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The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center Announces Seven-Figure Donation from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Rechnitz

The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center Announces Seven-Figure Donation from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Rechnitz

Gift to fund renovation and refurbishing at the newly named Unterberg Children’s Hospital

The Monmouth Medical Center Foundation today announced a $1.5 million charitable contribution from Robert M. Rechnitz, Ph.D., and Joan Rechnitz to benefit The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

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Dr. and Mrs. Robert Rechnitz established the Two River Theater in 1994 at Monmouth University. The theater company, which quickly rose to prominence as an eminent New Jersey regional theater, went on to offer performances at the Algonquin Theater in Manasquan, before building its current state-of-the-art-theater in Red Bank in 2005. Two River has just celebrated its 20th anniversary.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Rechnitz was a professor of American Literature at Monmouth University, teaching courses in literature and theater. In 2001, Monmouth University awarded Dr. Rechnitz the Maurice Pollak Award for Distinguished Public Service. His scholarly articles have been published in various academic journals and critical anthologies. Robert is a Trustee of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

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Joan Rechnitz, a 1984 graduate of Monmouth University, served the Monmouth County community as a board member of the “Friends of the Parks,” which supports the Monmouth County Park System; as a board member of the Volunteer Center of Monmouth County, which awarded her the Community Commitment from the Heart Award in 2001; and as a board member of the Women’s Council for the Leon Hess Cancer Center at Monmouth Medical Center. At Monmouth University’s 2012 commencement, Joan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts. In 2005, Joan and Robert together received the Red Bank River Center Ambassador Award as well as the Silver Gull Award from the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council in 2010.  Monmouth University is home to the newly constructed Joan & Robert Rechnitz Hall, which houses the Department of Art & Design as well as the University’s Principal Art Gallery. The Rechnitzes also funded the Conference and Education Center at Riverview Medical Center.

“We are delighted to support The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center because of the close ties between Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth University and our commitment to the community they serve,” said Joan and Robert Rechnitz.

“Dr. and Mrs. Rechnitz have proven their dedication to the Monmouth County community time and again through their philanthropic efforts,” said Tara F. Kelly, vice president, Monmouth Medical Center Foundation. “We are so grateful for this generous gift, which is just one more testament to their commitment to area residents.”

The Rechnitzes’ gift marks the first seven-figure contribution to The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center since it was named after the Unterbergs in September. The donation will support the unrivaled pediatric care provided by The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center and allow for facility renovations, refurbishments to provide patients and their families with a more comfortable environment and the expansion of the pediatric intensive care unit, which serves hundreds of children each year.

The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center offers the highest level of pediatric services for newborns to adolescents, including cutting-edge treatment, specialized expertise and an unsurpassed dedication to medical excellence in 32 pediatric sub-specialty areas. Every aspect of care benefits from a child-friendly, family-centered approach. 

To learn more about ways to support Monmouth Medical Center, call Tara F. Kelly, vice president of the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation, at 732.923.6886 or visit www.monmouthfoundation.org. For more information on The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, call 732.923.7250 or visit www.barnabashealth.org/monmouth.

About Monmouth Medical Center

Located in Long Branch, N.J., Monmouth Medical Center, a Barnabas Health facility, along with The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, is one of New Jersey's largest academic medical centers and has been a teaching affiliate of Philadelphia’s Drexel University College of Medicine for more than 40 years. From its earliest days, Monmouth Medical Center has been a leader in surgical advancement and has introduced many technological firsts to the region, including robotic surgery and other minimally invasive techniques. The hospital is routinely recognized by HealthGrades, the nation’s largest premier independent health care quality company, for excellence in both emergency medicine and maternity care. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Monmouth as a regional leader in cancer, geriatrics, gynecology, neurology and neurosurgery. For more information on Monmouth Medical Center, visit www.barnabashealth.org/monmouth

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