Tickets are still available for Samaritan’s annual Celebration of Life Gala, presented by Holman Enterprises, which is set for Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 6 p.m. at Champion Sponsor Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, located at 900 Packer Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. The annual fundraising event celebrates Samaritan’s 45 years of providing an expanding range of life-enhancing care to more than 11,000 patients, families and clients annually throughout Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties.

This year’s Gala will feature delicious food, live music by Masquerade, dancing and more! Samaritan is also proud to announce that Meteorologist Kathy Orr of FOX 29 News in Philadelphia will return to serve as emcee of the 2025 Celebration of Life Gala. Since her arrival in 1998 as the first female meteorologist in the Philadelphia television market, Orr’s forecasting and reporting has earned eight Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for "Best Weathercaster.” In 2003, she was recognized by the New Jersey Governor's Office for her "Orr at the Shore" series of summer reports that highlighted environmental awareness along the Jersey Shore. Orr also earned top honors from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association and in 2008, was named "Best Weathercaster" in Philadelphia Magazine's "Best of Philly” issue. In 2013, she was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's "Hall of Fame.”

“Kathy has become such an integral part of our annual Celebration of Life Gala, bringing so much fun, energy and excitement to the stage year after year,” said Phillip W. Heath, president and CEO of Samaritan. “We are thrilled to welcome her back for this year’s Gala and deeply appreciate her commitment to our organization and continued support.”

Greg and Traci Button of Moorestown, NJ, who are both longtime Samaritan supporters and advocates, are serving as 2025 Gala Honorary Co-Chairs. Each year, Samaritan’s Gala also honors individuals and organizations who are dedicated in their service to Samaritan, as well as the greater South Jersey community – the 2025 honorees include:

Archer & Greiner, P.C. 

TD Bank 

Antonio D. Tillis, PhD, Chancellor, Rutgers University-Camden

To further support fundraising efforts and broader community engagement, Samaritan’s Gala will once again feature:

Delightful Dining Raffle – sponsored by Innovative Benefit Planning, this unique raffle offers the chance to win 12 $100 restaurant gift certificates (valued at a total of $1,200) to some of the area’s finest eateries, for just $10 per ticket. Two raffle winners will be announced during the Gala.

Online Auction – featuring a variety of specialty items for bid, from trips and travel packages to gift baskets, sports memorabilia, brand-name items and more. The online auction will open for bidding on February 1, 2025.

Event attendance IS NOT required for interested individuals to participate in both the Delightful Dining raffle and Online Auction. Tickets for the Delightful Dining raffle and access to the Online Auction are available at www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala.

Individual tickets for this year’s Gala are $350 each. All proceeds from the evening, including the Delightful Dining raffle and online auction, will support direct care for Samaritan patients and their families throughout South Jersey.

For additional Celebration of Life Gala details, tickets or sponsorship information and deadlines, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala or contact Katelin Spooner at (856) 552-3239 or KSpooner@SamaritanNJ.org.

About Samaritan:

Samaritan is a not-for-profit, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980 as one of the first hospices in the country. Samaritan is now one of the State’s leading providers of hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, at-home primary care, grief support and counseling, advanced illness care, education and advocacy. Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief wherever they call home. Samaritan also has two dedicated inpatient hospice centers in Voorhees and Mount Holly. Beyond the services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans, Samaritan annually provides nearly $1M in donor-funded non-reimbursed care for patients and families in the South Jersey region. A thrift shop in Westmont also supports Samaritan services and programs. Samaritan is accredited by The Joint Commission; a member of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation; and is a four-star hospice in the national We Honor Veterans program. For more information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org.