Paul and Claire Cherney call AbingtonHealth a kind of family. It’s easy to see why these long-time health professionals and

philanthropists feel that way.Dr. Cherney joined Abington Memorial

Hospital’s medical staff in 1955, served as seniorpathologist and chairman of the Department ofPathology and, in 1979, was elected president of the medical, dental and podiatric staff. In 1997 themedical staff presented him with its prestigiousFrobese Award for exceptional service on behalf ofpatients, and in 2001 he was named Abington’sPhysician of the Year in recognition of his service tothe hospital.

Claire joined Abington Memorial Hospital’sclinical laboratory staff in 1970, served as supervisorof the clinical chemistry lab and was active on numerous employee committees. In 1995 she wasnamed to Abington’s Women’s Board, where shecontinues to be an inspirational leader with the Boardand its auxiliaries.

Over the years, the Cherneys have also been significant philanthropists in support of Abington Health.

“We want to make sure Abington continues toexcel,” says Claire. “It’s difficult to put into wordshow much we care about it.”

Devoted to othersDr. Cherney received his medical degree from

the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in1949. He completed residencies in pathology at theHospital of the University of Pennsylvania and theDetroit Receiving Hospital before beginning a careerat Abington Memorial Hospital that spanned morethan half a century until his retirement in 2009.

“I spent a lot of time with other doctors lookingthrough two-headed microscopes and discussingcare,” he says of his work at Abington. “I really enjoyed working to understand disease and the bestway to approach it.”

Claire looks back fondly on her career at Abington as well.

“Supervising the clinical chemistry lab gave me the opportunity to work with a lot of smart andfriendly people,” she recalls. “The culture at Abington was one of family, a place you wanted tobe every day. It was also a culture of commitment tothe forefront of innovation and technology.”

Healthcare innovation, she adds, “doesn’t justcome by itself. It needs support. It deserves support.”

The Cherneys have been steadfast in their ownsupport for Abington. They are annual donors at thePresident’s Council level, as well as generous donorsto specific needs as they arise, such as recent appeals

What’s Inside

From the President ..........................1

Donor Profile

Paul and Claire Cherney ................1

Program Highlight

Safe Harbor ............................................2

Lansdale Hospital Update............3

Innovators’ Circle ............................3

Events & Activities ......................4-5

Women’s Board Update ....................4

Awards & Achievements ................5

Developments ......................................6

Grantmakers ........................................6

The Charitable Advantage ..........7

vol. 2, issue 16 winter 2012/13

Continued on page 2

Fostering a culture of caring – Paul J. Cherney, M.D., and Claire E. Cherney

D O N O R P R O F I L E

These are both exciting and challenging times for healthcare. The requirements of health reform legislation coupled with the realities of our current economy mean that healthcare providers must beable to develop innovative ways to care for our patients. I am pleased to report that Abington Health is

a strong and healthy organization committed to its community.Our strength lies in our clinical services, brand recognition, excellent staff,

physicians and volunteers, financial stability and strong position in the market.Though many challenges lie ahead for the healthcare industry, Abington Health iswell positioned to face these challenges. Areas of strength include:� Our excellent clinical programs, such as the expansion of our orthopaedic and spine services to Lansdale Hospital; the development of telemedicine contracts with Phoenixville, Sacred Heart and Grand View Hospitals; and the opening of a new Addonizio Hybrid Operating Room at Abington Memorial Hospital.

� A growing primary care network. Since January 2012, we have added four primary care practices totaling nine new physicians to our network of employed physicians. And to ensure easy access to a full range of services, we are developing ambulatory campuses throughout the region, including one in Blue Bell scheduled for a July 2013 opening.

� Further development of our home care program. Recently we entered a period of due diligence with the North Penn Visiting Nurses Association to bring that fine organization into the Abington network, thereby strengthening our presence in the North Penn/Lansdale area.

Moving forward, we will continue to collaborate and partner with physicians and other healthcare organizations on programs and services to keep our community healthy. But our most valuable partnership iswith you—our donors. You have stood proudly with us over the years, supporting Abington’s growth, andhelping us build the clinical strength and network of services for the communities and patients we serve. For that commitment and unwavering support we are forever grateful.

I wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season.

Laurence M. MerlisPresident and CEO | Abington Health

December 15, 2012From the President

Healthcare innovationdoesn’t just come by itself. IT NEEDS SUPPORT. IT DESERVES SUPPORT.

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Claire E. Cherney

VOL. 2, ISSUE 16 WINTER 2012/13

Profiles of Giving is an

Abington Health Foundation

publication for our donors and

friends. For more information

call 215-481-4438.

2 3

D O N O R P R O F I L E

Continued from front page

Fostering a culture of caring – Paul J. Cherney, M.D., and Claire E. Cherney

Safe Harbor

for the Diamond Stroke Center and the expansion of the Mary T.Sachs Breast Imaging Center.

