Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation has added six new trustees to the boards of its affiliated hospital foundations, bringing financial, health care, and public safety expertise to support local fundraising and patient care initiatives.
The foundation is the philanthropic arm of Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest not-for-profit health care network.
New Trustee Appointments
Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center welcomed
● Anthony “Tony” Labozzetta, president and CEO of Provident and Provident Bank, to the foundation board.
Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center Foundation added
● Charles “Chuck” Benz Jr., who retired from GE Healthcare in 2018 after serving as senior director and financial close leader
Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center foundation board appointed four new trustees:
● Ronald E. Alfaro, vice president of commercial and investment banking at JPMorgan Chase
● Jeffrey “Jeff” Martinez, executive vice president and head of branch banking at PNC Bank
● Daniel Pontecorvo, director of global real estate at Jane Street Financial
● Jeff Welz, director of public safety for Weehawken
Supporting local care through philanthropy
The new trustees will work alongside existing board members to advance fundraising priorities at their respective hospitals. Funds raised remain local to each medical center while also supporting Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation’s systemwide Be The Difference campaign.
“Now more than ever, the need for private philanthropy to help us transform patient care is necessary, and we are thrilled to have these six individuals step up to help us improve care for their respective communities,” said Joyce P. Hendricks, president and chief development officer of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation. “Their unique skills and experience will be a great benefit to the hospitals they will serve.”
Be The Difference campaign
The Be The Difference campaign aims to raise $1 billion to advance patient care, medical education, research, and access to care. Nearly $800 million has been raised to date.
Campaign priorities include enhancing patient care, accelerating advanced research, strengthening medical education,n and ensuring access to care for all New Jersey residents.
More information about Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, its hospital foundations or opportunities to serve as a trustee or make a donation is available at GiveHMH.org/Donate.
About Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation
Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and the philanthropic division of Hackensack Meridian Health. The foundation oversees fundraising for the network’s academic medical centers, children’s hospitals, and community-based medical centers, as well as systemwide initiatives including behavioral health, nursing support, children’s health, the Center for Discovery & Innovation, and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
The foundation was named a High Performer Overall and Healthcare System High Performer in the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s 2025 Report on Giving.
Key details regarding the foundation:
● Purpose: The Foundation was created to streamline fundraising efforts across the 10 community hospital foundations.
● Major Initiative: In September 2024, the foundation launched the “$1 billion Be The Difference campaign” to improve patient care, research, and medical education, according to PR Newswire.
● Leadership: The foundation’s efforts include notable figures such as co-chairs Eli Manning and Peter Cancro.
The Be The Difference campaign was publicly launched in September 2024. More information is available at HMHBeTheDifference.org.
The Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation was formed on March 11, 2021, to serve as the parent organization for the network’s 10 community-based hospital foundations. It supports the wider Hackensack Meridian Health network, with the mission of raising funds for local medical centers and advancing important network priorities that will ultimately benefit our community hospitals and patients.