A History of Caring

In the 1950s, Atlantic City was still a booming, popular middle-class resort. The half-century-old hospital was once again showing its age. Generous community members pledged $1.3 million, and a federal grant awarded $744,839 to support hospital expansion. Altogether, the new 180-bed wing, containing Maternity and Nursery, operating rooms with special procedure areas and state-of-the-art X-ray units, a nine-bed recovery room, central sterile processing, an admissions area, a chapel and dining services, cost more than $3 million. After years of planning and fundraising, the eight-story South Wing addition opened in 1959. The late state senator Frank S. Farley remarked, “It makes Atlantic City the health resort it really is.” In his dedication remarks, Edward R. Knight, PhD, a longtime AtlantiCare fundraiser and board leader, thanked community benefactors, saying, “In the years to come, you will know your fellow human beings of every race, color and creed will be benefited by your generosity.”

24 | History of Caring