Over the years Claire has also devoted extraordinary energy to supporting the hospital as a volunteer. An active member of theWomen’s Board since 1995, she served as the Women’s Board representative on the hospital’s diversity advisory council, was chairof its medical staff auxiliary, served as the auxiliaries executive committee chair and continues to serve as a member of the medicalstaff auxiliary and the evening auxiliary. She has also chaired the June Fete Village Fair in 1998, served as co-chair of the Horse andPony Show for many years and is the current chair of the Women’sBoard house committee, where she works with nurse managers anddepartment directors to make sure different areas of the hospital getwhat they need for patients and visitors.

“It is joyous,” she says of her involvement with the Women’s Board, “to work with so many wonderful women who careabout Abington.”

Deeply rootedPaul and Claire share deep Pennsylvania roots. Claire grew up

in Philadelphia, where she received her clinical training at the

Veteran’s Administration Hospital before coming to work at Abington Memorial Hospital. Paul grew up in the small coal-miningtown of Forest City, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the Universityof Scranton before entering medical school in Philadelphia.

Those roots, however, haven’t kept them from traveling theworld. They’ve taken trips to Mexico, Italy, Ireland, France, Egypt,Ecuador, Australia, Aruba and elsewhere. Back in the 1960s, Paulsailed half-way around the world with Project HOPE on a medicaltour of West Africa. In the 1970s the two of them joined with Project HOPE in Jamaica together, Paul as a pathologist and Claire as a medical technologist.

But every time they travel, notes Claire, they are happy to return home.

“We love this community,” she says, “and Abington Health is a big reason why. It has always been there for us – for births, deaths and everything along the way. It’s our distinct pleasure to help Abington Health stay strong.”

Every dollar available for Innovators’ Circle grants comes from philanthropic support. To get in on the ground floor of innovations that can have a real impact on healthcare, please

contact Lori Ferro, annual giving officer, at 215-481-2529 or lferro@amh.org or visit the “Ways of Giving” section of our website at www.AbingtonHealth.org.

When was the Safe Harbor program established, and why?

The program began in January of 2001 to provide ongoing grief support groups, at no charge, to children, teens and parents orcaregivers who have experienced the death ofa loved one. The loss of a parent, sibling orcaregiver can be especially devastating for achild. Who can they talk to? Who will reallylisten? Their friends may not know what tosay, and it can be hard to talk to a survivingparent or family member who is grieving as well.

At Safe Harbor we believe that it is a natural process to grieve after a loss. The duration and intensity of grief is unique foreach individual. Support, caring and acceptance from other individuals can providepeople with a natural capacity to heal. SafeHarbor was created to offer a caring environment for support and understanding.

Describe the Safe Harbor program today.Why is it so important?

We provide a range of support groups and activities for children, teens, young adultsand parents or caregivers coping with bereavement. Children are often the “forgottenmourners” of our society and often need helpto move through the healing process.

Research has shown that children whoendure a significant loss are at greater risk fordepression, withdrawal, anxiety, antisocial behaviors, physical complications, lower self-esteem and even criminal behavior. The SafeHarbor program decreases these risks by providing a supportive environment wheresharing feelings and concerns through age-appropriate groups, music and art therapy helpchildren move through the healing process ina healthy manner.

Since our inception, Safe Harbor hasserved some 1,060 children from 650 families.We are currently serving about 130 childrenand teens, ranging in age from 4 to 18, representing approximately 86 families.

What are some of the specific programs and facilities you offer?

Our facility includes a variety of comfortable and age-appropriate playroomsand support-group rooms for children andteens to hang out and relax during group activities and sharing sessions. We offer alarge art room, filled with an extensive supplyof materials to encourage participants to express their emotions and creativity. Wealso have a butterfly garden where groupssometimes meet for memorial activities, and a Volcano Room, with cushioned walls, floors and punching bags, where children canexpress their anger or sadness in a protectedsetting. We also have a quiet room wheregrieving parents and caregivers can meet and share with others undergoing similar experiences with loss.

As for specific offerings, they include our programs for grieving children, teens andfamilies; our support groups for healing after asuicide; a young adult grief support group; awide range of programs in the expressive arts;a school workshop program to help teachers,social workers and guidance counselors develop skills and tools for working withgrieving children and families; and Camp Charlie, our week-long summer camp program.

Say more about Camp Charlie. What happens there?

We launched Camp Charlie in 2007 as a week-long summer day camp. It is held each year during the last week of June at the Abington Health Center Schilling Campus inWillow Grove. It’s open to campers age six to 12, and buddies over age 13, who haveexperienced the death of a parent or sibling.It’s free of charge, and it offers a structuredexperience for grief support in a day-campmodel based on the expressive arts. Movement, drama, music and various artmodalities are all used to guide and enhancethe healing process for the children.

Who provides the counseling at Safe Harbor?

