Honoring their outstanding leadership, unwavering spirit of excellence and remarkable achievements in the community they serve, Memorial Healthcare System (MHS) of Hollywood, Fla., is the recipient of the prestigious 2006 Foster G. McGaw Award. This is one of the most esteemed honors for excellence in community service in health care.

Each year, this $100,000 award is presented to a health care organization that provides innovative programs that significantly improve the health and well-being of the community. The Foster G. McGaw Prize is sponsored by the American Hospital Association (AHA), The Baxter International Foundation and the Cardinal Health Foundation.

Named as finalists and receiving $10,000 each are Baystate Health in Springfield, Mass., Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y. and Sisters of Charity Health System in Lewiston, Maine.
Memorial Healthcare System is a national role model for improving the health and well-being of the community it serves. In addition to receiving this most recent award, Memorial was the first recipient of the AHA's "Living the Vision" award in 1997.

"The Foster G. McGaw Award acknowledges health care organizations that go the extra mile and beyond to improve the lives of the people in their communities," said Susan Manilow, chair of the Foster G. McGaw Prize Committee. "This year's winner and finalists are models of innovative leadership and partnership, sustained commitment and wide-ranging initiatives that achieve striking results in the health and vitality of their communities. In line with its philosophy that public health and quality of life are inseparable, Memorial Healthcare System has built strong partnerships with other community organizations and community leaders to create a wide spectrum of impressive and effective community initiatives. From providing programs that significantly help delinquent and at-risk youths, to the homeless, the seniors, the chronically ill and many, many more, Memorial Healthcare System consistently demonstrates how deeply and compassionately they care about all the people of their community."

"With a remarkable history of community outreach, and with open arms and compassionate hearts, we embrace the community in which we live. It is a privilege to be able to save lives, lift spirits and heal the human body," said Frank V. Sacco, President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Healthcare System. "Together, we will stay as dedicated and focused as ever in our passion to help our fellow man."

2006 Finalists
The Foster G. McGaw Prize finalists were also recognized for their significant
accomplishments in community service:

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Baystate Health in Springfield, Mass., for its broad-based community collaboration to address the diverse and challenging needs for the most vulnerable individuals - including the poor, uninsured, refugees, immigrants and disabled.
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Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y., for forging strong community relationships and meeting both the medical needs of the underserved and their social, economic and environmental needs, as well.
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Sisters of Charity Health System in Lewiston, Maine for its unique initiatives to meet the needs of its community, whether those needs are health-care services, housing or academic.

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