Tom and Sue McGrath share many personal and professional interests and hobbies, but their foremost compelling passions involve family, faith and community. The McGraths have been ardent supporters of St. Mary because the philosophies of the hospital are so in concert with their own personal values and beliefs. They feel strongly that giving to St. Mary is an investment in the community and their family’s future. Tom expressed his great respect for St. Mary’s Community Ministries, Mother Bachmann Maternity Center, and Children’s Health Center which all provide social services and medical care to area families regardless of their ability to pay. When asked why he and Sue chose St. Mary as their charity of choice, Tom, as a member of the Foundation Board, quickly answered, “St. Mary is the epitome of diversity. Where else can you find an organization that does so much good for the community as a whole with such a wide spectrum of services?” Sue added, “St. Mary treats the human spirit, mind and body—the person as a whole being.” The Mcgraths freely express their gratitude for St. Mary’s cutting edge Cancer Center and heart and Vascular Center located so closely to their family roots and how blessed they feel to have fine healthcare and advanced medical technology so near should the need ever arise. “It is comforting to have a faith-based, non-profit hospital right around the corner,” says Tom. Although Tom’s Huntingdon Valley-based residential and commercial construction business, McBrick Building group, and Sue’s avid schedule of volunteerism keep them both extremely busy, Tom and Sue have a passion for living life to the fullest, both...
When Jim McCaffrey opened his first supermarket in 1979, he wrote a prophetic letter to all his customers, promising that his store would be an integral part of the community. “I wanted everyone to know that we would provide financial support whenever possible, but equally as important, we would be involved with the social well-being of the area as well.” St. Mary Medical Center can attest that Jim is a man of his word. However busy he may be in running his successful businesses, Jim has found time to serve St. Mary in several leadership capacities for 18 years, both as a Foundation Board member for nine years and an equal amount of time on the Medical Center Board. Currently, he is Chair of that Board and was co-chair of the last capital campaign. Jim and his wife Lisa are generous supporters, donating both time and financial resources. When Sister Clare invited Jim to become involved with St. Mary, Jim admits he had not considered what a life-changing invitation that could become. “I found that once I became engaged in activities at the hospital and learned about the wonderful medical practices that were happening here, the feeling of wanting to do more became contagious,” Jim said. “It has never been a matter of not having the time or energy, but what can I do next to help St. Mary’s mission.” Jim is often asked to give speeches to the St. Mary community, and likes to tell his audiences that he is the highest paid person on campus. That statement usually makes his audiences sit up and take notice. Jim...
Registered Investment Advisor, teacher, surfer, public speaker, author, licensed pilot, car enthusiast, triathlon runner…all these adjectives describe Steve Mazda. But if there is a common theme to all of his endeavors, it is his firmly held belief that you can be whatever you dream, and Steve Mazda has dreamed big all of his life. However contagious and spontaneous his enthusiasm, Steve is very disciplined about the decisions he makes, applying specific principles for making prudent decisions. “Become aware of your options, don’t make decisions based on emotion alone, read the small print, evaluate the investment properly, and gain as much knowledge as possible to make a prudent decision,” explained Steve. He admits, once he makes a decision, he goes forward full bore. That energy, insight, and commitment have led Steve and his wife Cindy to join the ranks of St. Mary Medical Center financial supporters. In 2004 Eileen Moser invited the Mazdas to a banquet and seated them next to Sue and Michael Wert, and Carter Van Dyke. “We were in the process of building our dream house at the time, so we welcomed the conversation with Carter, who engaged us in the Healing Gardens project, and Sue and Mike invited us to participate in a few St. Mary activities,” said Steve, explaining how he became part of the St. Mary family. “Before I buy a stock for my company, I investigate. I visit the company. I ask questions. I find out about the leadership,” said Steve. “I went through the same process with St. Mary. I met the members of the Board. The outreach programs are important because...
Putting a smile on the faces of our littlest patients One of the most important decisions expectant parents will make during the course of their pregnancy is where to go for prenatal care and where to deliver their precious bundle of joy. That decision is even more vital when potential complications exist. While other area hospitals have shown a decline in maternity and labor & delivery care — in fact, some have closed their departments altogether — St. Mary has experienced a dramatic increase in the need for these services, a trend that promises to continue well into the future. Dr. Prem Marlapudi, Director of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and Chairman of Pediatrics, is a strong supporter of the plans for the upcoming expansion and renovations to the Labor & Delivery Unit including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and together with his wife, Dr. Grace Marlapudi, recently gave a generous donation to these projects. “These renovations are long overdue. It is critical that parents and babies have access to the most advanced, state-of-the-art equipment and qualified medical professionals.” These modifications and expansion of the NICU will allow for the best care in a semi-private setting, a component that is crucial in allowing these babies to thrive and bond with their parents. Dr. Marlapudi explained that in effect, Labor & Delivery is the backbone of a community hospital. It is generally a department where lifelong relationships begin and many decisions for the future are made. Based on what a family experiences, they will encourage other family members, friends and community members to utilize the services of St. Mary for everything from a...
A Family Focus on Serving: Dr. Richard Leshner and his family share a history with St. Mary Medical Center that is generational. “My father was a physician whose office was three blocks away from the original St. Mary Hospital located on Frankford Avenue and Palmer Street,” said Richard. “Other kids my age went with their dads to the ballpark, I accompanied my father to the hospital and made home visits. That was when I made the decision to become a physician myself.” Richard’s office, Newtown Cardiology Associates, is located at St. Mary Medical Center, where he also serves as Chief of Cardiology. He has been an ardent supporter of St. Mary since 1991 through his participation in the Spring Galas, golf outings and generous gifts to the hospital. To understand his support, one needs only to trace his family connection with St. Mary. Richard’s path to the medical profession began with the influence of his grandfather, Samuel Erlichman. “My grandfather was a Russian immigrant to this country,” Richard explained. “He had to leave his native Kiev because Jews were being persecuted, and America represented the land of opportunity and personal safety.” Samuel became a dress manufacturer and raised his family in Philadelphia. For this industrious immigrant, making it in America was to become educated because it opened other doors for success. His daughters all went to college, and his son Irving became a physician. “My grandfather would ask me every day, ‘How many years before you become a doctor?’, and I would have to figure out the years of education that lay before me. Fortunately, he did not know...
