Arriving via a patriotic flag run, a contingent of U.S. Navy SEALs and representatives from the GI Go Fund visited Cooper University Health Care on August 6 to thank frontline health care workers for their efforts during the pandemic. The SEALs delivered a 100 push-ups “SEALs Salute” on the front lawn of the hospital to honor Cooper’s team members for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was our pleasure to host the Navy SEALS today who graciously visited our campus to acknowledge the Cooper team for their heroic work during the pandemic. We thank them for this honor and for their own dedicated service in protecting our nation,” said Kevin O’Dowd, JD, co-CEO of Cooper.
“We thank the SEALs for honoring our team with this inspiring salute,” said Anthony J. Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE, co-CEO of Cooper. “We also commend the important work of the GI Go Fund which supports a wide range of programs for military families and veterans.”
The Heroes event at Cooper was a run-up to the 3rd Annual Navy SEAL Swim and Run across the Hudson River on August 7. The SEAL Swim, which starts at Liberty State Park in North Jersey and concludes in Manhattan, raises money for the GI Go Fund, which supports veterans, active-duty personnel and their families by helping them secure housing, employment, education, and health benefits assistance.
Following the “SEAL Salute,” Cooper’s senior leadership team presented a $2,000 donation to the GI Go Fund to support the Navy SEALs in their swim on Saturday.
Cooper was the first and only hospital in the region to host the SEALs as they pay tribute to COVID-19 frontline heroes on the day before the swim. A similar event took place simultaneously in North Jersey.
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Contact: Wendy A. Marano
Public Relations Manager
marano-wendy@cooperhealth.edu
Office: 856.382.6463
Cell: 856.904.1688