In 2024, more than 2,200 donors invested $8.7 million in Virtua’s programs and services. Together, we were able to accelerate our community health programs, enhance Virtua’s clinical services for patients, shape the health care workforce of the future…and more!
Your Generosity Matters
We are grateful to our philanthropic partners for their unwavering commitment to health and wellness. Their generous support empowers us to address the most serious health needs of our community and deliver the highest quality care that supports our patients in mind, body, and spirit.
464
patients with breast cancer and their families were supported through the Breast Care Comfort Fund.
10085
children received free screenings and health services by Virtua’s Pediatric Mobile Services.
1000
market stops made by Virtua’s Eat Well Mobile Farmers Market and Mobile Grocery Store.
Pediatric Mobile Services Welcomes Bright New Van
In June, we introduced our second Pediatric Mobile Services vehicle, “Sunny,” at a celebratory event attended by philanthropic partners, community leaders, elected officials, and children served by the program. This expansion, made possible by a $1 million pledge from the Joseph Lacroce Foundation, will allow our pediatric team to reach 70% more children. With the addition of a second vehicle and an expanded staff—growing from five to 14 people—the program now operates six days a week, offering multiple services in a single visit and reaching more sites than ever before. In 2024, the team provided free screenings and health services to 10,085 children. We are grateful to the donors whose support enhances this program and helps children in our community.
31% of children screened were referred to additional services.
Eat Well Program Plans for Expansion
Virtua’s Eat Well food access program has been a trusted source of affordable, nutritious food since 2017. In 2024, our Eat Well Mobile Grocery Store and Mobile Farmers Market made over 1,000 market stops. This mobile program earned Jersey Fresh certification, with more than 53% of its produce sourced from local farms. Additionally, our Food Farmacy team helped improve the lives of 629 patients with chronic disease by providing free food and nutrition counseling. In 2025, Virtua will expand Eat Well with the launch of two new mobile units, made possible through the State of New Jersey. One will serve as our new grocery store, while the other will function as a Food Farmacy on wheels.
363 customers served per week by the Eat Well Mobile Farmers Market and Mobile Grocery Store.
Cancer Screening Unit Reduces Barriers to Early Detection
In 2024, Virtua’s new Mobile Health and Cancer Screening Unit operated four days a week, traveling throughout Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties to provide life-saving cancer screenings. The program expanded its reach by 144% compared to the previous year. Of the 3,100 cancer screenings completed, 67% were offered for free to uninsured or underinsured patients in need. Equipped with the latest 3D mammography technology, the unit’s clinical team was able to screen and educate 1,933 women for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and more.
3,100 screenings provided for breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers.
Supporting the Mind, Body, and Spirit
The generosity of our donors helps provide critical resources for patients in need, enabling us to care for them in mind, body, and spirit. Here are a few of the ways that support made an impact in 2024:
2527
patients were supported by Virtua’s Visiting Paws Pet Therapy Program.
133
families received grief support and resources through the Perinatal Bereavement and Palliative Care Fund.
209
bags of food were given to patients in cancer treatment who are also experienced food insecurity.
164
patients with cancer received salon services and a free wig at the RCCA Hair Boutique.
Enhancing Clinical Services for Patients
Philanthropy plays an essential role at Virtua in enhancing clinical service lines by funding advanced technologies, improving patient access, and supporting initiatives that meet the evolving needs of our patients. Here are a few of the ways generous gifts made an impact on clinical care in 2024:
- Pediatric Sensory Rooms Open in Voorhees and Mount Holly
In 2024, we opened two specially designed sensory rooms to better support our pediatric patients. Located at Virtua’s hospitals in Voorhees and Mount Holly, these rooms provide a safe environment where children can decompress, self-regulate, and receive medical care in a sensory-friendly setting. - Behavioral Health Program Receives Creative Enhancements
Virtua’s CASTLE (Children Achieving Success through Therapeutic Life Experience) program in Berlin now features an immersive art room, allowing children in treatment to use creative expression as a method of healing. In 2024, CASTLE Berlin and Camden provided care to 1,311 children and adolescents with behavioral health conditions. The program will soon expand to a third location at Virtua’s Willingboro campus. - Virtua Selected by Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative to Participate in U.S. Fellowship Program
Virtua Health is one of only 10 health systems in the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Early Detection U.S. Fellowship Program. In partnership with the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA) at the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, this grant-funded project will allow Virtua to accelerate early detection for cognitive impairment and offer hope to those affected by this disease. - Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Launches TeamBirth Model
With philanthropic funding, Virtua expanded TeamBirth, a national, evidence-based program for maternity patients, to its Camden hospital. This initiative builds on the program already in place at Virtua’s hospitals in Mount Holly and Voorhees. TeamBirth’s collaborative structure fosters open communication among patients, their support persons, and clinicians to enhance the childbirth experience.
Technology Upgrades for EMT Training
At Virtua, we are committed to shaping the future of health care by educating the next generation of caregivers and strengthening our workforce to meet the evolving needs of our community. Virtua’s EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) Training Academy offers free training to aspiring first responders who are seeking to begin a career in service to our community. In 2024, the program benefited from tech upgrades, including new iPads, thanks to a gift from the Best Buy Foundation. The addition of this technology expanded the program’s digital learning platform through interactive eLearning modules, study materials, immersive simulations, and other tools for professional growth.
40 students completed Virtua’s EMT Academy to serve our community as first responders.
Scholarships Help Advance Nursing Education
Together with our donors, we are reducing financial barriers for both current and aspiring nurses through the Nursing Scholarships fund. In 2024, nearly $90,000 in scholarships was awarded to students at Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and Virtua nurses pursuing advanced degrees. By easing the burden of tuition costs, we empower these dedicated professionals to focus on their education, enhancing both their learning experience and future impact on patient care.
41 scholarships were awarded to Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing students and Virtua nurses.
Gratitude Matters: NICU Family Shares Thanks for Care
In 2024, more than 100 clinicians, colleagues, and teams were honored with a gift of gratitude through The Lasting Impact Project for the difference they made. Craig and Stacey Gargano were among those who gave back following their own gratitude experience. Their now 2-year-old daughter, Molly, spent her first 110 days of life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Virtua Voorhees Hospital after her premature birth at just 29 weeks. The Gargano family generously honored the NICU team and their daughter’s neonatologist, Sarvin Ghavam, MD, who stood out to them as “as a beacon of hope who provided open and honest communication, patience, and empathy throughout Molly’s journey.”
View All 2024 Honorees
Get Involved
If you would like to learn about how you or your organization can take part in transforming health care in South Jersey, contact us today to speak with a member of our philanthropy team.
Call Us: 856-355-0830
Email Us: gratitude@virtua.org