One hundred and twenty-five years to the day after it was founded, Calvary Hospital celebrated its anniversary with an estimated 300 guests, board members, and staff at the New York Botanical Gardens, as it looked forward to continuing its leadership role in palliative and end-of-life care into the future.

Founded on June 12, 1899, as the American Women of Calvary and led by Catholic philanthropist Annie Blount Storrs, Calvary Hospital is the nation’s only fully accredited acute care specialty hospital singularly devoted to providing palliative care to adult, advanced cancer patients without regard to race, religion, or economic status.

Calvary Hospital operates two hospital campuses, one in the Morris Park section of the Bronx, and the other in Brooklyn. It also offers at-home care and other services.

Donors and supporters participated in one of two events on Wednesday, June 12, an afternoon tea or a cocktail reception with a buffet in the early evening.

“We’re celebrating a unique role that nobody else plays. Throughout the five boroughs and up and down New York State, you’ll find nobody that provides the scope of services that we provide, from palliative care to at-home hospice care, and then hospital beds, acute care hospital beds, that are devoted to the end of life. It’s a very unique role,” said Jeffrey Menkes, president and CEO, said in an interview with The Good Newsroom. “We’re part of the archdiocese [of New York]. We’re part of ArchCare, and we will evolve with families and patients to find better pathways to deal with end-of-life issues.”

“The Archdiocese of New York has been beside and behind Calvary since its inception. In the 1890s, Annie Blount Storrs sought and received support from Archbishop Michael Corrigan. Archbishop Corrigan even presided over Calvary’s opening, which would have been 125 years ago today,” said Scott LaRue president and CEO of ArchCare, the healthcare ministry of the Archdiocese of New York, in his remarks. “[Storrs] and her colleagues first ministered to eight, then 24, women suffering from incurable cancer,” he said, noting that Calvary now serves 5,000-6,000 patients per year, and more than 20,000 family members annually.

“I appreciate the chance to let you know of my love, my gratitude, and my deep admiration for everything ArchCare and Calvary Hospital do,” Cardinal Dolan said, via a video message. “You all are helping ArchCare and Calvary Hospital to keep up the good work, and for that I say, thank you.”

Calvary Hospital will hold its 36th Annual Golf and Tennis Classic on August 5 at the Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase. For the first time, the event will include pickleball. More information is available here.