Deborah Hospital Foundation’s 21st Annual Red Tie Gala Raises Over $365,000 to Support Hospital’s Mission
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Deborah Hospital Foundation held its 21st Annual Red Tie Gala at Lucien’s Manor in Berlin, New Jersey. Bringing the glamour of Hollywood to Southern New Jersey with this year’s theme, “A Night at the Oscars,” the annual signature event raised over $365,000 to support life-saving cardiac, pulmonary and vascular care.
The evening brought together community leaders, healthcare advocates and supporters for a celebration that shined a spotlight on generous donors and dedicated team members who embody the true spirit of Deborah every day.
The Oscar’s Program recognized the following award recipients:
- The Gala Honoree Award: Lorie and John Ruga
- The Lifetime Achievement Award: John Hill
- The Visionary Leadership Award: Alexander Poulathas, DO
- Achievement in Community Impact Award: Cyndy Kornfeld
- The Ensemble Excellence Award: Julie Lennox and Shelby Mann
“Deborah remains committed to expanding our reach, proving that dedicated, high-caliber specialty care rooted in our local community can set a benchmark for the entire nation,” said Gary Rubin, Chairman, Deborah Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Deborah Heart and Lung Center Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board of Directors and our entire Deborah family, thank you for your continued support and for being a part of this extraordinary evening.”
Proceeds from the Red Tie Gala directly benefit patient care and advanced clinical programs at Deborah Heart and Lung Center—New Jersey’s only specialty heart, lung and vascular hospital.
About Deborah Hospital Foundation
Deborah Hospital Foundation provides philanthropic support to Deborah Heart and Lung Center, a renowned specialty-care teaching hospital dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, research, and prevention of heart, lung, and vascular diseases. For more than a century, Deborah has been committed to ensuring access to high-quality specialized care with no out-of-pocket costs to patients treated at Deborah Heart and Lung Center.
About Deborah Heart and Lung Center
Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey, is a teaching hospital in the prevention, diagnosis, research and treatment of heart, lung and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has treated more than 2.3 million hearts from every corner of the United States and 87 countries. From performing the first adult and pediatric open-heart surgeries in New Jersey, to achieving one of the lowest open heart surgery mortality risks in the state as recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health, Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader overall and in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It is ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in North America; and is rated High Performing by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties: COPD, Heart Arrhythmia, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Heart Failure.