The St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation honored George R. Hearst III and William J. and Mary Elizabeth Cade at the 2024 McAuley Reception on September 10, 2024 for their commitment to the community and support of the mission of St. Peter’s Health Partners.
The event, held in the courtyard on the St. Peter’s Hospital campus, recognized George R. Hearst III, publisher and CEO of the Times Union and director of the Hearst Corporation, with the inaugural St. Peter’s Health Partners Visionary Medal for his nearly 30 years of service on SPHP’s board of directors and longtime support of the health system’s mission of caring.
The Cades were also celebrated at the event, presented with The Catherine McAuley Award for their commitment of generosity by including the St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation in their future estate planning. They recently made a pledge of support in excess of $7.5 million.
“It is truly an honor and a privilege to recognize both George Hearst and the Cades,” said Peter Semenza, vice president of philanthropy at St. Peter’s Health Partners. He noted both the reception and the award being presented to the Cades are named after Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, whose ministry remains the driving force and the heart of the Mission of St. Peter’s Hospital and St. Peter’s Health Partners nearly 200 years later.
“Like Catherine McAuley, our honorees tonight understand the value and the importance of community,” Semenza continued. “In their words, in their actions, and through their generous sharing of time, talent, and treasure, both George Hearst and the Cades have been staunch supporters of St. Peter’s and its Mission. They understand that by working together we can accomplish much, to the benefit of all in the Capital Region community.”
The Cades celebrated 36 years of marriage in 2024, but it was an anniversary they almost didn’t reach. In August 2023, Bill was battling a significant infection and his situation was quickly deteriorating.
After Mary Elizabeth and family friend Dr. Robert Wang convinced Bill to go to St. Peter’s Hospital, the Emergency Department team quickly diagnosed Bill with sepsis. The condition was life-threatening with multiple organs being compromised. Over the next few weeks, the clinical team at St. Peter’s worked diligently to stabilize Bill. The Cades’ good friend, Sr. Phyllis Herbert, was a much-needed and appreciated support to Bill and Mary Elizabeth during this difficult time.
During his stay, Bill was treated by a team of talented doctors, nurses, therapists, technicians and aides. He was the recipient of the compassionate care St. Peter’s prides itself on providing to all its patients, and it played a critical role in Bill’s journey to a full recovery. Their gift creates a legacy inspired by their appreciation for the exceptional care that Bill experienced as a critically ill patient at St. Peter’s Hospital.
In recognition of the transformational estate gift from the Cades, St. Peter’s Health Partners will be naming two departments in their honor: The Mary Elizabeth Cade Cancer Center at St. Peter’s Hospital and The William J. Cade, JD, LLM Emergency Department.
To quote from the plaque presented in honor of the Cades: “The St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation gratefully recognizes Mary Elizabeth and William J. Cade, Esq. with our highest honor, The Catherine McAuley Award, for your exemplary commitment of generosity in your future estate plans. Your thoughtful support will create a legacy, inspired through your appreciation for compassionate, skilled and lifesaving care – exceptional care that will continue for many decades, thanks to your support.”
The evening also saw George R. Hearst III presented with the inaugural St. Peter’s Health Partners Visionary Medal for his decades of support of St. Peter’s mission.
Since joining the St. Peter’s board of directors in 1995, Hearst has played a critical role in the growth and success of SPHP. His commitment has included serving as a member of the SPHP governing board for nearly 30 years; serving as chairman of SPHP’s Finance Committee for many years; leading national philanthropic efforts to secure personal protective equipment for health care heroes during the height of the COVID pandemic; and being one of the most vocal proponents and leaders behind the 20-year effort to achieve the recent adjustment in the Capital Region’s Medicare Wage Index, which will bring nearly $1 billion a year to upstate New York hospitals.
Hearst also served as chairman for The Cornerstone Campaign, the largest philanthropic campaign in St. Peter’s Hospital history. At the conclusion of the Cornerstone Campaign in 2014, The Hearst Pavilion on the St. Peter’s Hospital campus was named to honor the collective generosity and support of The William Randolph Hearst Foundations and The Hearst Foundations Challenge Grant. It also acknowledged additional support from the Times Union, the leadership of George Hearst as the chair of The Cornerstone Campaign, as well as George and Christine Hearst’s personal support.
Hearst’s collective support, made of gift commitments and inspired gift commitments, totaled $6.6 million for the capital campaign. The decade-long, $258.7 million project was financed through St. Peter’s Hospital’s operating budget, traditional financing, and $35.5 million in total donations from more than 1,400 individuals and organizations.
Hearst’s personal philanthropic generosity was recognized with the naming of St. Peter’s maternity unit as “The Hearst Family Center” as part of The Cornerstone Campaign. He was also honored in 2008 by the St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation as the recipient of its Catherine McAuley Award.
To quote, in part, from the Visionary Medal presented to him in honor of the occasion: “Your pledge to our community is truly visionary and the indelible mark you have left on St. Peter’s will forever be remembered.”
