Schatzi Kassal and Project: New Born
Three generations of Kassals honor a matriarch
Schatzi Kassal is a Miami legend. Humble, gracious and kind, she has worked tirelessly for more than 40 years to build the neonatal intensive care unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Through Kassal’s “Project: New Born”, millions of dollars have been raised to expand a unit that started with a mere five beds. Now the “Schatzi Kassal Project: New Born Neonatal Intensive Care Unit” is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. The unit treats premature babies from all over and serves as a research hospital through its affiliation with the University of Miami.
On the eve of the Project: New Born fundraiser, which is produced in conjunction with Crown Wine and Spirits, three generations of Kassals, along with classmates of Shatzi’s grandchildren, visited the unit.
During the visit, Devon Kassal, son of Bubba and Robyn Kassal, donated pennies collected as a part of his school’s fundraising efforts. Additionally, Jacqueline Kassal, daughter of Michael and Leslie Kassal, came with her high school classmates who started the Project: New Born club at the University High School at Nova Southeastern University.
Also in attendance at the visit were Schatzi’s daughter Bonnie Blank with granddaughters Nikki Blank Koles and Dani Blank.
During the visit, attendees had the opportunity to meet Ivanna Cardenas and David Gutierrez, parents of quadruplets who were born prematurely. The children were currently gaining strength in incubators and the parents were honored to meet Schatzi and her family.