We have an outstanding group of trainedbereavement volunteer facilitators at the heartof our program. Our services are provided bytwo types of volunteers: facilitators and “lay”volunteers. Each volunteer is extensivelytrained at no cost to the volunteer, and eachlearns how to facilitate groups, make familiesfeel at home and generally support the work of the center. Many of our volunteers have advanced degrees in social services, nursing,education or psychology, and many haveworked professionally with children or in amental health facility. The lay volunteers bringto Safe Harbor their personal bereavement experience of losing a parent, spouse or child.A training program is required for all new volunteers, and ongoing skill-building workshops are offered throughout the year.

What kind of response has the program received?

The response has been very, very positive. Over the years we’ve received anumber of local, regional and national awardsfor the quality of our programs. More important to us than awards, however, is thedeep appreciation that we constantly hearfrom our participants and families. When agrieving child says, “Thanks for helping me,”or says of Camp Charlie, “It was the bestcamp ever,” you know that you’re making areal difference in real lives.

You said that Safe Harbor is free to participants. How is that possible?

We do all that we do thanks to donationsfrom individuals, families, businesses, community groups and with grants from organizations and foundations. Especially important is the extraordinary gift of time and expertise we receive from our 50-plusdedicated volunteers. We always need morehelp, though!

For more information about the Safe Harbor program, please contact Safe Harbor at 215-481-5983 or safeharbor@amh.org. To make a donation or a gift-in-kind to support the program, please contact the Office of Philanthropy at 215-481-4438 (215-481-GIFT).

The loss of a parent, sibling or caregiver is a devastating experience for a child. The Safe Harbor programof Abington Health provides grief support services for children, teens and their parents or caregivers. Here, Debbie Teasdale, M.S.S., M.L.S.P., G.C.-C.; director, Safe Harbor, provides insight into the program’sofferings and significance.

Donna Angotti, M.D., and Herbert Auerbach, D.O. – for Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia of the Breast: Do All CoreBiopsies Need Surgical Resection? This study seeks to find a marker that couldeliminate the need for additional surgicalbiopsies for women with an abnormal finding on mammography or ultrasound by core needle biopsy.

Ala Stanford Frey, M.D., F.A.C.S.,F.A.A.P., and Jeanine Fulginiti, M.S.N.,C.R.N.P. – for Health Disparities Exist in the Surgical Treatment of CongenitalMalrotation and Midgut Volvulus.This project seeks to improve outcomes by identifying inter-hospital factors and developing standardized protocols to intervene when a child is admitted for anysurgical procedure.

Cynthia L. Grosik, M.S.N., R.N.C.,C.N.L., Gerard M. Cleary, D.O., CynthiaAlley, M.D., Michelle Miller, M.S.N., R.N.,C.R.N.P., and Elizabeth Noll, B.S.N.,R.N.C. – for The Effects of ContinuousPositive Airway Pressure on IntraocularPressure in Preterm Infants.This study assesses changes in intraocularpressure on premature babies during theirroutine eye examinations to determine if there is a relationship between intraocular pressure before and during respiratory support.

Deborah Murphy, M.S.N., R.N.,C.N.R.N., C.R.N.P., Qaisar Shah, M.D.,Philippe de Kerillis, D.O., Jennifer Frabizzio, M.D., and Captain Brad Nash– for Measurement of Acute Brain Hemorrhage in the Prehospital Setting.This study is investigating the use of a handheld device to identify bleeding in thebrain (hemorrhage) in an effort to change patient outcomes and survival.

Congratulations to the 2012 Award Recipients!

The Innovators’ Circle program recently awarded eight grants to support innovativehealthcare projects at Abington Health.

Innovators’ Circle provides seed grants to Abington Health physicians, nursesand other staff to support innovations in healthcare. Grant decisions are made jointly by the program’s Clinical Advisory Committee, composed of healthcare professionals, and the Executive Leadership and Allocation Committee, made up of philanthropic leaders from the community.

Here are this year’s recipients and the projects for which they received funding.

Lansdale Hospital Auxiliary hosts Winter Soiree

The Lansdale Hospital Auxiliary of the Abington Health Foundation Women’s Board hosted its festive Winter Soiree onDecember 15.

The elegant affair was held at the William Penn Inn, the historic facility in Gwynedd established as a “public house” in1714. The Winter Soiree featured special guest Jerry Blavat, the oldies disc jockey and “Geator with the Heater,” who hasbeen a radio presence for more than 50 consecutive years.

The Verizon Foundation generously served as platinumsponsor for this fourth annual event. The event was coordinatedby Winter Soiree Committee members Kathy Bartle, Katie Farrell, Vicky Frederick, Linda Gerhard, Nancy Hesse, ConnieKraynak and Michele Kraynak, with Honorary Chairs PamBown and Carol White and Community Honorary Chairs FrankBartle and Dr. Joseph Kraynak.

lansdale hospital update

Annual Fund helps Lansdale Hospital meet crucial needs

The 2012 Annual Fund appeal has provided important support for core facilities and services at Lansdale Hospital. Fulfilling the appeal’s theme, “You Make the Difference,” community donors responded with generous charitable gifts in support of Lansdale Hospital.

