When patients and families face a medical emergency, they depend on expert care, advanced resources and a hospital ready to meet the community’s needs for generations to come.
At Reading Hospital’s second annual Champions of Care Dinner, community leaders came together to celebrate the people advancing health care in Berks County and invest in that future, including a transformational gift from the Post family to support the expansion of emergency care.
Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, the event recognized Joanne Judge, Esq., Customers Bank, and Dr. Charles F. Barbera for their contributions to Reading Hospital and the health care community. The evening also celebrated the Post family’s extraordinary generosity in support of the Emergency Department expansion, which will be named the John and MaryAnne Post Center for Emergency Care in recognition of their gift.
The gift is part of Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future, a $70 million comprehensive campaign announced at the dinner. Reading Hospital’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign in more than 100 years, the effort will support priorities across the organization, including emergency care, intensive care, the McGlinn Cancer Institute, neonatal intensive care, education and innovation, and community outreach.
The 2026 Champions of Care award recipients were:
- Joanne Judge, Esq., shareholder at Stevens & Lee and general counsel for Tower Health, received the Visionary Health Leadership Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing health care throughout the region.
- Customers Bank received the Legacy of Health Partnership Award for its longstanding commitment to Reading Hospital and its investment in improving the health of the communities it serves.
- Charles F. Barbera, MD, MBA, MPH, FACEP, president and CEO of Reading Hospital and executive vice president of Tower Health, received the Spirit of Reading Hospital Award for his steadfast leadership, commitment to clinical excellence, and dedication to fulfilling Reading Hospital’s mission of delivering exceptional care.
The celebration marked an important moment in Reading Hospital’s history as it commemorates a century at its West Reading location while looking ahead to the future of care in the region, said Michael Stern, FACHE, president and CEO of Tower Health.
“Champions of Care was a wonderful celebration of the people and organizations who have helped make Reading Hospital such an important part of this community,” he added. “As we celebrated 100 years in West Reading, it was inspiring to see our community come together to honor those who have made a lasting impact and to support the next chapter of care for generations to come.”
The evening also highlighted the importance of the planned Emergency Department renovation and expansion, which will help Reading Hospital meet the growing health care needs of Berks County and the surrounding communities. Reading Hospital’s Emergency Department is the busiest single-site emergency department in Pennsylvania and the region’s only Level I Trauma Center. The expansion is designed to strengthen the hospital’s ability to deliver critical emergency and trauma services to patients and families for years to come.
“It was incredibly meaningful to celebrate this milestone alongside so many people who believe in Reading Hospital and the future of health care in our community,” Dr. Barbera said. “The support and generosity demonstrated at Champions of Care will help us transform our Emergency Department and create an environment that matches the exceptional emergency and trauma care our patients depend on. I am grateful to everyone who made this evening such a memorable celebration.”
The Reading Hospital Foundation hosted the event, bringing together community members, businesses, health care supporters, and philanthropic partners in support of Reading Hospital’s mission. The Post family’s gift demonstrates the important role philanthropy plays in advancing patient care and helping ensure the hospital is prepared to meet the region’s evolving health care needs.
“Champions of Care was a tremendous evening of celebration, gratitude, and community spirit,” said Kate Thornton, president of the Reading Hospital Foundation. “We were honored to recognize three remarkable Champions of Care while coming together around an investment that will make a meaningful difference in emergency care for our community. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, supporters, and everyone who helped make this event possible.”
Champions of Care Presenting Sponsors included Jefferson Health, The Stevens and Lee Companies, Compass Healthcare, Customers Bank, and Metropolitan Companies. Advocate Sponsors included Ensemble and Target Building.
