Good Samaritan University Hospital Receives Largest Philanthropic Gift in its History to Transform Neonatal Care

Catholic Health’s Good Samaritan University Hospital today announced a historic $10 million matching commitment from the Donald and Barbara Zucker Family Foundation—the largest philanthropic gift in the hospital’s history—to help advance the expansion and modernization of Good Samaritan University Hospital’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

The commitment will help further strengthen what is already a beacon of neonatal care in the region. The new NICU is planned to incorporate advanced medical equipment and technology, private patient rooms and specialized spaces for family counseling, respite and support, underscoring Catholic Health’s commitment to clinical excellence and caring for the whole person and family. 

“This extraordinary commitment to Good Samaritan University Hospital is all about supporting some of our smallest, most vulnerable patients and their loved ones,” said Gary Havican, interim president and CEO and chief operating officer of Catholic Health. “We are deeply grateful for the Zucker Family’s generosity and the opportunity this matching commitment creates to build an even stronger future for neonatal care on Long Island. It reflects a shared belief that families facing a premature or medically complex birth should have access to exceptional neonatal care close to home.”

As a matching commitment, the gift also establishes a dollar-for-dollar challenge to inspire additional philanthropic support. Catholic Health is seeking the first $2.5 million in qualifying community commitments by the end of the year as part of a four-year effort to secure $10 million in community support. Those gifts will be matched dollar for dollar under the terms of the challenge. 

“Our family experienced the need for world-class NICU care first hand,” said Barbara Hrbek Zucker. “When our youngest granddaughter was born, she needed specialized care to help her get a strong start. Thanks to her NICU team, she is now a thriving little girl, and we feel so fortunate that she got the right care. My husband and I want to ensure that service is available to Long Island’s South Shore community by supporting the NICU at Good Samaritan.”

Good Samaritan University Hospital is home to the only Level III NICU on the South Shore of Suffolk County and has long been a regional destination for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies. The hospital delivered more than 2,500 babies in 2025, and its NICU cares for hundreds of newborns each year. 

“The care provided in a NICU extends far beyond sophisticated technology,” said Justin Lundbye, MD, president of Good Samaritan University Hospital. “Our physicians, nurses and clinical teams care for babies at an incredibly vulnerable moment in their lives, but they also walk alongside parents and families. This project will offer greater comfort and privacy to families while giving our teams an environment that better reflects the extraordinary care they provide every day.”