News & Stories
Seventh Annual Cooper Red Hot Gala Raises Record-Breaking $2 Million for Cooper Surgical Services Institute
CAMDEN, N.J – The Chairman of the Cooper Board of Trustees, George E. Norcross III, announced tonight that The Cooper Foundation raised a record-breaking $2 million at its seventh annual Cooper Red Hot Gala. This year’s proceeds benefit the Cooper Surgical Services Institute.
“The Cooper Surgical Services Institute has experienced tremendous growth over the past several years, which is testament to the high-quality, advanced care that our surgeons and medical staff provides,” said Norcross. “I am grateful for the overwhelming support for the life-saving work of our doctors, nurses and entire Cooper team, and am thankful for the continued generosity of our community.”
Norcross hosted the Gala with Philip A. Norcross, Chairman of The Cooper Foundation Board of Trustees. Held at Vie in Philadelphia, this year’s event honored Jeffrey P. Carpenter, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Vice President of Perioperative Services.
“Cooper has some of the best surgeons in the nation, and Dr. Carpenter is one of the most outstanding,” said Adrienne Kirby, PhD, President and CEO of Cooper University Health Care. “The support for the Cooper Surgical Services Institute has been incredible, and I thank The Cooper Foundation for its leadership in hosting another successful Red Hot Gala and for its support for Cooper throughout the year.”
More than 1,000 people attended the 2017 Cooper Red Hot Gala, which is one of the largest charitable fundraisers in the region, raising a total of $10 million since 2011.
“This year’s Gala is another record breaker thanks to the generous contributions from our community,” said Susan Bass Levin, President and CEO of The Cooper Foundation. “Tonight is an investment in the future of medicine and the future of Cooper – a future that is red hot. Our physicians, nurses and team members are leading the way in today’s health care industry.”
Since May of 2016, Cooper University Health Care has added five new operating rooms, including two specifically designed for robotic surgery, allowing Cooper surgeons to perform the most advanced types of surgical procedures. The number of surgeries handled by Cooper University Health Care surgeons has grown from 14,737 procedures in 2011 to 17,823 in 2015, an increase of more than 20 percent.
“I am incredibly thankful for the tremendous support from everyone who donated to the Cooper Surgical Services Institute,” said Carpenter. “Support for the Cooper Surgical Services Institute enables us to provide the highest quality, advanced surgical care to patients throughout the region.”
The night included surprise opera performances by Carpenter’s two children, John Carpenter and Katharine Carpenter. John is a baritone and soloist at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Katharine is a lyric soprano who performed several leading roles as a student at The Pennsylvania State University, where she studies vocal performance and music education. She has previously performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and will be performing in Chicago Summer Opera’s production of The Crucible this summer.
John performed Silvio’s aria from I Pagliacci by Leoncavallo. Katharine performed Quando m’en vo’ from La Bohème.