More than 200 donors and community leaders gathered at Jackson Health Foundation’s annual Golden Angels Recognition Dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach. The celebratory dinner honored Golden Angels Society members, the Foundation’s premier giving society, and showcased the tremendous impact they have made supporting Jackson and its mission of providing unmatched, world-class care to everyone. The Foundation recognized more than 120 donors and welcomed 40 new Golden Angels – the most ever in one year!

The dinner’s program highlighted the growth and cutting-edge medical care Jackson Health System has achieved and the road ahead made possible by the support of the generous philanthropists who filled the room. Expansion plans include development of the UHealth Jackson Children’s Care Pediatric Outpatient Pavilion on the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus and new construction and expansion plans for the Holtz Children’s Hospital Emergency Department. Later this year, construction will begin at Jackson Memorial Hospital on a new, state-of-the-art emergency department, which will completely reinvent the way emergency care is delivered at Jackson. It will be the largest emergency room in the country. Also mentioned were the successful development of massive projects such as the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial and José Milton Memorial Hospital at Jackson West.

The night’s main event was the awards ceremony. A special award honored the Grand Seraphim donor, Shriners Children’s Hospital, for an unprecedented gift that is the driving force behind construction of the UHealth Jackson Children’s Care Pediatric Outpatient Pavilion. The highest honor, The Rainmaker Award, was presented to Jessie and Carlos Mendal. Carlos Mendal’s patient experience at Jackson, after being in a biking accident, led to their tireless commitment and incredible work to support the Foundation’s mission.

Sponsors of the dinner included Florida National University and Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits.

About Jackson Health Foundation

Jackson Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the fundraising arm for Jackson Health System, the most comprehensive healthcare provider in South Florida and home to the largest public hospital in the country. Through the generosity of compassionate donors, the Foundation seeks private philanthropic funds to improve the health system’s facilities, provide it with the most advanced equipment and technology, and support its priority projects. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts allow Jackson to provide life-saving medical care to all of its patients, regardless of financial need, and improve healthcare delivery, enhance the patient experience, and promote wellness and preventive medicine. The  Foundation offers several fundraising programs, including the Golden Angel Society, the Foundation’s premier giving society; Guardian Angels, who are dedicated to supporting Holtz Children’s Hospital; International Kids Fund Wonderfund™, a global outreach program that provides medical care to children from around the world who cannot be treated in their home countries; and the Young Angels Program for individuals ages 21 to 45, who believe that participation in civic engagement activities is vital to the health of their community. Founded in 1991, the Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors committed to philanthropic activities that, to date, have raised more than $140 million to benefit Jackson. For more information about Jackson Health Foundation, visit www.JacksonHealthFoundation.org or call 305.585.GIVE (4483).