Judith Adele Agentis Foundation

JAACF.org

A Reason to Celebrate! JAACF Seeds First Advanced Nurse Practitioner Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Care in Pennsylvania 

Dr. Erin Bendas at Chief of Palliative and Supportive Care at St. Luke’s Health Network.

The Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation (JAACF) has provided funding for the first First Advanced Nurse Practitioner Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Care in Pennsylvania. In early September, JAACF Chairman and Founder Robert Agentis presented $10,000 to Dr. Erin Bendas, Section Chief of Palliative and Supportive Care at St. Luke’s Health Network. 

“This is the first major donation to our department. We highly appreciate this substantial funding,” an elated Dr. Bendas exclaimed. 

A portion of the funds from JAACF will also support the first Train-the-Trainer Palliative Care Partnership Program under the direction of Dr. Cris Johnson, Medical Director at St. Luke’s VNA Home Health and Hospice. 

“We are honored to be at the forefront in developing these hospice and palliative care education programs here in Pennsylvania,” said Agentis. 

The mission of the newly established fellowship program is to prepare qualified, committed, and caring nurse practitioners and physician assistants with the clinical skills and academic expertise to become future leaders in hospice and palliative support care. 

In early 2020, JAACF board members voted to expand the mission of the non-profit to found The JAACF Palliative Care Education Fund. Then, in 2021, amid the pandemic, JAACF donated an additional $10,000 to certify health care workers and nurses in palliative care at St. Luke’s. 

Air Products was the lead sponsor for JAACF’s 2022 fundraising initiative. Supporting sponsors included St. Luke’s Health Network and Tammy Nicotera One Realty Group. Additional funding was provided by Bennett Auto Group, Morris Black Kitchen and Bath, and Northstar Construction.  JAACF was founded in 2013 by Agentis after his wife, Judith, of 47 years, passed away at Hospice House. He founded JAACF, a 501c3 non-profit, to help fill the need for nourishing meals delivered to hospice house staff, families, and patients.JAACF has delivered more than 20,000 meals to St. Luke’s Hospice House on Black River Road in Bethlehem, PA. 

To learn more about JAACF, donate, or learn how to get involved, visit www.jaacf.org or email ba.jaacf@gmail.com. 

Dr. Erin Bendas, (left), Section Chief of Palliative and Supportive Care at St. Luke’s Health Network, Gail McDevitt, Patient Manager, Hospice, and Bob Agentis, Founder of The Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation, celebrate the First Advanced Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program in Hospice and Palliative Care in Pennsylvania 

Dr. Erin Bendas, Section Chief of Palliative and Supportive Care at St. Luke’s Health Network, is elated that her department is receiving funding for the First Advanced Nurse Practitioner Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Care in Pennsylvania 

The Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation Gifts $10,000 to Further Palliative Care Education at St. Luke’s University Health Network 

A national shortage of hospice and palliative medicine physicians is on the rise, and the Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation (JAACF), is out to help fund palliative care education for healthcare professionals. 

The Bethlehem-based nonprofit recently gifted $10,000 to St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) to advance the Judith Adele Agentis Palliative Care Education Fund at the hospital. The gifting ceremony occurred at Reaching High Notes, the nonprofit’s  benefit dinner gala  held June 19th at the lovely outdoor Alley Bar & Grille, at the Steel Club in Hellertown. 

“With the country’s population aging and the growth in the number of patients with a life-limiting illness or a chronic condition continuing to increase,  palliative needs are not being met,” said Dr. Erin Bendas, who served as the benefit’s guest speaker.

Bendas is Program Director of Palliative and Hospice Care at SLUHN. She continued,   “Currently, there is one palliative care physician nationwide for every 1,300 people diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and 1 for every 20,000 patients with severe chronic illness.” 

“Reaching High Notes was an amazing and flawless benefit thanks to all of our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and the 150 guests who came out to support the cause and to also dance the night away,” said Robert Agentis, Founder and Chairman of Judith Adele (JAACF.) 

Meanwhile, the evening continued with panache and high energy. Entertainment included Ginger and the Schnappes during the cocktail hour, followed by the Philly Funk Authority who generously held to a year-old contract due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Kate Hughes served as emcee and auctioneer. A talented team of contemporary regional artists brought energy to the auction including; Jacqueline Agentis, Stephanie Agentis, Ali Alamasi of Zaffrus, Tina Cantelmi, Michael Lebson, Kim Hogan, Rigo Peralta, and Lisa Villani. 

Major sponsors included: Agentis Kitchen and Bath; Better Homes and Gardens Cassidon Real Estate; Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors Association; Lehigh Valley Press; St. Luke’s University Health Network and Tri-Outdoor Advertising. Day-of-event support was donated by Fun-Nominal Events and Marketing. 

The Scholarship Fund will help assure future generations will receive quality and professional care in their most personal time of need, summed Agentis. 

Founded in 2013 to provide hope, health, and healing to patients and their families during hospice care, the Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation has delivered more than 20,000 meals to St. Luke’s Hospice House in Bethlehem, PA. The Judith Adele Agentis Palliative Care Education Fund was created in 2020 to help meet the need for palliative care education for health care workers. For more information about the Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation, please visit www.jaacf.org. 

