Samaritan will hold its annual Celebration of Life Gala, presented by Holman Enterprises, on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 6 p.m. at Champion Sponsor Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, located at 900 Packer Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. The annual fundraising event celebrates Samaritan’s 45 years of providing an expanding range of life-enhancing care to more than 11,000 patients, families and clients annually throughout Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties.

“Our annual Gala continues to be our organization’s premier event, honoring our mission to serve, while also recognizing the generosity of a wide variety of individuals and businesses who are the heart of our organization and ensure its continued success each and every day,” said Phillip W. Heath, president and CEO of Samaritan.

This year’s Gala will feature delicious food, live music by Masquerade, dancing and more! Greg and Traci Button of Moorestown, NJ, who are both longtime Samaritan supporters and advocates, have been named the 2025 Gala Honorary Co-Chairs.

“Greg and Traci truly embody the Samaritan spirit – passionately dedicated to the communities they serve, and exemplary champions for our mission,” added Heath. “They are the perfect individuals for this important role, ensuring that this year’s Celebration of Life event is both impactful and memorable in so many different ways.”

Each year, Samaritan’s Gala also honors individuals and organizations who are dedicated in their service to Samaritan, as well as the greater South Jersey community. Samaritan is proud to announce its 2025 honorees:

• Archer & Greiner, P.C.
• TD Bank
• Antonio D. Tillis, PhD, Chancellor, Rutgers University-Camden

“We rely on the dedicated support from individuals like Dr. Tillis, as well as businesses like Archer and TD Bank, to ensure patients and their loved ones living in communities throughout southern New Jersey have access to the highest quality of compassionate hospice and palliative care in the region,” continued Heath. “The level of support and commitment exhibited by this year’s incredible group of honorees allows Samaritan to continue to expand and grow as an organization, so that we may support individuals exactly when and how they need it most.”

To further support fundraising efforts and engagement, Samaritan’s Gala will once again feature:

• Delightful Dining Raffle – sponsored by Innovative Benefit Planning, this unique raffle offers the chance to win 12 $100 restaurant gift certificates (valued at a total of $1,200) to some of the area’s finest eateries, for just $10 per ticket. Two raffle winners will be announced during the Gala.
• Virtual Online Auction – featuring a variety of specialty items for bid, from trips and travel packages to gift baskets, sports memorabilia, brand-name items and more. The online auction will open for bidding on February 1, 2025.

Event attendance IS NOT required for interested individuals to participate in both the Delightful Dining raffle and Online Auction. Tickets for the Delightful Dining raffle and access to the Online Auction are available at www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala.

Individual tickets for this year’s Gala are $350 each. All proceeds from the evening, including the Delightful Dining raffle and online auction, will support direct care for Samaritan patients and their families throughout South Jersey.

For additional gala details, tickets or sponsorship information and deadlines, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala or contact Katelin Spooner at (856) 552-3239 or KSpooner@SamaritanNJ.org.

About Samaritan:

Samaritan is a not-for-profit, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980 as one of the first hospices in the country. Samaritan is now one of the State’s leading providers of hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, at-home primary care, grief support and counseling, advanced illness care, education and advocacy. Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief wherever they call home. Samaritan also has two dedicated inpatient hospice centers in Voorhees and Mount Holly. Beyond the services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans, Samaritan annually provides nearly $1M in donor-funded non-reimbursed care for patients and families in the South Jersey region. A thrift shop in Westmont also supports Samaritan services and programs. Samaritan is accredited by The Joint Commission; a member of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation; and is a four-star hospice in the national We Honor Veterans program. For more information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org.