Baptist Health Foundation’s An Evening of Gratitude Celebrates Major Donors to Baptist Health Fishermen’s Community Hospital
MARATHON, FL – April 16, 2026 – Nearly 200 guests attended An Evening of Gratitude benefiting Baptist Health Fishermen’s Community Hospital, which was held on April 10, 2026 at Oceanfront Park in Marathon, Florida. The event raised over $324,000 as the Foundation honored its Giving Society members and other donors to Fishermen’s Community Hospital. All proceeds from the evening will support the hospital’s Center for Excellence in Nursing program.
The event, presented by Geraldine and William Weir, featured a cocktail hour, dinner, live auction, and live band. Speakers included Aleta Williamson, Baptist Health Foundation Fishermen’s Community Hospital Council chair; Drew Grossman, Mariners Hospital and Fishermen’s Community Hospital CEO; and Alex Villoch, Baptist Health Foundation CEO. The program also featured special remarks by Diego Torres-Russotto, M.D., chair of neurology and the Distinguished Endowed Chair in Neurology at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute; and Pang Xiong, R.N., Emergency Department director at Fishermen’s Community Hospital.
“Fishermen’s Community Hospital is proud to serve as a source of high quality, compassionate care for the Florida Keys,” said Mr. Grossman. “Our goal is to ensure our community has access to essential healthcare services close to home — delivered with expertise and a personal touch. Our nurses are the heart of this hospital, and we are grateful to our community for supporting them.”
Ms. Villoch added, “Fishermen’s Community Hospital is truly something special – a hospital with a rich history of caring for the community, and a community that has cared for this hospital with incredible generosity, time and time again. We thank our Keys donors for their trust in us.”
Bougainvillea Gold sponsors of the event included Nan & Philip Coon, Lookout Foundation, Media Counselors, Small Hospital Innovations, Rosemary Thomas and Maria & Rick Wesslund. Bird of Paradise Silver sponsors included Joan & Kelley Bergstrom, Dee & Don Swatik, Charley Toppino & Sons Inc. and Aleta & Dean Williamson. Orchid Bronze sponsors included First State Bank, Radiology Associates of South Florida, Trane Technologies, Lynn Voit and Sue & Dave Williamson. Hibiscus Copper sponsors included Cat Cay Club, Mallory Pinto, Keys Ocean Realty, Mary & David Rice, Susan Ruck & Colin Parker and Ventas.
Located in Marathon in the heart of the Florida Keys, Baptist Health Fishermen’s Community Hospital is a state-of-the-art 22-bed facility that was built from the ground up with generous community support. It opened its doors in the summer of 2021, providing critical services close to home, including a 24/7 emergency department, intensive care unit, inpatient rooms, laboratory, imaging services, oncology services, surgery and pharmacy. Baptist Health Foundation promotes philanthropy to assist Fishermen’s Community Hospital in providing outstanding, compassionate patient care, as well as enhancing medical resources in the Middle Keys.
ABOUT BAPIST 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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