Annual Oktoberfest To Support Cardiac Care At Bayshore Medical Center

HOLMDEL, NJ — The Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center Foundation’s annual Oktoberfest is set to return to Monmouth County this fall and benefit life-saving heart care at Bayshore Medical Center.

On Thursday, Oct. 23, the Oktoberfest event will take place at Stillwell Stables in Colts Neck from 6:30-10 p.m. to benefit Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center, a not-for-profit hospital in Holmdel.

Hosted once again by co-chairs Carol Stillwell and Mary Ann Larkin, the modern take on a cocktail reception will feature an Oktoberfest-inspired menu, live music, festive décor and beverages and a live auction.

Proceeds from the event will benefit life-saving heart care at Bayshore Medical Center, including cardiac catheterization to treat preventative and emergent blockages, and renovations to the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation center.

“Bayshore Medical Center has a nationally-ranked team of experts who can uncover silent cardiac risks through preventative testing, and who are available 24/7 to treat life-threatening emergencies — from strokes to heart attacks — with a response time that is, on average, twice as fast as hospitals across the country,” said Caitlin Miller, MBA, MS, BSN, RN-BC, president and chief hospital executive of Bayshore Medical Center.

“Our community can rest easy knowing that we are well-equipped to help them if, and when, the need arises,” Miller continued. “The generosity of Carol, Mary Ann, and Stillwell-Hansen, Inc., and all of our Oktoberfest sponsors, is helping to make that possible. We are forever grateful for their unwavering support to provide the best care to our patients.”

In 2021, the NJ Department of Health licensed Bayshore Medical Center to expand its cardiac services beyond emergent care angioplasties to offer elective angioplasty — a scheduled procedure that cardiologists use to open clogged coronary arteries with stents in patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

Should a patient experience a heart attack, personalized cardiac rehabilitation at the medical center helps to get patients safely moving again so they can begin the next phase of their lives, officials said.

“We are thrilled to host this critical fundraiser, and hope additional sponsors will join us,” said Marisa Medina, MCIS, CFRE, executive director of Bayshore Medical Center Foundation.

“Donor support has the power to make a true difference in our community’s health, and we are excited that this year’s event will benefit cardiac services, which are truly life-saving,” Medina continued. “We are so thankful to our wonderful hosts and sponsors, and to the event’s committee, who are helping us to keep the Bayshore area healthy.”

All funds raised from the event will bring the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation (which the Bayshore Medical Center Foundation belongs to) one step closer to its $1 billion fundraising goal, as part of its Be The Difference campaign.

All funds contributed specifically for Bayshore Medical Center will support needs at the not-for-profit hospital site.

“Oktoberfest is one of our favorite events of the year,” said Carol Stillwell and Mary Ann Larkin in a joint statement. “Not only is it so much fun, but it raises crucial funds for Bayshore Medical Center, our cherished local hospital.”

“We firmly believe that supporting health care is a worthwhile investment, because we will all need it someday. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when,” Stillwell and Larkin continued. “Thank you to everyone who is planning to join us or is sponsoring this important event. It’s going to be a wonderful time, and we hope to see you there!”

To register for Oktoberfest, you can visit the event page or contact Meagan O’Flaherty, manager, Strategic Events, at strategicevents@hmhn.org.

The Oktoberfest event will take place at Stillwell Stables, located at 119 Muhlenbrink Road, Colts Neck.