The Annual Fund provides essential unrestricted support to programs and projects that directly benefit the hospital’s wider community. Because it is a nonprofit, charitable organization, Lansdale Hospital relies on philanthropic support for all of its programs, and the Annual Fund is an essential source of that support.

Thanks to charitable donations from the community, Lansdale Hospital continues to grow and strengthen its services,and continues to receive recognition for its quality. Donor supporthelps the hospital excel in areas that include nursing excellence (see “Pathway to Excellence” article on right); patient-satisfactionscores, advanced health services such as the outstanding Orthopaedic and Spine Institute, core amenities such as a new family waiting area and advanced medical technology such as new CT scanner technology.

Please make your tax-deductible gift to the Lansdale Hospital 2012 Annual Fund before the end of the year. Visit www.AbingtonHealth.org where you can click on “Ways of Giving,” or contact Lori Ferro, annual giving officer, at 215-481-2529 or lferro@amh.org for more information.

Daniel J. Reavy, director of external affairs, Verizon Pennsylvania,with Soiree committee members left to right Katie Farrell, NancyHesse, Vicky Frederick and Kathy Bartle.

We love thiscommunity, andABINGTON HEALTH IS A BIG REASON WHY.

“

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HighlightProgram

Qaisar Shah, M.D., and PatriciaBussinger, M.B.A., B.S.N., R.N. – for A-RISE: After Eight Hours Reperfusionin Ischemic Stroke with Embolectomy. This pilot study will examine the effectiveness of mechanical removal of a blood clot by a catheterization procedure (cerebral angiogram) for patients with symptoms greater than eight hours, and establish broader treatment options for patients affected byprolonged stroke symptoms.

Steven M. Snyder, D.O., and Annamarie Gresko, R.N.C., C.N.L.,I.B.C.L.C. – for Assessment of Growthand Development in Infants WeighingLess Than 1500 Grams at Birth FedDonor Milk or Mother’s Own Milk. This study evaluates the growth and development of infants weighing less than three pounds, five ounces when fedmother’s own milk as opposed to humanmilk from a milk bank.

Erin M. Murphy, M.D., and BethanyPerry, M.D. – for Ease of Access to Nutritional Services and the Effect on Maternal Weight in an Obese Urban Population. This program is designed to improve pregnancy outcomes and guide future careby providing nutritional counseling servicesto obese pregnant women with limited access to services.

Ronald Renzi, D.P.M., and Sabrina Harris, J.D., M.B.A. – for Save Your Soles.This program seeks to reduce racial disparity in the incidence of lower extremityamputation rates among diabetic African-American males within high-risk populations and geographic areas.

P L E A S E C O N T I N U E T O S U P P O RT I N N O VAT O R S ’ C I R C L E

Lansdale Hospitalachieves Pathway to Excellence® designation

The American Nurses CredentialingCenter recently awarded its prestigiousPathway to Excellence® designation toLansdale Hospital. Lansdale is one ofonly two facilities in the state to receivethis nursing designation, and one of only81 hospitals nationwide.

The Pathway to Excellence designation identifies a work environmentwhere nurses can flourish and where theprofessional satisfaction of nurses is substantiated. For an organization to earnthe Pathway to Excellence distinction, it must successfully undergo a thoroughreview process that documents foundational quality initiatives in the facility’s practices, policies and culture.

“Lansdale Hospital nurses exemplifyour mission to deliver exceptional healthcare with compassion,” said Gary R. Candia, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Lansdale Hospital. “We are proud to offer our nursing team an environment where they feel they continue to grow professionally.”

Innovators ’ Circle

Women’s Board

Update

4

Events& Activities

Chairman’s Forum Lecturefeatures innovations in lung cancer care

“Innovations in Lung Cancer Detection and Treatment” was the topic of a special lecture on November 12, held as part of the Abington Health Foundation Chairman’s Forum Lecture Series.Paul V. O’Moore, M.D., and Rajesh R. Patel, M.D., were the featured speakers at the event, which also included hands-ondemonstrations of some of the latest technologies and advances incancer care.

Dr. O’Moore, head of the Section of Interventional Radiologyin the Department of Radiology, has been practicing interventionalradiology since 1987. After five years on the teaching faculty at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and a residency and fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, he returned toPhiladelphia in 1993 to practice at Abington Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Patel, director of bronchoscopy in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, finished his medical education, and worked two years, in Mumbai, India, before completing an internal medicine residency at Graduate Hospital inPhiladelphia. He then completed a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Abington Health physicians and nurses offered several hands-on demonstrations of new medical technologies. Exhibits included interactive presentations on Low Dose CT Scan for LungCancer Screening, Navigational Bronchoscopy, Endobronchial Ultrasound Biopsy (EBUS) and Y-90 Liver Cancer Treatment.

