Another Week, Another Million For Riverview Medical Center

When Riverview Medical Center unveiled its plans for a brand new surgical center not too long ago, officials with the Red Bank hospital were banking on support from the community to help soften the burden of debt.

Just a week after announcing a $5 million donation, hospital officials announced another contribution that broaches the seven-figure mark, this one a cool million from a former trustee and long-time philanthropist family.

George and Vita Kolber donated $1 million to help support construction of Riverview’s center for surgical excellence, a 22,000-square foot facility currently under construction at the hospital.

George Kolber is a past chairman of the Riverview Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees, and Vita Kolber, a former schoolteacher. The pair has supported philanthropic efforts for years.

According to a release from the hospital, the Kolbers have been involved in charitable efforts with Jumpstart, an early education organization that recruits college students and volunteers to work with preschoolers, and Monmouth University.

The two also privately administered educational scholarships and grants to underprivileged and inner city students, the release added.

“George and I,” Vita said. “Are privileged to support Riverview Medical Center in this way, as our entire family recognizes what Riverview means to us and so many others in our community.”

Tim Hogan, hospital president, said he hopes the recent donations will help spur others in the community to give to the hospital. So far, the two largest donations directed exclusively to the new center have come from folks with ties to the hospital.

Still, it’s not a bad way to start.

Bob and Joan Rechnitz, who Hogan described as friends of the hospital, gave $5 million towards the new center, with a goal of having the money fund a new education facility that will come with the center. That facility, which will host seminars and symposiums, will have some public accessibility.

The completed center will dramatically upgrade the hospital’s surgical endeavors by including two sophisticated specialty surgical suits, a state-of-the-art conference center, and a renovated post-anesthesia care area, among other improvements.

“A gift of this stature lends additional honor and prestige to our already excellent surgical program,” Hogan said in a release. “The Kolber family’s generosity will go a long way in enabling Riverview to continue our journey over the last decade to bring the very best, highest quality health care to area residents in a comfortable setting that is caring and close to home.”

According to hospital officials, the hospital’s surgical volume has grown by more than 20 percent, prompting the need for the new center. Hogan said in a previous interview that Riverview has not seen a significant improvements made to its surgery center since the 1980’s.

With the new expansion, however, Riverview expects the number of surgical cases it handles each year to grow, as much as 5.5 percent by 2013.

The new center is expected to open in 2012.