American Conference on Diversity Honors RWJBarnabas Health With Healthcare Humanitarian Award

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - March 20, 2017 - PRLog -- The American Conference on Diversity will honor RWJBarnabas Health with the Healthcare Humanitarian Award on Thursday, April 6, during the 69^th Annual Awards Gala at the Pleasantdale Château in West Orange, NJ.

Led by Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health is the most comprehensive health care delivery system in New Jersey, with a service area covering five million people. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, RWJUH in New Brunswick and Somerville, RWJUH- Hamilton, RWJUH- Rahway, and Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston; three acute care children's hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital (Children's Specialized Hospital), a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state's largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, a medical group, multi-site imaging centers, and an accountable care organization.

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey's second largest private employer – with more than 33,000 employees, 9,000 physicians, and 1,000 residents and interns – and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety.

This year's Humanitarian Awards Gala is co-chaired by Grammy-Award winning music legend Dionne Warwick (2015 Humanitarian Award honoree) and Berkeley College Chair Kevin Luing (2016 Humanitarian Award honoree) and will be hosted by Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap. Five other outstanding diversity and inclusion ambassadors will be recognized during the gala:

► Randall L. Stephenson (http://americanconferenceondiversity.org/2017/02/28/atts-...), Chairman & CEO of AT&T (Humanitarian of the Year), boldly tackles race inside and outside of the workplace. Watch: http://bit.ly/2kCvK11.

► Cid Wilson (http://americanconferenceondiversity.org/2017/02/13/hispanic-association-on-corporate-responsibility-ceo-cid-wilson-earns-di-champion-award/), President & CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility – HACR (Diversity & Inclusion Champion), is a global trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

► Mildred Scott (http://americanconferenceondiversity.org/2017/02/20/in-honor-of-black-history-month-middlesex-county-nj-sheriff-mildred-scott-receives-law-enforcement-ambassador-award/), Middlesex County Sheriff (Law Enforcement), is the first female Sheriff in Middlesex County and the first African-American Sheriff in the state of New Jersey.

► Dr. Pamela Thomas (http://americanconferenceondiversity.org/2017/03/03/as-we-celebrate-womens-history-month-the-american-conference-on-diversity-is-honored-to-recognize-oic-cadi-dr-pamela-thomas-with-the-bridge-builder-award/), Principal at OIC of America's, Career and Academic Development Institute (Bridge Builder), is changing the lives of under-credited youth in Camden, NJ, and Philadelphia.

► Nicolas A. Ferroni (http://americanconferenceondiversity.org/2017/03/15/american-conference-on-diversity-recognizes-union-high-school-educator-activist-author-nicholas-ferroni/), Union High School Teacher (Diversity in Education Champion Award), was named one of the most influential teachers in the country. Watch: http://u.pw/2kYXABs.

Proceeds from the Humanitarian Awards dinner will support the American Conference on Diversity's mission to build just and inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities through awareness, education, and advocacy. Our work to fight bias, bigotry, and injustice is needed now more than ever.

By uniting top executives and community leaders committed to this mission, the American Conference on Diversity aims to raise $300,000 to continue to provide diversity and inclusion services, including the signature Lead for Diversity (http://americanconferenceondiversity.org/lead-for-diversity/) Institute. The yearlong, life-changing program has impacted more than 3,300 high-school students since 1995 by providing leadership-development and human-relations training so youth can stand up to hate, educate their peers, and be better prepared to enter today's workplace.

Dinner sponsors include: ADP, Berkeley College, Verizon, BASF, L'Oréal USA, Investors Bank, New Jersey Resources, NJM Insurance Company, PSEG, Genova Burns, PNC Bank, Prudential Financial, RWJBarnabas Health, Saint Peter's University Hospital, and Nicholas Martini Foundation.

In addition to networking, dining, and entertainment, this year's fundraiser will include a silent auction and prizes. The annual event will kick off with a stellar cocktail and networking reception at 6 p.m. at the spectacular Pleasantdale Château (757 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052).

Seats are limited! To purchase tickets, become a sponsor, or make silent auction item donations, contact Gala Coordinator Barbara Getze at bgetze@aol.com or (800) 626-8097 today. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

About the American Conference on Diversity

The American Conference on Diversity is dedicated to building just and inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities through awareness, education, and advocacy. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1948 as the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Today the programs, services, and initiatives of the American Conference on Diversity are among the most important work focused on creating a more inclusive society. It is the unfinished business of living in a highly diverse nation: educating and empowering our next generation of leaders, enhancing our workplaces, and helping to create inclusive communities. Visit www.AmericanConferenceonDiversity.org to learn more.