The evening also included presentation of the 2012 Trustee Distinguished Service Award to long-time Boardmember and philanthropist Oscar P. Vance, Jr. (see “Awards &Achievements” below).

The Chairman’s Forum is Abington Health Foundation’s prestigious giving club for philanthropic leaders who make an annual gift of $1,000 or more in support of the work of AbingtonHealth. The generosity of these leaders is central to AbingtonHealth’s continuing excellence. In appreciation, Abington HealthFoundation extends to Chairman’s Forum members several donorbenefits, including special invitations to insider events such as theChairman’s Forum Lecture Series.

Chairman’s Forum Lecture Series

AnnualMembership

F O R U M

5

Sun shines bright on successful golf fundraiser

Beautiful weather greeted the 92 golfers who raised $49,000 at this year’s AbingtonHealth Golf Outing, held on September 10

at the Huntingdon Valley Country Club. Organizedby the Women’s Board to benefit Abington Health,the event began with lunch and a practice sessionbefore participants hit the links.

All par-three holes offered a chance to win aprize for hitting a hole in one. The prizes were enticing – a Las Vegas vacation, a new driver and a new Mustang offered by John Kennedy Ford – but no one was able to claim a prize. Still, there was plenty of fun and friendship to go around andparticipants made a significant contribution in support of Abington Health’s important work.

Women’s Board hosts special event at Barnes Foundation

T he Abington Health FoundationWomen’s Board welcomed supporters of Abington Health

into the Barnes Foundation’s gloriousnew home in Philadelphia for a privatecocktail reception on October 20.

More than 200 guests of all ages participated in the special event, whichalso included an exclusive tour of Dr. Albert C. Barnes’s world-renowned

collection of early 20th-century paintingsand sculpture.

Lynn Shorday-Applebaum served as chair of the event. Edith Dixon andBruce and Robbi Toll were co-hosts forthe evening’s tour and reception. Gallery sponsors for the evening were Ivy Silver and Steven Leshner, and Johnand Carol Durham.

Abington “ambassadors” gain insight into emergency services

The new “Ambassadors of Abington Health” programheld its fall reception and networking event on October 18 atthe Philadelphia Cricket Club.

The Ambassadors program provides a fun, casual opportunity for young professionals and friends of AbingtonHealth to socialize and learn about Abington’s many programs and services.

The October program featured a presentation by Andrew Ball, M.D., assistant chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine, who spoke about the emergencyservices program of Abington Health.

Abington Ambassadors fill an important role in the success and growth of Abington Health, and they serve aspartners in Abington’s efforts to build awareness and supportto meet the future healthcare needs of the community.

For more information about the Ambassadors of AbingtonHealth, please contact Tammy Wagher, donor relations officer, 215-481-2304, or twagher@amh.org.

Awards & Achievements

Long-time Board member and philanthropicleader Oscar P. Vance, Jr., was awarded Abington Health’s Trustee Distinguished

Service Award at a special Chairman’s Forum event onNovember 13 (see “Events & Activities” above).

Oscar Vance has served as a Trustee for AbingtonMemorial Hospital and Abington Health for threedecades. He has been an active member of numerousBoard committees, including the Strategic Philanthropy Committee.

In 1991 he became a founding member and thechair of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial FundCommittee, a role he continues to fill. Oscar’s leadership helped the Committee grow into one ofAbington’s most generous and loyal supporters.

The MLK Committee started with donations fromthe ministers and congregations of local African-American churches, who allocated money from theirbenevolent funds to honor the life and memory of Dr. King. Over the years, support for the MLK Committee has grown throughout the community, and the Committee’s impact has been felt throughoutthe hospital.

The MLK Committee has supported many crucialprograms at the hospital that further the spirit anddreams of Dr. King. These include healthcare and counseling services for the underserved, hospice andpastoral care volunteer training, and scholarship

assistance for outstanding minority students at Abington’s Dixon School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology and Pastoral Care Program.

The MLK Committee has also endowed The Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Fund for Excellence inClosing the Gap, which helps to sustain the hospital’swork to eliminate health disparities in minority andeconomically disadvantaged populations.

Oscar Vance began his professional career in lawenforcement as a Montgomery County investigator in1964. He soon became a detective, and in 1982 he was named Chief of the Detective Bureau. Since his recent retirement he has started his own agency, VanceInvestigations and Corporate Solutions.

In her introductory comments, Bette Landman, last year’s recipient of the Trustee Distinguished Service Award, praised Oscar Vance for fulfilling Martin Luther King’s call to “rise above the narrowconfines of one’s own individual concerns to thebroader concerns of all humanity.”

