$885,000 In Grants Distributed to Five Non-Profit Organizations

SOMERVILLE AND FAR HILLS, NJ, Jan. 24, 2019 — The Far Hills Race Meeting Association and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, have announced a new partnership to invest in the advancement of community health services in the region.

Through this partnership, $885,000 in grants has been awarded to five non-profit organizations which serve northern Somerset County. The grants, which will be disbursed over the course of three years, are funded through proceeds from the Far Hills Race Meeting and are administered through Somerset Health Care Foundation, the hospital’s fundraising arm. In addition to the grants, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset will support the organizations through professional training and development, community health education, support groups and other health care services.

The continued support of the Far Hills Race Meeting, an annual steeplechase horse race held every October for the past 98 years, allows the Far Hills Race Meeting Association to support the following charities:

  • Cancer Support Community of Central New Jersey (CSCCNJ) in Bedminster, which provides psychosocial support services at no charge to address the social and emotional impact of cancer on patients, as well as their caregivers, loved ones and children. The grant will be used for programs affiliated with CSCCNJ’s Multicultural Cancer Outreach Initiative. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s professional staff will partner with CSCCNJ in the community and at their Bedminster campus to provide community health education programs, including cooking classes and educational seminars on cancer prevention presented by a hospital nutritionist.
  • The Arc of Somerset County, which provides a full range of comprehensive services for children, adolescents and adults with Intellectual/ developmental disabilities.  Among the many community based services, is their transition and employment program which has supported the cleanup effort at the annual Far Hills Race Meeting.  The grant funds will be used to improve access to preventative health care as well as to enhance the health outcomes for the individuals served.  In addition, in partnership with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, The Arc of Somerset County will provide professional training and development for the Hospital staff to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care of our community members with disabilities.
  • Bonnie Brae, a residential treatment center in Liberty Corner that cares for at-risk adolescent boys who have been neglected, abused or abandoned. The grant will be used to provide therapeutic space in the center’s new Family Resource Center. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset will provide professional training and development for the center’s staff, including CPR, first aid, mental health and Narcan training.
  • Community in Crisis, based in Liberty Corner, which is dedicated to fighting the opioid epidemic. The grant will be used to expand programs for recovering individuals, including employment services, cooking classes, social activities and support group, and hosting a tent at the Far Hills Race Meeting. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset will lead support groups, educational seminars on topics such as chronic pain management and stress management and professional training and development in mental health first aid and Narcan administration.
  • Life Camp, a six-week summer day camp for Newark Area youth in Pottersville. The grant will be used to improve the camp’s infirmary and aquatics program. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset will provide professional training and development for camp staff and community education and outreach.

The Far Hills Race Meeting Association has a long history of supporting health care in the region, with more than $18 million donated to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset since the 1950s. Last year, the Far Hills Race Meeting Association donated $500,000 to the hospital for behavioral health services and $100,000 to support the needs of cancer patients at the hospital’s Steeplechase Cancer Center, including transportation, recovery items and living expenses.

The Steeplechase Cancer Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, which opened in 2007, was also named in honor of the association, the hospital’s largest benefactor.

“The Far Hills Race Meeting Association is committed to giving back to our community,” said Guy Torsilieri, chairman, Far Hills Race Meeting Association. “One of the ways we felt we could make the biggest difference was in the area of health care because health care touches everyone. We saw an opportunity to not only support local community health organizations financially, but to connect them with our long-time partner Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. The hospital’s resources and medical expertise will further grow and strengthen the outstanding work these organizations are already doing, particularly for at-risk youth and individuals coping with cancer, developmental disabilities and mental health issues.”

“The philanthropic commitment of the Far Hills Race Association is truly unique and unprecedented in steeplechase horse racing and in all of sports,” said Paul Hubert, chairman of Somerset Health Care Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Generations of families in our community have already benefited from their generosity to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. Now many more will have access to the support they need through this innovative partnership.”

“At Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, we recognize that promoting good health is not confined to just what goes on within the walls of our hospital,” said Tony Cava, president and chief executive officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. “As part of our mission, we work closely with partners in the business, non-profit, government and education sectors to improve the quality of life for all those who live and work in Somerset County, addressing the social determinants that negatively impact their health. Our partnership with the Far Hills Race Meeting Association will help us build new relationships that will expand our social impact efforts to enhance the health of underserved populations in our community.”

 

About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset

Located in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is a nationally accredited, 341-bed regional hospital providing comprehensive emergency, medical/surgical, behavioral health and rehabilitative services to central New Jersey residents.  As a designated teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the hospital maintains a family medicine residency program with 21 residents.

RWJUH Somerset has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety including the prestigious Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence and designation as a “Top Teaching Hospital” by the Leapfrog Group. As the first hospital in New Jersey to offer primary health care services for the LGBTQIA community, RWJUH Somerset has been honored as a Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign.

The Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset, a clinical research affiliate of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, has been designated as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

For more information, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset.

About Far Hills Race Meeting Association

Far Hills Race Meeting is New Jersey’s premier social and sporting event. For nearly a century, this annual gathering has attracted a large and loyal fan base who return, year after year, to watch the world’s finest steeplechases, reconnect with family and friends, network, support worthy causes and make memories to last a lifetime.  Over the years, Far Hills Race Meeting Association has given more than $18 million to support local health-care organizations. With its newly introduced pari-mutuel wagering program, Far Hills Race Meeting—which boasts the largest purses in the industry—is bringing steeplechase racing to new audiences, locally, nationally and globally. This year’s event is scheduled to be Oct. 19, 2019. For more information about attending the event, visit www.farhillsrace.org.