ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION RECEIVES DONATION TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE FUTURE FROM PHIL AND MARIE HOUCK AND FAMILY

Berlin, Md. – The Atlantic General Hospital Campaign for the Future recently received a donation of $25,000 from Phil and Marie Houck and their family for upcoming projects including the new John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center.

The Houcks have been strong supporters of Atlantic General Hospital since its 24 years ago. The Bull on the Beach Penguin Swim team, led by Houck’s son-in-law Tom Knopp, started with just a handful of team members for the first official swim. Today their team has more than 100 members participating and raising funds for the annual event.

The team raises funds for the swim throughout the year, including an October golf tournament, put on by Michelle Houck Knopp and her husband, Tom, and the Crab Feast/Bull Roast at Crab Alley headed up by Houck’s sons, Kevin and Phillip, and Kelly Conroy.

Theresa “Shue” Goldberg plays an integral role in the fundraising and daily operations of Houck’s businesses. “She is an unsung hero. Shue just makes my job very easy,” added Houck.

To date, the Bull on the Beach Penguin Swim team has raised approximately $500,000 for Atlantic General Hospital programs and services.

Houck, owner of the Bull on the Beach and Crab Alley restaurants, has been a member of the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation since 2003 and has served on the Foundation Board of Directors since 2005.

A philanthropist at heart, Houck said, “We remember when we first came to Ocean City, there was no local hospital and you had to drive a distance to find emergency medical care. Atlantic General Hospital is our hospital. When there’s a need in the community, it’s not a burden to lend support. Whatever I can do in life – and whatever my family and employees can do – we’ll do to help.”

Houck is very active in the community, receiving The Dispatch's Charitable Souls Campaign Award in 2011, and maintaining membership in The National Museum of African American History since 2010, and St. Jude Children's Hospital.

“We’re extremely grateful for the commitment shown to our not-for-profit community hospital and the generous support of our friends and neighbors like the Houck family. The way healthcare services are delivered is changing, but Atlantic General’s commitment to state-of-the-art medicine only grows stronger. We can help AGH meet the challenges of providing the very best healthcare services right here – close to home,” said Campaign for the Future Co-Chair Jack Burbage.

About the Campaign for the Future

The funds raised during the $10 million Atlantic General Campaign for the Future will allow Atlantic General Hospital to complete $35 million in capital projects. Among them is construction of a new 18,000-square-foot full service cancer care center, completion of a women’s health center in West Ocean City, renovation of existing surgical facilities and expansion of emergency services within Atlantic General Hospital as well as improvements to inpatient care areas. To date, the Foundation has already secured over $3,000,000 of the $10 million goal in pledges, commitments and grants.

About the John H. “Jack” Burbage Regional Cancer Care Center
The new 18,000-square-foot Regional Cancer Care Center, which is to be built on hospital-owned property at the corner of Rt. 113 and Old Ocean City Boulevard (Rt. 346) in Berlin, Md., will provide one centrally-located, convenient facility for the care and treatment of individuals with cancer and blood disorders.

In addition to existing medical oncology and chemotherapy infusion services and integrative therapies, the new center will include radiation oncology; PET imaging; laboratory services; community education and support facilities; and telemedicine technology that will allow patients and their physicians to consult with other cancer care experts, preventing unnecessary travel for consultation and follow up care for patients who may require more intensive cancer care services.

Construction is due to begin in June 2017, with completion in early 2018.