Laurence M. Merlis, President and CEO; Oscar P. Vance, Jr.; Robert M. Infarinato, Esq.,

Chair of the Board of Trustees Abington Health

Robbi Toll, Bruce Toll and Edith Dixon

Trustee Distinguished Service Award

Check out “Ways of Giving” on our website!

Abington Health Foundation financially supports the efforts of Abington Memorial Hospital, Lansdale Hospital and affiliate centersto benefit the well-being of our community. Please visit our website, www.AbingtonHealth.org, and click on Ways of Giving to learn more abouthow you too can help ensure quality healthcare for you and your loved ones.

You can make a secure gift online to benefit Abington Memorial Hospital or Lansdale Hospital. You can also honor a loved one or a healthcare provider with your contribution.If you need additional information, please contact the Office of Philanthropy at 215-481-4438. One of our officers will be happy to assist you.

Donna Baim, Dara Aronow, Melissa Eskin, Andrew Ball, M.D.,

Gretchen Zierolf, Ed Mahon

Chris Connor, Maria Wenzel, Steve Doherty, Diana Doherty, Seán Lavelle

Lois Singer,Bucky Clark and Eileen Eskin

Marilyn and Robert Rubin Theresa and Robert Johnston Felix Boecker, M.D., William Kinzinger and Fernando Bonanni, Jr., M.D.

Marcia and Don Pizer and Kelly Pressler, R.N.

Susan High William Bernard Kinlaw, M.D., Marcia Kinlaw and Sue Snyder

John and Joan Wilson

Photograph © 2012 The Barnes Foundation

Laurence M. Merlis,President and CEO

Saying thanks in special ways

Often, our patients and their families and friends want to say“thanks” in some special way to the doctors, nurses and other staffwho cared for them.

But how?One easy way is through our Saying Thanks program. Using

cards and postage-paid envelopes located throughout the hospital (or that we can send to you), our grateful patients and their familiescan put their thanks in writing and we’ll pass your gratitude along tothe person or department you identify.

The holiday season is an especially important time for thank-you gifts to organizations that touch the lives of people in need. Because Abington Health is a nonprofit charitable organization, every aspect of our care is made possible with philanthropic support from our community.Gifts made before the end of the year can also provide donors with important tax benefits.

And don’t forget that March 30 is National Doctors’ Day! Of course, every day is Doctors’ Day at Abington Health,but if you make a gift in your doctor’s honor before March 30, we’ll give him or herspecial recognition.

Developments

6

Business Council and Planned Giving Committee receive updates on lung cancer care

On October 17, members of the Abington Memorial Hospital Business Council and Abington Health’sPlanned Giving Advisory Committee attended abreakfast meeting devoted to advances in lung cancer care.

Maria Lain, director of Abington’s OncologyService Line, offered a discussion on “Innovationsin Lung Cancer Detection and Treatment – A Comprehensive Approach.” In addition, Meg McGoldrick, Abington Health’s chief operating officer, provided an update on Abington’sfiscal year 2012 goals and accomplishments.

The Business Council is a body of community business leaders who serve as ambassadors to the hospital and work to increase awareness and supportamong area businesses. The Planned Giving Advisory Committee is composed of legal and wealthadvisors dedicated to furthering planned giving as a vehicle for charitable support of the hospital’s work.

New Addonizio Hybrid OR opens

Thanks to generous donor support, Abington Memorial Hospital’s new $3.5 million Addonizio Hybrid Operating Room hasopened after two years of planning and six months of renovations.

Abington’s Hybrid OR is one of only a small number of suchfacilities in the region. It combines treatments traditionally offeredonly in a cardiac catheterization laboratory with those traditionallyavailable only in an operating room. This combination enables specialists – including vascular surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons,interventional cardiologists and neurosurgeons – to performcatheter-based, minimally invasive procedures with the capacity toperform full surgical interventions in one setting.

Annual Fund makes the difference

Abington Health’s philanthropic community has respondedgenerously to this year’s Annual Fund appeal.

With the theme, “You Make the Difference,” the 2012 AnnualFund is a prime opportunity for charitable donors to invest in thehealth of our community. Because Abington Health is a nonprofitorganization, every aspect of its care depends on charitable gifts tostay strong and grow.

The Annual Fund supports a wide range of programs and projects at Abington Memorial Hospital, Lansdale Hospital and the Abington Health Centers on our Schilling and Warminster Campuses. Recent examples include the new Kind Pediatric Hospice for terminally ill children, the Diamond Stroke Center for stroke care and research, a new Behavioral Health Unit, a newOlder Adult Specialty Unit and a wide range of technological advances, such as leading-edge ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure.

All of these areas, and more, continue to require support. If youhave not yet made a gift to the 2012 Annual Fund, please do so before the end of the year by going to www.AbingtonHealth.org and clicking “Ways of Giving.”

A Time for Giving

Give a gift that gives back – to you!