REACHING HIGH NOTES 2022 at Steel Club Country Club June 25th

Event guests at Reaching High Notes in 2021. This year’s event will be held June 25, 2022.

 

Reaching High Notes will Raise Funds for the Judith Adele Agentis Palliative Care Education Fund at St. Luke’s Health Network/VNA.

https://www. Tickets June 25, 2022. 

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA – Join the Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation (JAACF) for its annual dinner gala June 25, 7 p.m. until 11:45 p.m., at the Steel Club Country Club in Hellertown, PA. This year’s event will benefit palliative care scholarships and the first Palliative Care Fellowship in Pennsylvania at St. Luke’s University Health Network/VNA. Additional funds will support hospice meal deliveries to families and staff at hospice house. 

Enjoy fine food, live music, special speakers, and live and silent auctions. Comedian Kate Hughes will emcee this fun-filled night. Laurie Gostley Hackett will serve as auctioneer. Ginger and the Schnappes will entertain during the cocktail hour, and after dinner, the Toga Party Band will provide music for dancing. New in 2022 is the Grand Dessert Auction.  

Your compassion and generosity to attend and enjoy this meaningful event is greatly appreciated. Sponsors for the 2022 fundraiser include: St. Luke’s University Health Network;

Since 2013, JAACF delivered more than 20,000 meals to nourish families and staff at St. Luke’s Hospice. In 2019, JAACF expanded its impact through education and scholarships to train and certify healthcare professionals in palliative care.

Reserve your attendance for cocktail or reserved VIP seating at https://www. Tickets June 25, 2022.  Tickets include bountiful hors d’oeuvres, culinary stations, two beverage tickets, two live bands, entertaining speakers and auction packages.

Scholarship Established by Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation to Fund Education in Palliative Care

BETHLEHEM, PA — The Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation (JAACF), a Bethlehem-based nonprofit, has established The Judith Adele Agentis Palliative Care Nursing Education Fund at St. Luke’s University Health Network.

The education fund will provide scholarships that help make it possible for nurses to participate in professional certification programs, attend conferences and seminars, and earn continuing education credits in the field of palliative care. Three nurses are pursuing their Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing Certification with support from the fund.

JAACF St. Luke's Palliative Care Nursing Fund

Credit: St. Luke’s University Health Network

From left to right: Christine McCausland, RN; Kimberly O’Connor, MS, RN and Susan Rodriguez, RN, are the nurses who received support from the new education fund.

“JAACF is committed to supporting educational opportunities to expand the impact of pain management through palliative care,” said Robert Agentis, founder and chairman of JAACF. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to offer scholarships to health care workers seeking higher education and certification. Our mission is expanding to help advance pain management services through palliative care.”

Robert Agentis founded JAACF in honor of his late wife, Judith, who passed away in 2013 of pancreatic cancer. The organization’s mission is to help others cope by delivering hot meals, hope and fellowship for patients and their families at St. Luke’s Brian D. Perin Hospice House. The foundation has delivered more than 20,000 meals since its inception in addition to early cancer detection education for pancreatic, liver and colon cancers.

The foundation has a goal to build an endowment fund that will support annual educational opportunities within the palliative care program, as well as ambitions to establish a fund for a Palliative Care Advanced Practice Fellowship Program at St. Luke’s, which would be the first of its kind in this region.

“We look forward to future opportunities to expand our educational assistance,” said Agentis.

“Throughout the pandemic, our palliative care teams worked around the clock, tending to their patients and keeping them in good spirits,” said Dr. Erin Bendas, DO, MA, Section Chief, St. Luke’s Palliative Care. “We are so fortunate that this fund was established to support the growth and development of these talented and devoted nurses, who are so passionate about the care they provide. It is this kind of generosity that powers our work.”

Contributions to the fund can be made payable to St. Luke’s JAACF Palliative Care Nursing Education Fund and sent to Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation, at P.O. Box, 22075, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002.or to St. Luke’s Development Office, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA 18015. Donations may also be made over the phone by calling 484-526-3067.

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Contemporary Art Auction to Benefit JAACF Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund

Join the virtual and live art auction on Thursday, December 10,  from 6  p.m. to 8 p.m., to benefit the Judith Adele Agentis Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund. The Fund was established in 2020 in partnership with St. Luke’s Health Network. 

The cost of the virtual auction is free.  Live bidding will start at 7 p.m.  To gain access via Zoom, register by email to tina@tinabradfordpr.com or visit Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/3fS2FbN. 

Simultaneously, Art & Appetizers, a limited capacity art preview, will be held at Yianni’s Taverna, Bethlehem, PA. Tickets are $60 per person, with a maximum of 20 guests. Greek hors d’oeuvres and two cocktails are included. Ginger Brew and Joe Mixon will provide entertainment. Kate Hughes will serve as Auctioneer and Emcee, via Zoom. To purchase preview tickets, https://jaacf-art-and-appetizers-benefit.eventbrite.com. 


“Diversity of Individual,” Khalil Allaik. 

