Through generous philanthropic support of the Irving T. Boker Memorial Fund at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, Richard and Rebecca Boker have helped nearly every nurse at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney to advance skills and better serve our community.
Olney, MD — For nearly a year before his death in December of 2006, Mr. Irving T. Boker, a resident of Leisure World, spent a great deal of time as a patient of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. Mr. Boker’s family was extremely grateful for the compassionate care he received and decided to honor his memory with a charitable gift to MedStar Montgomery Medical Center.
Brookeville residents Richard Boker and his wife Rebecca chose to establish the Irving T. Boker Memorial Fund to help nurses at the hospital to advance their education and skills. “Because my father, a very giving and kind man, received first-class care from the nurses of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, my wife and I decided to establish a memorial fund to offer ongoing educational support to the nurses and to keep my father’s name, ideals and memory alive," explains Richard Boker.
Since 2007, the Irving T. Boker Memorial Fund has helped nearly every nurse at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center to advance their practice, some with formal education, all with a focus on safety and quality of care. Nurses have also benefited from pursuing certifications in nationally recognized nursing specialties, participating in the Maryland Hospital Association Healthcare Leadership Institute and University of Maryland nursing education sessions.
“Through support from the Irving T. Boker Fund, I was able to attend The National conference of Perioperative Nursing.As a result I have obtained my National Certification. The conference attendance has allowed me remain current and up to date to enhance the care I give at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center.” - Mary Johnson Rn. CPAN
Over the past 10 years, Mr. and Mrs. Boker have continued to support the fund and have been joined by other members of the community as well. Eleven local businesses such as Ledo’s Pizza and Brooklyn’s Deli, and over 90 individuals in the community have contributed to the fund over the last 10 years.
This support in memory of Mr. Boker helps MedStar Montgomery Medical Center continue to provide our community with the highest quality of care. In 2017, for example, 30 nurses will, though support from the fund, participate in training courses provided by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses on critical care for acutely or critically ill patients.
Gabriel Pinski, vice president of philanthropy at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center states, "The Irving T. Boker Fund has made a huge difference to our exceptionally dedicated nurses at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. Through the generous philanthropic investment of the Boker family and the broader community, our nurses have resources to become the absolute best they can be. This community-minded approach, involving expressions of gratitude that improve patient care, is at the heart of why, for over 96 years, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center has set the highest standard for health care. Most of the major advancements at our hospital were made possible through philanthropic investments. This is truly a wonderful community.”
If you would like to explore contributing to the Irving T. Boker Fund, please visit: MedStarMontgomery.org/Boker. For more information about the fund, contact Gabriel Pinski at 301-774-8804 or gpinski@medStarmontgomery.org.