Acharitable gift annuity is a life-income charitable gift thatcan provide you with tax savings while increasing incometo you and/or other individuals. It enables you to make a

gift for the future of Abington Health and receive lifetime annuitypayments for yourself and/or other beneficiaries. At the same time,your gift can provide a variety of tax and financial benefits including an income-tax deduction in the year you make the gift.Here’s an example of how such a gift would work:

Anna, a retired nurse, was reviewing the fixed income portion of her portfolio. Anna is 76 and was hoping for a greater return on her savings. She has $50,000 in certificates of deposit that are about to mature, but she is hesitant to reinvest the proceeds into new CDs because the rates are so low. Instead, she decides to use the $50,000 to fund a charitable gift annuity at Abington Health that pays her a fixed annuity of 6% a year ($3,000). In addition to increasing her income, she can receive a charitable deduction of $20,971 (based on IRS tables.) She also has the satisfaction of making a truly significant contribution to the future of Abington Health.

Making a gift and receiving lifetime annuity payments may beespecially attractive if you own securities that have appreciated butpay low dividends. You could sell and reinvest for more income, but then you would need to pay capital-gains taxes. By making acharitable gift of the securities and retaining a lifetime annuity, you will receive payments based on the full current value of the securities – with no immediate capital-gains taxes to pay when thegift is made.

Your gift can also be arranged to provide future benefits to youor to others through a deferred gift annuity. Deferred gift annuitiescan help supplement your retirement income or help provide support for a friend or family member. We would be pleased to help set up any gift that advances your personal planning goals.

Below is a current chart of the rates that Abington HealthFoundation uses for a single life charitable annuity:

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T h e C h a r i t a b l e A d v a n t a g e The Rewards of Planned Giving

the

s o c i e t yElkinsLegacy

The Elkins Legacy Society, namedfor George W. and Stella McIntyreElkins, honors those special donors whohave included Abington in their estateplans with a bequest, annuity or otherform of planned gift. Benefits of membership in the Society include invitations to an annual luncheon, periodic insider updates and a range ofdonor recognition opportunities.The annual Elkins Legacy SocietyLuncheon will be held in May, 2013.

Please let us know if you have already included Abington Health Foundation in your estate plans. We would love to thank you!

The Pennsylvania Department ofHealth’s Office of Public Health Preparedness has awarded Abington Health with two major grants. One, for$44,000, was presented to Abington Memorial Hospital and a second, for$33,000, was made to Lansdale Hospital.

The grants will enable the two hospitalsto strengthen their preparedness for dealingwith disasters and infrastructure concerns.Examples include purchasing equipment

to increase surge capacity, increasing emergency supplies and protective equipment and assuring that communications and utilities continue to be available if traditional utility organizations are unable to provide service.

Zimmer DentalZimmer Dental, Inc., a leader

in dental implant manufacturing,has made a gift of $10,000 in educational support materialsand sterile products to benefit

Abington Health’s dental clinic.This low-cost clinic provides full dental services for patients without insurance coverage.

The in-kind gift of supplies and materials from Zimmer Dental

will support the work and trainingof Abington’s approximately 40 dentists and technicians.

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Wells FargoWells Fargo has presented a grant of

$10,000 in support of general operations for Abington Health’s Santerian NewbornCenter. The Santerian Newborn Center wasestablished in 2009 as a bridge clinic where uninsured newborns can access careduring the first three months of life until apermanent medical home and insurance statuscan be established. The Santerian Center ispart of Abington Memorial Hospital’s OB/GYN Center, which has served uninsured and underinsured women for 30 years.

Left to Right: Deborah Anderson, R.N., nurse manager Operating Room; Rohinton J. Morris, M.D., chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery Division and surgical director, Porter Institute for Valvular HeartDisease; John S. Kukora, M.D., chair, Department of Surgery anddirector, Surgical Residency Program; Theodore R. Sullivan, Jr.,M.D.,director, Vascular Surgical Services and co-director, Blank Vascular Center

For more information about the Saying Thanks program, Tribute Gifts, Doctors’ Day and other opportunities to express your gratitude, please contact the Office of Philanthropy at 215-481-4438 (215-481-GIFT), or go to www.AbingtonHealth.organd click on “Ways of Giving.”

’T is the holiday season – a wonderful time of the year to be thankful for good health and for friends and family. Holidays often include visions of gifts received and gifts

given. As the New Year approaches, the holidays are also a wonderfultime to think about philanthropic gifts – including a gift in support ofAbington Health.

You can contribute to Abington Health Foundation in many ways,but two of the simplest and most popular are giving through your will – a gift that costs you nothing now – and funding a charitable gift annuity – a gift that can give back to you and your loved ones.

For information on including AbingtonHealth in your estate plans or funding acharitable gift annuity please contactAmy Buick, director of major gifts, at215-481-2792 or abuick@amh.org, orvisit the Ways of Giving section of ourwebsite at www.AbingtonHealth.org.

