News and Events – November December 2024
Open your eyes
The Floating Hospital’s Optometry Clinic is now open for patients at our main location in Long Island City. Our optometrist will offer eye exams, diagnosis of issues like glaucoma and cataracts as well as many vision correction options.
Regular eye examinations can detect health issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure as well as eye problems that could worsen without an early diagnosis. Patients with blurred or impaired vision from nearsightedness, farsightedness or other refractive errors will find low-cost glasses with options for single vision, bifocal, trifocal and progressive lenses.
Appointments can be made by calling the clinic at 718-784-2240 or at the Optometry webpage.
A “Legacy” of care
On November 22, we opened the doors to a newly renovated clinic at the Legacy Family Residence run by the Volunteers of America in the Canarsie neighborhood in Brooklyn. The hospital is partnering with the organization to provide healthcare services at what was formerly the Flatlands Family Residence, where we also had a satellite facility beginning in 1996.
The revamped clinic, made possible with generous funding from the Weinberg Foundation, has the same bright and cheerful color palette of our main clinic with similar amenities. The waiting area and two comfortable exam rooms are ready for patients from the 90 families who live there in what is known as transitional housing. This is where families who had been in emergency shelters, most often after fleeing domestic violence, live more independently as the staff assists them in finding permanent housing.
The clinic will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am-5pm. Families who require dental or behavioral health services will be transported to the main clinic.
We are excited about this collaboration and hope to partner with VOA on additional projects in the future.
The time for giving
Thanksgiving is almost here and with it begins the countdowns for holiday shopping and gifting. It’s a busy time for us as well, as we ensure that the families who need our gifts the most this year can access our clinics and receive the care they so urgently require.
This year, our annual and Giving Tuesday appeals will emphasize the needs of the families who have escaped households of violence and abuse to settle in safe houses and shelters, often with little more than what they were wearing the night they fled.
Every dollar raised will go to providing the essential medical, behavioral, dental, life skills and social support services they need to heal and rebuild their lives. Donations will also support free shuttle transportation to our clinic and supply food and clothing as well as personal and baby needs as part of our “more than healthcare” philosophy.
For nearly 160 years, The Floating Hospital has been anchored in the belief that healthcare is a fundamental human right, accessible to everyone. Now, more than ever, your support is critical to ensuring that we can continue to be a place of refuge and recovery for the families who need it most. Please donate what you can here.
A Rising Tide…
On November 13, Floating Hospital President Sean Granahan gave a talk tracing our history at the Irish Business Organization of New York.
Held at the Bank of Ireland’s Midtown offices, Granahan and Sean O’Dowd, the first vice president of the IBO executive board and a managing director of Silvercrest Asset Management, had a spirited discussion of the parallels between the Irish immigrant experience and the hospital’s founding, as well as the lasting involvement Irish Americans have had in our past and present.
He was honored to address and meet some extraordinary individuals, including the IBO’s incoming president, Janet Walsh, who is an adjunct management professor at New York Institute of Technology in addition to her role as chief executive officer and president of Birchtree Global, LLC, a company that “globalizes business strategy, operations, and employees.”
Grateful for the opportunity to share this story, Granahan also appreciates the new relationships cultivated at the gathering to bring these alliances forward into the future.
In the long run
Our first team of Waverunners crushed the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon along with their fundraising goals. They and we enjoyed the experience so much, we’re doing it again next year!
Neophytes might need as much as six months to train for a 26.2 mile race, which is why we’re giving notice almost a year in advance that we plan to enter seven runners. If you or anyone you know want to run the 2025 race and would like guaranteed entry or don’t make the entry drawing, click on or share this link where there is information about our race program, expectations and goals. We look forward to cheering you on!
We thank them for their service
On Veteran’s Day we thanked vets for their service and honored those such as Sgt. Unique Violenes, a medical biller in our finance department. She enlisted in the U.S. Army after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Of the 2,977 lives taken that day, one was a member of her church family.
As a unit supply specialist, she was stationed in South Korea, Japan, Kuwait and Iraq. Her distinguished service earned her more than 40 medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons. These included commendation, achievement and good conduct medals, as well as the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
She came to The Floating Hospital because it “embodies many of the Army Core Values that I have been trained to live by. I decided to make TFH the place where I retire because of its mission, vision and values.” She said the most valuable asset that she brings to her job is an “ability to remain Integral in everything that I do. I make the choice daily to treat each patient, employee and private vendor with respect, while making a conscious choice to be selfless in my service.”
And are thankful for Loukoumi
We were honored to be part of this year’s International Make A Difference With Loukoumi Day on October 26, hosted by Nick Katsoris, the Loukoumi Make a Difference Foundation’s president and executive director.
In addition to presenting our education director Dr. Meghan Miller with the fourth $10,000 check to fund our main clinic’s teaching kitchen (toward a $50,000 pledged total), the foundation shared news of its wonderful projects the world over. These included funding a treatment room at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other initiatives in Greece, Honduras, Newfoundland and more.
Like the others who benefit from the great work and generosity of the Loukoumi Foundation and Nick Katsoris, we are extremely grateful for all they do.
A screaming good time
Our littlest patients had a Halloween to remember this year, thanks to the generous donors to our Halloween costume drive. The smiles attest to the great success as mini goblins, pop stars and comic book action heroes crowded our hallways, play areas and exam rooms. We are grateful to all who helped make their holiday both special and normal during a time when they are experiencing domestic upheaval and uncertainty.
This post is featured in our monthly newsletter from November/December 2024.
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The Floating Hospital provides high-quality healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, immigration or insurance status, or the ability to pay. By providing unrestricted medical care in tandem with health education and social support to vulnerable New York City families, The Floating Hospital aims to ensure those most in need have the ability to thrive, not just survive.
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