Samaritan Announces 2026 Celebration of Life Gala

Samaritan announced it will hold its annual Celebration of Life Gala, presented by Holman Enterprises, on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Champion Sponsor Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, located at 900 Packer Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. The annual fundraising event features delicious food, live music by Masquerade, dancing and more in celebration of Samaritan’s 45+ years of providing life-enhancing services and care to more than 12,500 patients, clients, and their families annually throughout Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties.

“Each year, the Gala serves as Samaritan’s largest fundraising event – reaffirming our mission to provide life-enhancing services and care to all those we serve, while also honoring the generous individuals and organizations who make our work possible,” said Phillip W. Heath, president and CEO of Samaritan.

Plans for this year’s Gala will be spearheaded by the 2026 Honorary Gala Co-Chairs: Deborah P. DiLorenzo and Kathleen A. Davis of DiLorenzo Davis Consulting.

“Deb and Kathy are valued partners to our organization – providing sound counsel and guidance, while tirelessly advocating for our work and mission,” added Heath.

Each year, Samaritan’s Gala also honors three extraordinary individuals and organizations who are dedicated in their service to Samaritan, as well as the greater South Jersey community. The 2026 Gala Honorees include:

• Nandini Natrajan, Ph.D.
• The William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation
• United Way of Gloucester County

“The impact that Dr. Natrajan, The William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation and United Way of Gloucester County have had on our organization is immeasurable,” explained Heath. “The dedication and generosity exhibited by each of these honorees helps us continue to evolve to help more people in more ways throughout southern New Jersey. We applaud their efforts and thank them for their continued service to Samaritan and all those we serve.”

To further support fundraising efforts and broader community engagement, Samaritan’s 2026 Gala will also feature:

• NEW FOR 2026 – Premiere Culinary Passport Raffle – sponsored by Innovative Benefit Planning, LLC, this unique raffle offers the chance to win a total of eight (8) $200 restaurant gift certificates (valued at a total of $1,600) to some of the area’s finest eateries, for just $20 per ticket. Two raffle winners will be announced during the Gala in February.
• 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 January 31, 2026.

Event attendance IS NOT required for participation in both the Premiere Culinary Passport raffle and Online Auction. Tickets for the raffle are available for purchase online via Samaritan’s website, in addition to access to the Online Auction – visit: www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala.

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

For sponsorship information and deadlines, additional gala details, or tickets, 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, social connections, 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.