It is important to have a will

A will is your opportunity to protect those who mean the most to you; to sort out your investments, real estate andother property; and to save taxes for your heirs. It is an

important document that lets your community know what type oflegacy you would like to leave.

Bequests of every size build Abington Health’s future financialstrength, and we are grateful for every gift. You may leave an unrestricted bequest, and your gift will be used for the greatest need.Or, your bequest may be restricted to a specific area of interest.Including a charitable gift in your will is simple to do. Here aresome options, along with examples of sample language:

� Donate a percentage of your estate. (“I give 10 percent of the net value of my estate to Abington Health Foundation.”)

� Donate a percentage of the amount of your estate left after specific bequests have been given to others. (“I give 10 percent of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to Abington Health Foundation.”)

� Donate a specific dollar amount or item of property. (“I give Abington Health Foundation $25,000” or “I give Abington Health Foundation 100 shares of IBM stock.”)

If your will is already written, you do not have to rewrite it. You can simply add a codicil – an amendment. You can add a gift toAbington Health and leave the rest of your will unchanged.

If you die without a will, your property will be taxed and distributed according to the rules and formulas of your state’s “intestacy” law. Under that law, no provision can be made to give extra assistance to a family member who needs it, to pass your grandmother’s ruby ring to your granddaughter or to make a gift to support the hospital where your children were born. You don’t want that to happen!

60 ........................................4.4

65 ........................................4.7

70 ........................................5.1

75 ........................................5.8

80 ........................................6.8

85 ........................................7.8

90+ ......................................9.0

Rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities effective 1/1/2012.

AGE RATE

Abington Health

Jill Kyle, C.F.R.E., vice president, InstitutionalAdvancement (center) is surrounded by herstaff (l to r): Debbie Maha, planned giving associate; Monica Simon, R.N., M.S.N.,G.P.C., grants officer; Cathy Cawley, development officer; Amy Buick, director of major gifts; Eva Feinberg, gift officer;Peggy Kluge, gifts processor; Jill Kyle; Lori Ferro, annual giving officer; Jenny Kleintop, advancement services associate; and Tammy Wagher, donor relations officer.

Meet the Office of Philanthropy

1200 Old York Road • Abington, PA 19001 215-481-GIFT www.AbingtonHealth.org

Office of Philanthropy StaffJill Kyle, C.F.R.E., Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Amy Buick, Director of Major Gifts

Cathy Cawley,Development Officer

Lori Ferro,Annual Giving Officer

Monica Simon, R.N., M.S.N., G.P.C., Grants Officer

Tammy Wagher,Donor Relations Officer

Robert M. Infarinato

Chair, Board of Trustees

Bruce Entwisle

Chair, Foundation Board of Trustees

Pam Bown

President, The Women’s Board

Kevin M. Zakrzewski, M.D.

President, Medical Staff

John J. Kelly, M.D., F.A.C.P.

Chief of Staff

Laurence M. Merlis

President and C.E.O.

LEAVE A LEGACY®

Create your own legacy.A bequest, large or small, is a meaningful way to provide

future support to Abington Health.

Non-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDAbington Memorial Hospital

MAKE A SECURE GIFT ONLINE TODAYby visiting www.AbingtonHealth.org and click on Ways of Giving.

For more information please contact the Abington Health Foundation Office of Philanthropy at 215-481-GIFT (4438).

Abington Health relies on charitable support to provide quality healthcare, and one of the most important forms of support is a direct year-end gift.

WAYS OF GIVINGWe can help you find a year-end giving solution that best meets your needs, including a:

�cash gift – check or credit card�gift of stock�gift of tangible assets such as real estate�planned or deferred gift�charitable lead trust

BENEFITS OF GIVINGThe greatest benefit of all is the knowledge that you are supporting excellent healthcare in yourcommunity. Recognition opportunities include:

�Prestigious giving clubs with member benefits�The Elkins Legacy Society for planned gifts�The Loyalty Society for long-term loyal support�Recognition on our Wall of Honor�Recognition in Profiles of

Givingand our Annual Report

Donating long-term appreciated stock offers you a two-fold tax saving. First, you avoid paying any capital gains tax on the increase in value of yourstock. In addition, you receive a tax deduction forthe full fair market value of the stock on the date of the gift.

For example, if you purchased stock many years ago for $1,000, and it is now worth $10,000, an outright gift of that stock to Abington HealthFoundation would result in a charitable deductionof $10,000. In addition, you permanently avoid paying capital gains tax on the $9,000 of appreciation.

MAKE YOUR YEAR-END GIFT TODAYSupport the vital services of Abington Health with a gift before December 31

Don’t miss your opportunity for a 2012 tax deduction – make your charitable donation to Abington Health Foundation before December 31.

Giving stock offers tax advantages