Belleville, NJ — [November 19, 2025] — Clara Maass Medical Center Foundation announced that its signature fundraising event, A Tasteful Experience, raised more than $121,000 to support programs and services that enhance patient care and promote community wellness.
The annual event, held at Nanina’s in the Park on October 27, brought together community leaders, physicians, staff, and supporters for an evening of fine food, wine, and entertainment — all to benefit Clara Maass Medical Center. This year’s event was attended by more than 240 guests for a memorable night featuring 28 food and spirits vendors each offering unique tastings that showcased the best in local cuisine and beverage artistry.
Attendees enjoyed a lively atmosphere enhanced by a three-piece jazz band, two professional caricaturists, and an interactive photo booth that captured the spirit of the evening. Adding to the excitement was the always popular After Party, where guests continued the celebration with music, Jersey Shore boardwalk menu, and specialty cocktails — making it a standout highlight of the night.
“We are incredibly grateful to our guests, vendors, and sponsors for making this year’s A Tasteful Experience such a remarkable success,” said Thomas M. Burke, BPharm, MBA, Chief Administrative Officer, Clara Maass Medical Center. “The funds raised will directly support our mission to enhance patient care, expand services, and continue improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”
The Clara Maass Medical Center Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to the event sponsors, restaurant partners, Robert V. Gamba and the event committee, donors, and volunteers whose contributions made this year’s success possible. This year, Allied Beverage Group served as the Presenting Beverage Sponsor and the food vendors included: Bloomfield Steak and Seafood House, Casa De Flora Bar, Conca D’Oro Italian Pastry Shop, Faubourg Restaurant and Bar, Fitzgerald's 1928, Frank Anthony's, Glaze Donuts, The Highlawn, Love & Plates, Lyndhurst Pastry Shop, Marlie Bakes Cakes, Nanina's In The Park, Park Château Estate and Gardens, The Park Savoy Estate, Supreme Bakery and Sushi Café.
For information about our Foundation or to make a donation, go to www.claragiving.org or call 973-450-2277.
About Clara Maass Medical Center
Founded in 1869 as the Newark German Hospital, Clara Maass Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is celebrating 150 years of service to the community. Conveniently located in Belleville, NJ, Clara Maass Medical Center is a 472-bed hospital that offers a complete continuum of care to residents of northern New Jersey.
Clara Maass Medical Center has completed a state-of-the-art campus expansion of its Emergency Department, Operating Rooms and Post Anesthesia Care Unit with the addition of a four-story, 87,000 square foot medical office building that features a private Intensive Care Unit, main entrance and lobby, retail pharmacy and patient registration area. Designated by the New Jersey Department of Health as a Primary Stroke Center, the Medical Center has earned national recognition in patient safety and quality from Healthgrades and The Leapfrog Group.
The Medical Center leads the state in performing advanced treatment in ophthalmology, has earned certifications in Disease-Specific Care from The Joint Commission in Acute Coronary Syndrome, Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Elective Joint Hip Replacement, Elective Joint Knee Replacement, Advanced Certification in Palliative Care, and Primary Stroke, and is designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Aetna Institute and Clinical Sciences Institute of Optum. In partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey -- the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Clara Maass Medical Center offers a world-class team of researchers and specialists to fight most types of cancer, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. Committed to the health and wellness of its community, the Center of Excellence for Latino Health at Clara Maass Medical Center was established to address the social determinants of health within the local Hispanic community.
The first in the country to be named for a nurse, the hospitals’ namesake, Clara Louise Maass was posthumously inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
Media Contact:
Cristina Allen
cristina.allen@rwjbh.org
862.241.8507