The Highland Gala raises funds for new tower project

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Highland Hospital held its annual Gala Saturday night at the Riverside Convention Center.

The Rochester community came out to make a precious health care resource bigger and better.

Highland Hospital’s annual Gala was finally an "in-person" event. More than 600 doctors, hospital leaders, and supporters came out to the Riverside Convention Center.

Funds raised will benefit the hospital’s patient tower project, which is currently under construction. The project will add four levels plus a mechanical penthouse to the hospital’s Southeast wing and will be one of the largest additions in the hospital’s history.

The Highland Gala is traditionally the hospital’s largest fundraising event of the year. This is the first event that will be held in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We’re raising funds for Highland’s modernization project, which is a tower project, creating single-patient rooms and has been in the works for at least three years. Since COVID has taken on a whole new significance of how important single-patient rooms are, highland has always been that gem in the city" said Dr. Ned Nicosia, incoming Chair at Highland Hospital.

The new hospital tower will include 58 new patient rooms. It will also make it possible for almost all of Highland’s patients to have private rooms.