Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation’s “The Power of Caring” Gala Brings in Record Funds for Hospital

The event raised nearly $440,000 and celebrated health care providers and the community that supported them during the pandemic

GLEN BURNIE, Md. – The Baltimore Washington Medical Center (BWMC) Foundation brought together 500 people to celebrate the "The Power of Caring" Gala at Live! Casino & Hotel.

The event raised close to $440,000 for the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC), bringing in the most funds in the event's history. The funds will go towards hospital capital projects and the expansion of health care services to meet the growing needs of Anne Arundel County residents, as well as patient comfort programs and employee programs geared toward well-being, engagement and professional advancement.

"The philanthropic support we receive from our generous donors is critical in helping UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center continue to meet the growing needs of our patients and our employees," said Kathy McCollum, President and Chief Executive Officer of UM BWMC. "With their support, we are able to increase access to both community-based and subspecialty clinical programs for residents in Anne Arundel County, as well as offer wellness programs, scholarships and emergency assistance funds that support the resiliency of our team members."

Hospital team members, sponsors and community leaders joined together to recognize the courage and heroism of frontline workers at UM BWMC during the last two years, and to celebrate the community that supported them. The evening featured a cocktail reception, three-course menu, and silent and live auctions that included opportunities for attendees to purchase wellness gifts for hospital employees, including flowers and snacks for clinical units. A video shared images of health care workers who responded to the care needs of the community, as well as quotes from grateful patients.

The evening also recognized Lou Zagarino, who after nearly two decades serving UM BWMC as a member of both the hospital and foundation boards, will complete his service this June. During his tenure, the hospital became a member of the University of Maryland Medical System, gained recognition as a top hospital in Maryland by U.S. News and World Report, and raised funds to create the Tate Cancer Center and Pascal Women's Center. Zagarino provided leadership to the organization during a period of significant change that drove the quality, complexity and academic nature of the care provided at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

This year's gala was supported by more than 50 sponsors and underwriters, including community businesses, medical leaders and individuals. Lead sponsors included the Creston G. and Betty Jane Tate Foundation, Live! Casino & Hotel and the UM BWMC Medical Staff. Diamond level sponsors included

Diaconia, Sandy Spring Bank, M&T Bank, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, University of Maryland Medical System, and UM BWMC Emergency Physicians Inc. The evening's media sponsor was the Severna Park Voice.

The BWMC Foundation, the fundraising arm of UM BWMC, helps bridge the gap between the medical center's basic operating costs and its ability to stay abreast of advancing technologies, programs, and services. The BWMC Foundation plays an integral role in helping UM BWMC provide the highest quality healthcare to the communities it serves. The BWMC Foundation accepts gifts of all sizes and offers numerous ways to donate. Visit www.bwmcfoundation.org for more information.

About the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center

The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC) is an acute-care facility that is part of the University of Maryland Medical System. It is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland and has 314 beds and more than 3,100 team members. It also has 1,200 medical providers on staff in over 50 specialties. For more information, visit www.umbwmc.org.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state's future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System's anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.