by Robert Brune
The sixth annual Margaretville Hospital CATCH Auction once again demonstrated the powerful connection between the arts community and rural healthcare in the northwestern Catskills. CATCH, which stands for Community Art to Community Health, brought together artists, philanthropists, business leaders, medical professionals, and residents for an evening centered on preserving and improving healthcare services at Margaretville Hospital.
Held with approximately 130 attendees, the annual fundraiser featured an exceptional collection of artwork donated by regional artists whose generosity helped fuel one of the organization’s most successful years to date. This year’s event raised more than $70,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, paddle raise contributions, and both live and silent art auctions. Proceeds will directly benefit primary care services at Margaretville Hospital and the Margaretville Hospital Foundation.
The event reflected the widespread support that continues to surround Margaretville Hospital and its expanding healthcare initiatives. Sponsors included Coldwell Banker – Timberland Properties, ALTA Log Homes, Margaretville Telephone Company, Hubbell Family Farm, BEAR Architects, and many others throughout the region. The phrase “It takes a village” felt especially fitting throughout the evening as artists, businesses, and residents united behind the hospital’s future.
Organizers Beth Eckels and Emilie Adams welcomed attendees while recognizing the artists and donors whose work filled the room. East Branch Delaware River Plein Air Painters also contributed artwork featured on commemorative note cards available during the evening. Caterer Connie Kearney and Pine Hill Framing’s Lauren Daniels were among the many contributors acknowledged for helping shape the event into a polished community gathering.
A major focus of the evening centered on the continued development of the Margaretville Hospital helipad project, which officially broke ground two weeks prior to the auction. A short video presentation introduced attendees to the importance of the heliport for emergency care access in the mountainous region.
“For our team here at Margaretville Hospital, this project represents peace of mind,” said Dr. Michael Hochman, Executive Director of Margaretville Hospital and Mountainside Residential Care Center. “Just because you happen to live in a rural community doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have access to the very best that our society can offer.” Hochman emphasized how geography can complicate emergency medical transport throughout the Catskills and how the heliport will help close that gap.“When someone has a medical emergency, people should not have to wonder if help is going to get there in time,” Hochman said in the presentation. “This is truly going to be a lifeline for this entire community.” While the heliport remained a celebrated milestone, Hochman explained that the hospital’s next major priority is expanding and modernizing primary care services for the region.“As I talk to the community, the thing I continuously hear is we need more primary care in our community so that people can get the care they deserve locally,” Hochman said.
Over the last 18 months, Margaretville Hospital has hired four primary care providers, including the upcoming addition of Dr. Judith McCloskey. Hochman also discussed plans to renovate the hospital’s primary care facility, supported in part by an $825,000 USDA grant, though additional funding is still needed to fully modernize the space and equipment.
The evening also featured remarks from Dr. Ivor S. Douglas, Director of the Department of Medicine at Westchester Medical Center and Chair of the Department of Medicine at New York Medical College. Douglas spoke passionately about strengthening healthcare partnerships between rural communities and the broader WMCHealth network. “What we seek is partnership for the model of academic healthcare in the community,” Douglas said. “Our organization is pursuing rural healthcare transformation grants, and we’ve secured a large investment for research and intensive training programs.” Douglas also stressed the importance of community trust and regional collaboration in sustaining healthcare access close to home. “We are committed to you,” Douglas told the audience. “But I also need to know that you, through your commitments, understand that this is part of a family.”
In one of the evening’s lighter moments, Douglas energized the crowd by encouraging attendees to raise bidding amounts during the live auction while celebrating what he called the “three W’s” of philanthropy: “the workers, the wealthy, and the wise.” His remarks drew laughter and applause from attendees eager to support the cause.
Auction committee members later confirmed that every live auction piece sold during the event, with several spirited bidding wars pushing final prices far beyond opening bids. Sixteen works sold for more than $1,000.
“This year’s CATCH Auction was our best yet,” the Margaretville Hospital Auction Committee shared in a statement. “All of the Live Auction pieces sold, with thrilling bidding wars driving final prices well past their opening bids. We are profoundly grateful to all of the talented artists and generous community members for bringing such incredible momentum to our Primary Care fundraising.” Adams reflected on the overwhelming level of support that filled the evening. “We are absolutely delighted with all of the participation in the auction this year,” Adams said. “From donors, sponsors, attendees, and bidders, there couldn’t be a more generous and supportive group.”
CATCH Auction co-chair Beth Eckels explained that the hospital’s growing primary care services remain one of the organization’s most important priorities moving forward. The full-time physician joining the primary care practice in June is Dr. Judith Magloczi, who will join nurse practitioners Karen Bedell, NP, and Erin Black, NP, at the practice located inside the Palen Building. The facility is scheduled to undergo renovations and receive updated equipment designed to better serve both patients and staff throughout the region. “Our fundraising will augment federal grants already in place to fund this primary care renovation and modernization project,” Eckels said.
As the live auction unfolded under the energetic guidance of auctioneer Dave Rama, the room became a celebration not only of art, but of collective responsibility toward preserving rural healthcare in Delaware County. The event once again showed how deeply interconnected the Catskills arts community remains with the well-being of the region itself.
For anyone seeking to donate towards the amazing achievements being accomplished at Margaretville Hospital go to WMCHealth.org/CATCH.org.
Catch Auction
Catch Auction
Catch Auction
Catch Auction