Generous Gift Prompts Hospital to Dedicate Unit to a Beloved Donor

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center, a not-for-profit hospital located in Holmdel, NJ, dedicated their 2 North inpatient unit in memory of Janice Mitchell-Vassar, a former Holmdel resident. Vassar, a former board member and long-time supporter of Bayshore Medical Center and Hackensack Meridian Health, passed away in 2019 and left $5.6 million through her estate to support the visually impaired.

“Mrs. Vassar’s generosity has long been felt throughout the halls of our hospital,” says Caitlin Miller, MBA, MS, BSN, RN-BC, president and chief hospital executive of Bayshore Medical Center. “We are so thankful for all that she did to help our community and patients during her lifetime, and we are inspired by the generosity that will carry on her legacy for many years to come. It was our honor to dedicate this space to Mrs. Vassar in recognition of her commitment to improving the lives of the visually impaired, and for all she has done for our patients and community.”

Vassar’s passion for supporting vision-related causes was a direct result of the impact that vision loss had on her family. Because of her personal experiences, she contributed to a variety of vision-related programs. A previous gift of $5 million to Bayshore Medical Center in 2013 established the Mitchell-Vassar Bright Future Legacy fund that made educational opportunities available for patients and caregivers, sponsored a Vision Awareness Day and expanded community outreach efforts, as well as supporting other hospital needs.

This latest gift will enable Bayshore Medical Center to improve care for visually impaired patients in a variety of ways. From supporting ophthalmology care, to providing visual aides or supporting accommodations across the facility, all funds will be committed to this cause.

“Estate gifts of any amount are a wonderful way to give back to the community and have the power to make a big impact on our mission to transform health care,” says Joyce P. Hendricks, president and chief development officer, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation. “We are particularly grateful for Mrs. Vassar, who championed this cause in life, and who will continue to make a difference for patients. It’s a beautiful legacy.”

Vassar’s estate attorney, Jan Miller, and executor, Alan Asher, shared the following in a statement about the importance of this last gift: “Ensuring that Mrs. Vassar’s final wishes were realized in an impactful way has been incredibly important throughout this process. She dedicated so much of her time and treasure to helping others, and it was our privilege to make this generous gift on her behalf.”

This donation brings Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, to which Bayshore Medical Center Foundation belongs, one step closer to its $1 billion fundraising goal as part of its Be The Difference campaign, the largest fundraising campaign ever undertaken by a health care network in New Jersey. All funds contributed specifically for Bayshore Medical Center will support needs at this not-for-profit hospital site.

Launched in September 2024, Be The Difference is a transformational effort focusing on four key pillars: enhancing the delivery of patient care, accelerating groundbreaking research and discovery, expanding equitable access to advanced care and revolutionizing medical education while supporting the nursing profession. Through this ambitious initiative, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation aims to reshape health care for patients, clinicians and the diverse communities it serves, paving the way for a brighter, healthier future.

To learn more about supporting Bayshore Medical Center or leaving an estate gift, please visit GiveHMH.org/BMCF or email Marisa Medina, executive director of Bayshore Medical Center Foundation, at marisa.medina@hmhn.org. Additional information about the Be The Difference campaign can be found by visiting HMHBeTheDifference.org.