Baptist Health Foundation Hosts an Evening of Gratitude Benefiting Bethesda Hospital

BOYNTON BEACH, FL – February 27, 2026 – More than 150 guests attended the Evening of Gratitude benefiting Bethesda Hospital, part of Baptist Health, which was held on Friday, February 20 at the OPAL Grand Resort & Spa in Delray Beach. Presented by Barbara and Ben Lucas and Pam and Michael McCarthy, the event honored members of Baptist Health Foundation’s Giving Society and other donors to Bethesda Hospital.   

The Bethesda Hospital Evening of Gratitude raised over $650,000 to support the advancement of cardiac care at the hospital. The event featured a cocktail hour, seated dinner and live entertainment. Speakers included Jared Smith, CEO of Bethesda Hospital and honorary event chair; Barbara James, VP of Baptist Health Foundation; and Bradley Taylor, M.D., chief of cardiac surgery, North Region.

“At Bethesda Hospital, we are dedicated to excellence in every respect – from our caring employees and highly skilled physicians to the latest medical technology,” said Mr. Smith. “We’re grateful to our donors for their continued support, and look forward to the progress ahead as we continue enhancing care for our community.”

Added Dr. Taylor, “Philanthropic support helped make our hybrid OR possible and brought the TAVR procedure — a nonsurgical procedure to replace the heart’s aortic valve — to our patients. With continued donor support, we’ll be able to expand innovative cardiac treatments and improve outcomes for even more families in our community.”

Presenting sponsors of the Bethesda Hospital Evening of Gratitude were Barbara and Ben Lucas and Pam and Michael McCarthy. Platinum sponsors were Sonia and Todd Gurne and TEAMHealth.  Gold sponsors were Denise Cvijanovich and Pierce Smith. Silver sponsors were Envision Healthcare and Julia and Rob Sivitilli. Bronze sponsors included Mary Blum, Caron and Robert Dockerty, Stephanie and Jim Seaborg, VITAS Healthcare and Margie and Bruce Warwick.

Bethesda Hospital is a not-for-profit healthcare organization that comprises two campuses, Bethesda Hospital East and Bethesda Hospital West. The hospital offers comprehensive services, including a nationally recognized orthopedic total joint replacement program; cardiovascular care; cancer care; vascular, endovascular and robotic surgery; and women’s and children’s services. With roots in Palm Beach County that date from 1947, Baptist Health Foundation raises awareness and secures funds to assist Bethesda Hospital in improving patient care and enhancing the well-being of the community.

About Baptist Health Foundation

The mission of Baptist Health Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and build extraordinary donor relationships in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and global leadership in healthcare at Baptist Health. Through philanthropy, the Foundation supports and expands Baptist Health’s ability to provide outstanding patient care and bring the latest treatments to patients and families affected by a serious illness. Donor contributions also allow the Foundation to assist Baptist Health facilities in keeping pace with technology and equipment advances, perform cutting-edge research and offer continuing education opportunities to medical staff. Learn more at BaptistHealth.net/Foundation and connect with us on Instagram and Facebook.

About Baptist Health 

Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 29,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned institutes specializing in cancer care, brain and spine care, heart and vascular care and orthopedic care. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and The Baptist Health PineApp, a virtual health platform. Baptist Health South Florida is an academic and clinical affiliate of Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and is the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. 

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