MHHC 30th Anniversary Benefit Gala - A Resounding Success!

May 26th, 2010 was a glorious spring evening, where over 600 guests - national and local healthcare professionals, corporations, elected officials, board members, advocates, community residents, patients and staff turned out in full force at the Marina Del Rey to celebrate the MHHC 30th Anniversary Benefit Gala honorees, Verona Greenland and Affinity Health Plan. The Gala was a display of Who's Who as 4 Bronx hospital Presidents and CEOs, Montefiore's Dr. Steven Safyer, Bronx Lebanon's Miguel Fuentes, Lincoln Medical Center's Jose Sanchez and St Barnabas' Dr Scott Cooper served as Co-Chairs; Channel 4 News Anchor, Michael Gargiulo emceed and Zona Productions provided top-notch entertainment.

Verona Greenland, Founder, President & CEO of Morris Heights Health Center received the organizations first ever, Legacy Award for exemplary leadership and service--transforming lives and communities in the Bronx and beyond. For 32 years, Verona has been the spark behind the success of MHHC, a catalyst for social change, an advocate for self determination, as evidenced by the rebirth and evolution of the once abandoned South West Bronx community. Today MHHC stands as a social and economic anchor in the community, providing top quality health services, hope, employment and stability.

Maura Bluestone, President & CEO of Affinity Health Plan accepted the Community Partnership Award. Affinity and Morris Heights Health Center have been journeying together to provide access to affordable health care services. Verona Greenland is regarded as one of the "founders" of Affinity Health Plan, having served on the Board of Directors since its inception as The Bronx Health Plan in 1986. Maura Bluestone chairs the board of MHHC Foundation, indicative of the strong partnership shared by both organizations.

It was a remarkable event with Verona and MHHC lauded with Proclamations and congratulatory messages from the NYS House of Representative, Hon. Jose Serrano, NYS Governor, David Paterson, NYS Health Commissioner Daines, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr. NYS senators, NYS assembly members and NYC council members. Of significance was the presentation by the National Association of Community Health Centers' (NACHC) Speaker of the House Jim Luisi. Verona accompanied by MHHC Board Chair, Patrick Sterling was presented with NACHC's 30th Anniversary Award and then NACHC conferred the extraordinary Outstanding Achievement Award to Verona. The defining moment of the evening was when MHHC paid homage to Ms Greenland with a video tribute narrated by her son Joseph in which he reaffirmed the words spoken by the late Senator Ted Kennedy "The work begins anew... The hope rises again. And the dream lives on".

The 2010 Gala benefited the Morris Heights University (MHU), a division of MHHC that brings together all the training activities of the organization into a coordinated teaching and learning center. A fully implemented MHU focuses on skill development in clinical capabilities and knowledge, information technology, management development and work skills for all employees and appropriate community residents.

The Journey ...... A Morris Heights Health Center Story

The compelling story of Ms. Greenland and the community's struggle, passion and commitment to build the health center is documented in a commemorative book dubbed "The Journey". We called on our best resources - long time colleagues and journeymen to provide authentic accounts of the role and impact they played over the years. The book is a compilation of portraits of people, places, events and personal stories. Thirty years later, since its humble beginnings in a storefront at 70 W. Burnside Avenue (now WBHP), Morris Heights Health Center has mushroomed into a premier, comprehensive, multi-site organization providing health and social services to the Bronx and regions beyond.

The concept of "the Journey" was synonymous with the theme of the 30th Anniversary Gala - "Celebrate our Legacy. Continue the Journey". This storybook chronicles the evolution of MHHC as it moves through the early beginnings, the milestones and provides insight into the vision for the future as MHHC continues the journey. The Morris Heights Health Center Story is one of Leadership, Endurance, Advocacy and Passion.

Don't miss this opportunity to own a piece of this rich history. Join Morris Heights Health Center on this journey as it continues the LEAP of Faith by making a donation of at least $50.00 to the MHHC Foundation to own your copy of "The Journey".