FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwire - March 9, 2010) - Holy Cross Hospital recently held a demolition event to celebrate the kickoff of construction on the new Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women's Center at Holy Cross Healthplex, slated to open this fall.
Joining in the festivities were representatives from the Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation, which provided an initial $4 million donation, the Hudson Family Foundation, general contractor Stiles Construction, architectural firm Gresham Smith, engineering firm SSR and community leaders, guests and more than 50 "Girlfriends," women in the community who each pledged $5,000 as lifelong members of the Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women's Center. The $15 million project is funded entirely through philanthropy.
Holy Cross Hospital unveiled Phase I renovations to the building that will be transformed into the new women's health facility. Guests also were treated to a luncheon underwritten by Hugh's Catering.
Plans for the 55,000 square-foot space, located at 1000 NE 56 St. in Fort Lauderdale, include a dedicated entrance, a welcome area, education and community rooms, a cuisine center, a chapel, counseling rooms, a women's boutique, gift shop, doctors' offices and a computer and library research center.
"Holy Cross Hospital has already been awarded a five-star rating for maternity care and women's health by Healthgrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization," said Holy Cross Hospital President and CEO John C. Johnson. "Our new Women's Center will combine our outstanding healthcare services and commitment to positive patient experiences in a comprehensive one of a kind facility dedicated to all women in our community."
The Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women's Center expands its services beyond obstetrics and gynecology to also include a focus on healthcare for conditions that exist only in women, are more common in women or are biologically different in women. For example, the Women's Center will transform the traditional 35-day wait from suspicious mammogram to surgery by providing immediate diagnosis and treatment and offering same-day comprehensive services.
"Women's healthcare needs differ significantly from men's," said Doreen Koenig, who along with Sheri Whittington and Monica Maroone, spearhead the Community Leaders Committee for the Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women's Center. "Historically, women put themselves last in providing for their own healthcare, and women's symptoms and diseases often differ biologically."
Fundraising for the Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women's Center continues on Saturday, March 27 with the 54th Annual Holy Cross Hospital Auxiliary Charity Gala at the Signature Grand in Davie. Themed "Night on the Red Carpet," guests will be treated to a magical night of fine cuisine, sensational entertainment and an exciting silent auction. The Signature Grand's Night on the Red Carpet begins at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception. Dinner begins at 8 p.m., followed by dancing. Tickets to the Gala are $200 each. For more information, call Holy Cross Hospital at 954-229-8562.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL:
A member of Catholic Health East, Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. is a full-service, non-profit Catholic hospital, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. Since opening its doors in 1955, the 571-bed hospital has offered progressive services and programs to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Broward County. Today, Holy Cross has more than 600 physicians on staff representing more than 40 specialties and more than 2,800 employees. The hospital is fully accredited by the independent Joint Commission, and its medical team has earned a reputation for excellence unsurpassed in the community. To learn more about Holy Cross, visit www.holy-cross.com.
Contact Information:
Pierson Grant Public Relations
(954) 776-1999
Maria Pierson, ext. 222
Savannah Whaley, ext. 225