Original signed sculpture. Cedarwood with white patina, 36x29x28.

 Starting bid: $3,000

“Potential Expansion,” Khalil Allaik. 

Artist proof, etching, framed 16×20 silver metal frame, white museum off white matt. 

Starting bid: $200

“Winter Beauty,” Rigo Perlata 

Original signed painting, 12” by 18” acrylic on canvas, framed. 

Starting bid: $1,200

“Mechanical Reflections,” Rigo Peralta.

Original signed painting,  20“ by  26“, acrylic on canvas, framed. 

Starting bid: $1,800.

“Citiscape” Jacqueline C. Agentis

Signed HD Sublimination Print, Aluminum, Limited 2/25 edition,  18” by 28”, 

Certificate of Authenticity. 

Starting bid: $675.00 

“Magic Carpet Ride,” Tina Cantelmi.

Original signed painting, 39”x 85”, acrylic on canvas, gallery wrapped. 

Starting bid: $2,400

“Fiery Dawn,” Tina Cantelmi.

Original signed painting, size, 24.5” x 39”, oil on sustainable wood panels. 

Starting bid: $850.00

“Peace, Love, Devotion,” Ward Van Haute

Original Signed Painting, 15 ½”x 15 ½, oil on reverse glass, framed. 

Starting bid: $400.00

“Mourning Poppies,”  Ward Vann Haute. 

Original Signed Painting, 15 ½”x 15 ½, oil on reverse glass, framed. 

Starting bid: $400.00

Central Moravian Church, Lynn Beetle. 

Signed original pen and ink.

Starting bid, dimensions to be announced. 

Kate Hughes will serve as emcee and auctioneer. 

Ginger (Mel Brew), left, will provide vocals with Joe Mixon (not shown,) on guitar. 

The Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation,  established in 2013, is a Lehigh Valley-based 5o13c non-profit that provides nourishment,  education, and scholarships for palliative care.   For more information, visit www.JAACF.org, or email ba.jaacf@gmail.com.

Media Contact is Tina@tinabradfordpr.com 

At 610-248-3460

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Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS Names Judith Adele Agentis Foundation Charity of Choice for 2020

LEFT TO RIGHT: JUSTIN POREMBO, Director of GLVR, ROBERT AGENTIS, Chairman and Founder of JAACF, AND JOHN GROSS, President of GLVR.

BETHLEHEM, PA – Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS (GLVR) has gifted $4,500.00 to the Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation (JAACF), a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, nonprofit founded to comfort hospice patients and their families. 

JAACF recently established the Judith Adele Agentis Palliative Care Nursing Education Fund at St. Luke’s University Health Network. 

“It with great honor, especially at a time like this, for GLVR to help further palliative and hospice care here in the Lehigh Valley,” announced GLVR President John Gross. 

Each year, the president of GLVR selects an organization or charity of choice. Gross choose JAACF for 2020 because “Judie was like a mother to me. She died at St. Luke’s Hospice from pancreatic cancer. After Judie’s passing, her husband of 47 years realized he had lost 35 pounds, as the only food available to him was from a vending machine. Bob Agentis began delivering nutritious weekly meals from Lehigh Valley restaurants to the hospice house, and soon, he founded JAACF.”

“JAACF is committed to supporting educational opportunities to expand the impact of pain management through palliative care. It is our mission to help assure the highest standards in compassionate Palliative Care,” adds Robert Agentis, Founder and Chairman of JAACF.  

“Throughout the pandemic, our palliative care teams worked around the clock, tending to their patients and keeping them in good spirits,” shares Dr. Erin Bendas, DO, MA, Section Chief, St. Luke’s Palliative Care. “We are so fortunate that this fund was established to support the growth and development of these talented and devoted nurses, who are so passionate about the care they provide. It is this kind of generosity that powers our work.” 

The education fund provides scholarships for nurses to participate in professional certification programs, attend conferences and seminars, and earn continuing education credits in the field of palliative care. Kimberly O’Connor MS, RN, Susan Rodriguez BSN, and Chris McCausland BSN have begun their Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing Certification with support from the Foundation’s newly-established fund.

The scholarship funds help pursue Palliative Care Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing through the Hospice and Palliative Care nursing association (HPNA). JAACF’s goal is to build an endowment fund that will support annual education opportunities within the palliative care program. The long-term goal is to establish a fund for a Palliative Care Advanced Practice Fellowship Program at St. Luke’s—which would be the first of its kind in this region. 

JAACF’s mission is helping others cope by delivering hot meals, hope, and fellowship for patients and their families at St. Luke’s Brian D. Perin Hospice House. JAACF delivered more than 20,000 meals to families and loved ones at the hospice house. “We look forward to future opportunities to expand its educational assistance,” added Agentis. 

Contributions can be made payable to the JAACF Palliative Care Nursing Education Fund and sent to St. Luke’s Development Office, 801 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015. Or by calling the office at 610-954-3067.  

The Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® (GLVR) is a trade association representing over 2,500 real estate professionals throughout Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon counties.

For more information about the Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation, visit www.JAACF.org or email ba.jaacf@gmail.com. 

 

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