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The Cooper Foundation‘s 14th Annual Red Hot Gala broke another record this year, raising nearly $4 million to support the growth of Cooper University Health Care. 

Nearly 1,000 supporters attended the Sept. 27 soiree at the Triad1828 Centre on the Camden waterfront. 

The gala also honored Ron and Liz Jaworski, longtime supporters and board members of the Camden-based health network and surrounding community. 

‘Cooper people’ 

Ron Jaworski is a 17-year NFL veteran who appeared in the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl, earned an MVP award and is in the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame. Liz Jaworski, a cancer survivor, serves on the host committee for the Pink Roses Teal Magnolias, which supports women with breast and gynecological cancers. They also launched the Jaws Youth Playbook Foundation, supporting at-risk youth across the Greater Philadelphia region. 

“Ron and Liz Jaworski are the embodiment of what it means to be ‘Cooper people’—leading by example and giving back to the Camden and South Jersey communities with unwavering dedication and enthusiasm,” Philip Norcross, chairman of The Cooper Foundation board, said in a statement. 

Norcross added, “Their passion for supporting at-risk youth and their philanthropic efforts leave an incredible mark on the region and inspire future generations.” 

Ron Jaworski said, “Supporting Cooper was a natural transition for my wife Liz and me, not only because of the dedicated doctors, nurses and medical teams, but also because of the remarkable impact they continue to make, inspiring us to proudly stand with them in their mission.” 

Big plans on the horizon 

George Norcross III – the chairman of the board of trustees of the health system, Cooper University Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper – also thanked the Jaworskis for their commitment. 

He highlighted the goals of the health system, notably the network’s $3 billion planned expansion of its main campus in Camden. Dubbed Project Imagine, the undertaking now expects to break ground on its first tower in November, Cooper announced Sept. 27. 

“As Cooper rounds off its 138th year, we look to the future with an unprecedented $3 billion Camden campus expansion that will transform Cooper and the community,” George Norcross said.

Cooper co-CEO Kevin O’Dowd noted that the Red Hot Gala has raised nearly $25 million since its inception 14 years ago. 

“Knowing we have the unwavering support of our donors and the entire community behind them, our teams are truly inspired to achieve extraordinary things,” added co-CEO Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli.