Chicago, --Steve Koch, Chairman of the Board of Sinai Health System, crossed the finish line in St. Augustine, Florida, on Sunday, October 31, completing a 3,100-mile cross-country bicycle ride. An avid, life-long cyclist, Steve raised over $300,000 for a new Ambulatory Care Center for Sinai Health System, a national model for urban health care delivery that serves a high population of uninsured and underinsured patients. He and his son Jacob set off from San Diego, California, on September 6.
Known as the Southern Tier route, the ride was an arduous one with a variety of challenging terrain, including many miles through the desert, two mountain ranges, the Texas Hill Country and the bayous of Louisiana. Steve blogged from the road and posted photos on the website www.cyclingforsinai.com. Friends, cyclists and other Sinai supporters joined Steve and Jacob for portions of the ride.
"Many people asked me why I was doing this," said Koch. "Cycling for Sinai has been the realization of three dreams of mine -- doing something to raise money for one of the nation's best models for urban health care serving needy populations, riding a bicycle across Amerca and doing this ride with my son Jacob.
"I've served on Sinai's Board for the last 24 years, and have a family connection that dates back to 1919, when my grandfather was one of the founders of Mount Sinai Hospital," Koch said. "Sinai has been providing high quality care for more than 90 years to one of the most diverse patient populations in the nation, a low proportion of whom have private medical insurance. Sinai has done this with limited capital investment in its facilities. Sinai is at the point where it has no choice but to revitalize its facilities. The building of an Ambulatory Care Center is the centerpiece of our future and the fulfillment of our commitment to the people we serve."
As the centerpiece of a major campus and community redevelopment project, the new 220,000-square-foot Ambulatory Care Center will enhance and sustain Sinai's nationally-recognized urban model for efficient, high-quality healthcare. This historic undertaking will also stimulate revitalization of the neighborhoods that Sinai serves, including Lawndale, Pilsen and Little Village. The Center will support a broader range of services for patients and families, including spacious primary and specialty physician clinics, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging and treatment services and outpatient surgery. The total cost to build and equip the Ambulatory Care Center is projected at more than $120 million. Sinai Tomorrow: the Campaign for a Healthier Chicago has raised more than $3.6 million to date, of the $20 million fundraising goal. This includes $1 million from the McCormick Foundation, an anonymous $1 million challenge grant form a leading Chicago foundation, and financial commitments from every member of the Sinai Board of Directors and senior staff. To learn more about Sinai Tomorrow, visit www.cyclingforsinai.com/site/sinai-tomorrow.
"Business leaders and board members in Chicago give of their time and money every day, but I do not know of any others who have dedicated two whole months out of their lives to take on a physical and mental challenge of this magnitude to support their organizations," said Alan Channing, President and CEO of Sinai Health System. "We are very fortunate to have the leadership and support of Steve Koch."
About Steve Koch
Steve Koch has served on the Board of Sinai Health System for 24 years, and as Chair of the Board since October 2008. In 1919, his grandfather was among the philanthropic Chicago businessmen who founded Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. Steve is Co-Chairman of Credit Suisse's Global Mergers and Acquisitions Group, based in Chicago. Koch joined Credit Suisse in 1989 and has advised clients in all major financial markets in a wide variety of industries.
Sinai Health System
For 90 years the hospitals and caregivers of Sinai Health System have provided medical care and social services to communities in west and south Chicago. The Sinai Hospitals, including Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Children's Hospital, and Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital offer general acute, specialty, and rehabilitation care as well as home health. Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital has an award winning therapeutic rooftop garden. Mount Sinai Hospital's Emergency Department is a Level I Trauma Center (highest level of care) and the Sinai Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit is a Level III (also highest level of care). Sinai Community Institute provides social service outreach for the lifestyle issues that contribute to health while Sinai Urban Health Institute researches the prevalence of chronic disease in Chicago neighborhoods. Collectively these organizations and the caregivers who staff them support the Sinai vision of being the national model for urban health care. Sinai Health System has an unwavering commitment to quality as evidenced by Mount Sinai Hospital being in the top ten percent nationally on over 75 percent of the CMS Core Measures for quality and Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital's 25 plus years of CARF accreditation. www.sinai.org.
Sinai Tomorrow
As the centerpiece of a major campus redevelopment project, the new Ambulatory Care Center will enhance and sustain Sinai's nationally-recognized model for the delivery of efficient, high-quality healthcare. This historic undertaking will also stimulate revitalization of the neighborhoods that Sinai serves, including Lawndale, Pilsen and Little Village. The new 220,000-square-foot Ambulatory Care Center will support a broader range of services for patients and families. The building will feature spacious primary and specialty clinics, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging and treatment services and outpatient surgery. The total cost to build and equip the Ambulatory Care Center is projected at more than $120 million. Sinai Tomorrow: the Campaign for a Healthier Chicago has raised more than $3.6 million to date, of the $20 million fundraising goal. This includes $1 million from the McCormick Foundation, an anonymous $1 million challenge grant form a leading Chicago foundation, as well as financial commitments from every member of the Sinai Board of Directors and senior staff. To learn more about Sinai Tomorrow, visit www.cyclingforsinai.com/site/sinai-tomorrow.
