding in 1900,
the mission of St. Barnabas remains the same - to care for those in need regardless of their ability to pay.
For more information please contact St. Barnabas Charities
at (724) 443-0700, ext. 5258 or email
St. Barnabas Charities.
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Signature Sponsor
William V. Day, president
St. Barnabas Health System
with Debbie Reynolds
Hance Award recipient
Founder's Day 2008
Committee Members
Reynolds visits with
patients at St. Barnabas
Nursing Home
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