Queen Anne’s Emergency Center Benefits from Philanthropic Gift

On behalf of the Julia T. Burleigh Philanthropic Fund, James Barton presented a $100,000 gift to Shore Health System to benefit the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center. This gift, which is comprised of assets from the Burleigh Philanthropic Fund and a supplemental donation from Barton and his wife, Linda, will be used to purchase equipment for the emergency center, which is currently under construction in Grasonville.

The waiting and reception area of the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center will be named in honor of Julia T. Burleigh and Mr. and Mrs. Barton.

As lifelong citizens of Queen Anne’s County, Barton and his family have shown their commitment to the community through their business and civic involvement over many decades. This donation to the region’s only freestanding emergency center reflects the philanthropic interests of the late Julia Burleigh, who established the fund for the betterment of the people of Queen Anne’s County.

According to Barton, who served as advisor to the Julia T. Burleigh Philanthropic Fund, “Mrs. Burleigh was a longtime resident of Centreville. When she established this fund, she asked me to be her advisor. After her death, I started distributing the funds to charities that she had supported in her lifetime and to others that were consistent with what she valued.”

Mr. Barton adds, “Mrs. Burleigh wanted to support health care, education, Queen Anne’s County and its citizens. When the decision was made to build this emergency center in Grasonville, I knew that it would be something she would approve of because it will be good for the people who live in Queen Anne’s County.”

Joseph P. Ross, president and CEO for Shore Health System, says, “Jim Barton has set the standard for philanthropic support for this important addition to the healthcare services available in Queen Anne’s County. We appreciate his support and will use Mrs. Burleigh’s gift to create a welcoming environment for the families who turn to the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center during a healthcare crisis.”

Shore Health System, the University of Maryland Medical System and Queen Anne’s County have partnered to build and operate the freestanding emergency center to serve the residents of Queen Anne’s County and the neighboring region. The Queen Anne’s Emergency Center will be located on Nesbitt Road and US Rt. 50 and is scheduled to open in 2010.

The Queen Anne’s Emergency Center will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year, treating patients with acute illnesses, injuries and trauma as well as minor injuries. The center is a full service emergency department, just like one at a hospital. It will be staffed by board certified emergency medicine physicians, experienced ER nurses and hospital-experienced radiology and laboratory technologists.

For more information about the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center, visit ERforQA.org.