Doylestown Health FoundationDoylestown Health FoundationDoylestown Health FoundationDoylestown Health Foundation
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HERMAN SILVERMAN

The Ripple Effect of Giving

Decades before the concept of crowdsourcing and Kickstarter campaigns were common, local Bucks County businessman Herman Silverman invited three friends and business associates to lunch to discuss an important need at the newly built Doylestown Hospital. It was 1978, and Silverman had recently experienced chest pain (angina). His physician, Joseph McGarvey, Sr., MD, one of Doylestown Hospital’s first cardiologists, noted that a full range of advanced cardiac services was not yet available in the local community.

Humble Beginnings: The $100 Heart Club

True to form, the entrepreneurial Silverman set out to rectify the situation. Having realized success as the founder of Sylvan Pools, one of the country’s largest swimming pool companies, Silverman had a knack for creating new ventures.

That day at lunch, he and his friends launched the $100 Heart Club. With initial contributions of $100 each, and at Silverman’s request, they sought to enlist others and pledged to raise funds yearly in support of Doylestown Hospital’s cardiac program.

Nearly forty years later, the $100 Heart Club is now known as Friends of the Heart Institute. At 250 volunteers strong, this dedicated group of supporters has collectively raised $1.5 million since 1978. These funds enabled Doylestown Health to achieve designation as a recognized center of cardiac care excellence as was originally envisioned by Dr. McGarvey and Doylestown Hospital leadership.

“Doylestown Health has grown in stature, respectability and accountability in so many ways,” says Silverman. “I know people that live closer to other hospitals who want to come here instead because of the kind of care you get that’s just not available elsewhere.” Through lead gifts and special events, funds raised by the Friends of the Heart Institute support the key priorities of the Woodall Heart and Vascular Care such as the purchase of state-of-the-art medical and surgical equipment and patient education programs.

Positioned for the Future

“We are truly grateful to Herman Silverman for his commitment to Doylestown Health. It is an honor to be one of the many organizations that he and his family have supported in our Bucks County community,” says Jim Brexler, President and CEO of Doylestown Health. “The impact of his generosity and foresight will benefit families for generations to come and positions us for a stronger future.”

The impact of the Silverman family’s leadership in philanthropy also extends to other areas of Doylestown Health, such as the Emergency Department, Pediatrics, and the Ann Silverman Health Clinic, established in 2008 in memory of Silverman’s late wife, Ann.

In 2014, Doylestown Health honored Silverman with a special plaque that hangs in the halls of the Reif Heart Institute. “Building things is in my genes,” notes Silverman. However, “it wasn’t just me and my friends,” he reflects, gratefully. “It’s wonderful to see that other people are doing all sorts of things to help make our community a better place.”

Article featured in the 2015 issue of the Doylestown Health Community Annual Report

About Doylestown Health Foundation

As the philanthropic arm of Doylestown Health, the Doylestown Health Foundation raises funds to safeguard the future of excellence in patient care and improves the quality of life for all members of our Central Bucks County community and beyond.

Join us and make a gift today. For more information about Doylestown Health Foundation and giving opportunities at Doylestown Health, please call 215.345.2009 or email gifts@dh.org. Thank you.

