News + Events/April
Good news travels fast
We were delighted to welcome Spectrum News/NY1 into our clinic to profile the work of The Floating Hospital and our partnership with Soles4Souls (View here). In March, a shipment of 500 pairs of new sneakers and 550 pairs of Bombas socks were distributed to our young patients in temporary housing.
Roger Clark from NY1 was there to record the selections and sizing of shoes for the children and learn about the history of our organization and its operations today. He interviewed Dr. Meghan Miller, education director, and Cynthia Davis, community outreach director, about the hospital. Lily Martinez was trying on shoes as the cameras rolled. “It’s cool that people can welcome me in here and make me feel as if I was part of their family,” she said. She told Clark she has dreams of becoming a fashion designer.
One of the many ways The Floating Hospital helps its patients is through partnerships with groups such as Soles4Souls. The charity has been shipping us new socks and sneakers for our young patients in temporary housing since 2022 through its 4EveryKid program. We are grateful for their help in providing items kids need to build confidence in every aspect of their lives.
The ‘Red’ carpet treatment
On April 3, President Sean Granahan represented The Floating Hospital at the Real Estate Development Red Awards, where we were honored as Non-Profit Organization of the Year.
The event, held at the James Hotel in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood, "honors the visionary minds and groundbreaking projects shaping the future of NYC's commercial real estate landscape,” according to the Red Awards website. Their galas have so far “bestowed 140 awards upon exemplary real estate developers, brokers, architects, and contractors.” The Floating Hospital’s award was in the category of Community Impact for “delivering healthcare and hope to underserved communities.”
We were grateful to be recognized for our mission by this distinguished group of professionals.
A hot ticket
The end of World War II sparked a rebirth of optimism as the nation rebuilt itself after the Great Depression and the trauma of back-to-back international conflicts. Soldiers returned home to government support for housing and education, as well as the lure of a middle-class lifestyle in the suburbs with families of “baby-boom” children. In the city, big bands in supper clubs and jazz combos in cafes kept night owls swinging and bopping to the music.
The Floating Hospital was there, and ensured, as it continues to today, that every family has what they need to survive and thrive. We help rebuild lives from traumatic circumstances—whether homelessness, domestic violence, poverty or other struggles. Our services are intended to be tools of renewal, helping families start fresh.
You can celebrate these traditions, the era and our mission on June 10 at our Anchor Hope benefit. It begins at 6:30pm at The Edison Ballroom, a stylish setting to enjoy the Duke Ellington Legacy band, cocktails, dinner and more. The evening’s theme: “A Hand to Hold, A Future to Build,” touches on these historic forces and the philanthropic spirit that nurtures and electrifies our city. Tickets are now on sale on our website.
Generous sponsors such as The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Alliant, Ariel Investments, Bedrock Technology, VNS Health, Quest Diagnostics, Rise Light & Power, Karen & Doug Seidman, Shannon and Philip LaRocco, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Moran Towing, Plaxall Inc., The Seed, United Healthcare Community Plan and others are keeping the true legacy of the Post-War period alive. Won’t you join them? For information on ticket packages, tables, sponsorships and other ways to participate, please email Ann-Louise Lipman at alipman@thefloatinghospital.org.
Run for the money
On November 2, The Floating Hospital will join the TCS New York City Marathon for the second year as an Official Charity Partner. As our runners tackle the 26.2 mile course, they’ll race toward a future where every individual has access to comprehensive healthcare, education and the essentials for a stable life.
As part of their commitment to participate as Floating Hospital Waverunners, they will raise $3,000 or more to benefit the families who come to us for the care, aid and education that can lead to a better life.
You can support our five Waverunners—Wakim Andre, Shannon Bennett, Abiola Oke, Lily Round, and Ashley Sandberg—with a donation that will transform lives and help break cycles of persistent poverty and abuse, and learn more here.
Spring fever
Who says Santa only arrives once a year? It sure didn’t look that way at the Bronx’s Help Morris and Brooklyn’s Legacy shelters in the days leading up to spring.
At The Floating Hospital’s Fresh Beginnings giveaway, kids found new toys to play with while their parents shopped our free store of new sneakers, pajamas, coats, clothes and other goodies, all thanks to our generous donors. It was a week of wonder, animating the last gray moments of winter with the spirit of the holidays.
Supporting wellness
We are thrilled by the support we have received so far for our Women’s Wellness Day on May 17. As the name suggests, it is a day focused on the health and wellness of our female patients, from prepubescent to postmenopausal.
There will be various health screenings, mammograms, HPV vaccinations and much more in addition to spa and relaxation activities and workshops on stress management, puberty and menopause.
We are grateful to the following event sponsors, vendors and providers for making this a special day of preventive care and respite for our patients: Affinity by Molina Healthcare, American Italian Cancer Foundation, Direct Relief, Dreamwear, Berenny Garcia, Matter, Primp Events, USA Fibroid Centers and VNS Select Health.
Playing for health equity
On May 30, members of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association in New York and New Jersey and their guests will enjoy a day of pickleball to benefit The Floating Hospital.
The HBA’s Women in Healthcare Give Back is sponsoring Pickleball for Health Equity, a day of networking, fun and philanthropy, from 10:30am to 3:30pm at Centercourt Sports in Chatham, New Jersey. In the past several years, pickleball has rapidly become one of the most popular national athletic pastimes. If you are an avid pro or a rank amateur, you can improve your game or learn the basics. Instruction will be followed by round-robin play. Paddles and balls will be supplied, or you can bring your own.
Individual and corporate sponsorships are available at the Gold ($1,000), Silver ($500) and Bronze ($250) level. Those interested in supporting the hospital with a sponsorship can contact Vrinda Deval at vdeval@gmail.com or Charlene Prounis at cprounis@gmail.com.
Regular tickets are $100 until May 12, and $125 after that and are available here. Lunch is included. More information on registration is available by emailing Vrinda Deval at vdeval@gmail.com or Rucha Pandit at ruchap90@gmail.com.
Food for thought
For the past few years, our Chef Maria Loi Loukoumi Make a Difference Teaching Kitchen has been nourishing our patients and educating them on healthier food options. On March 28, the Loukoumi Foundation returned to the kitchen made possible by their donations with Philoxenia, a pop-up food bank, which brought the makings for 100 sandwiches to distribute to our patients.
Assisting them in putting the sandwiches together were a dozen children from the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, who wrote personalized notes to include with the food. Our fleet of shuttles transported the children to our site and back again.
Many patients arrive to the clinic hungry, and we do all we can to provide them with something to eat. This was a special effort to give them a nutritious meal that was satisfying and uplifting for all involved.
An Egg-cellent Hunt
On April 16, our little patients had an egg-citing time as they searched for colorful eggs hidden around the fourth floor of our main clinic. Each egg had a ticket they could redeem for a cuddly stuffed bunny to have and to hold for the holiday.
The hunt is the brainchild of our Dental Manager Ernesto Hart, who has been organizing this special event for two decades, because everybunny needs somebunny sometimes!