DONOR STORIES

Strengthening Community Health
Read about Pat and Alex Gorsky

Investing Together
Read about the Doylestown Health Medical Staff

Enduring Gifts
Read about Alice and Bob Vernon

Building Family
Read about John and Mike McManus

Deeply Rooted in Giving
Read about the Clark Family

Planting Inspiration
Read about Pine Run

Answering the Challenge
Read about the Boards of Trustees

Advancing Education and Innovation
Read Jim and Jean's Story

Boundless Gratitude
Read Andrea and Ed’s Story

An Extraordinary Journey
Read Howard and Lisa’s Story

Gifts of Wellness
Read Dr. Khanna’s Story

Uniting Faith and Philanthropy
Read Marge and Rick’s Story

The Road to Healthy Living
Read Fred Bean's Story

A Material Difference
Read Frank Terry's Story

Giving for All Seasons
Read Joyce and Bob's Story

Cultivating a Better Tomorrow
Read Barb and Tom's Story

A Continuum of Quality Care
Read Grey Warner's Story

A Home for Creativity and Inspiration
Read Sylvia Roman's Story

Mission Critical
Read the Critical Care Story

The Hands of Medicine
Read The Morel Family Foundation's Story

Something Worthwhile
Read Jean and Norm Leister's Story

Investing in Our Future
Read the One Vision Story

Gratitude for Outstanding Care
Read a Grateful Surgeon's Story

A Gift that Pays Dividends
Read John's Story

Designing Healthy Communities
Read the VIA's Story

A Grateful Gentleman
Read Bob's Story

Giving Goes Full Circle
Read Stephen's Story

Partners in Philanthropy
Read Jeanne and John's Story

Paying in Forward
Read Bill and Mary Lee's Story

Generations of Excellent Care
Read Pat and Carol's Story

A Mulligan for Life
Read Steve's Story

A Supermarket of Community Care
Read Joe' Story

Investing in a Winner
Read William's Story

Leaders with Heart
Read Marv and Dee Ann's Story

Pediatric Care, Close to Home
Read Helen's Story

The Ripple Effect of Giving
Read Herman's Story

Beating Breast Cancer and Helping Others
Read Debbie's Story

Honoring a Beloved Spouse
Read Jim's Story

It Takes a Village
Read the Hirschmanns' Story

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WAYS TO GIVE

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WAYS TO GIVE

Doylestown Health Foundation

HIPAA Privacy Practices   |   Website Privacy Policy   |   Terms and Conditions   |   595 West State Street   |   Doylestown, PA 18901   |   215.345.2009   |   © 2022 Doylestown Health Foundation

  • One Vision Campaign
    • About One Vision
    • Campaign Giving
      • Planned Giving
        • Cornerstone Society
      • Endowments
      • Tax-Advantaged Giving Opportunities
      • Medical Staff Giving
      • Associate Giving
      • Friends of the Heart Institute
      • Naming Opportunities
    • One Vision Campaign Priorities
      • Children’s Village
      • Clark Center for Breast Imaging
      • Interventional Radiology
      • Doylestown Hospital Renovations and Expansions
      • Surgical Suite Renovation and Expansion
      • Clark Center for Critical Care Medicine
      • Precision Medicine
      • Woodall Center for Heart and Vascular Care
      • Clark Outpatient Rehabilitation Center
      • Pine Run Retirement Community
    • Campaign Events
      • Morel Family Foundation Center for Prenatal Care Ribbon-Cutting
      • Clark Center for Breast Imaging Ribbon-Cutting
      • Children’s Village Groundbreaking
      • Shindell Concourse Ribbon-Cutting
      • Clark Center for Critical Care Medicine Ribbon-Cutting
      • Clark Outpatient Rehabilitation Center Ribbon-Cutting
      • Byers Reflection Garden Ribbon-Cutting
      • Woodall Heart & Vascular Ribbon-Cutting
      • Beaming with Pride
    • Campaign Donors
      • One Vision Honor Roll
      • Annual Giving Honor Roll
      • Associate Honor Roll
      • Friends of the Heart Honor Roll
      • Medical Staff Honor Roll
      • One Community Honor Roll
      • Planned Giving Honor Roll
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • About Us
    • About the Foundation
    • About Doylestown Health
    • About the VIA
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Contact Us
  • Giving Opportunities
    • Annual Giving
    • Naming Opportunities
    • Tribute and Memorial Giving
    • Honor A Caregiver
    • Planned Giving
      • Cornerstone Society
    • Endowments
    • Tax-Advantaged Giving
    • Associates Giving Campaign
    • Medical Staff Campaign
    • Friends of the Heart Institute
    • Matching Gifts
    • Global Relief
  • Impact
    • Donor Stories
    • The Power of Your Support
    • Celebrating Generosity
    • Covid-19 Response
      • Docuseries
      • ONE COMMUNITY
  • Media
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Newsletter
    • Publications
    • Videos
    • Advertisements
  • Events
    • Anticipating Our Centennial
    • One Vision
      • Children’s Village Topping Off Ceremony
      • Morel Family Foundation Center for Prenatal Care Ribbon-Cutting
      • Clark Center for Breast Imaging Ribbon-Cutting
      • Children’s Village Groundbreaking
      • Shindell Concourse Ribbon-Cutting
      • Clark Center for Critical Care Medicine Ribbon-Cutting
      • Clark Outpatient Rehabilitation Center Ribbon-Cutting
      • Byers Reflection Garden Ribbon-Cutting
      • Woodall Heart & Vascular Ribbon-Cutting
      • Beaming with Pride
    • Donor Recognition
      • 2022 Donor Appreciation Event
      • 2021 Donor Appreciation Event
      • 2022 Special Recognition Reception
      • 2021 Special Recognition Reception
      • 2019 Special Recognition Reception
    • Cornerstone Society Annual Appreciation Luncheon
      • 2022 Annual Appreciation Luncheon
      • 2021 Annual Appreciation Luncheon
    • Golf Classic
      • 2022 Golf Classic
      • 2021 Golf Classic
      • 2020 Golf Classic
      • 2019 Golf Classic
    • Raffle
      • 2022 Raffle
      • 2021 Raffle
      • 2020 Raffle
      • 2019 Raffle
    • Day of Giving
    • Community-Sponsored
      • Associate Appreciation Luncheon
      • PhillyStrong at Doylestown Hospital
      • Messages of Hope for Doylestown
      • 2018 Circle of Life
      • 2018 Cardiac Cook-Off
  • Donate Now
Doylestown Health Foundation