Newswise — July 25, 2013 – Neptune, NJ – Jersey Shore University Medical Center is pleased to announce the completion of the Musso Healing Garden, made possible by a generous gift from Victor and Angela Musso and their daughter, Carol Musso Foley of Spring Lake, NJ and Suffern, NY. Located in a tranquil enclave adjacent to Jersey Shore’s North South Concourse, the Musso Healing Garden dedication took place during a special ceremony and luncheon reception held on June 30. The celebration was attended by more than 75 members of the Musso family, their friends, and Jersey Shore team members and supporters.

The Musso Healing Garden is a beautiful blend of hardscapes and landscapes featuring a unique variety of trees and plants and a colorful array of annuals and perennials. The garden features a fountain at its center to provide the soothing sounds of water for patients, guests and team members, and the Rosebud Terrace – a calming space designed for support and/or small group sessions. In addition to being wheelchair accessible, the Musso Healing Garden includes ample benches and tables with umbrellas and chairs so that visitors may relax and enjoy the space. The garden also supports Jersey Shore’s commitment to environmentally progressive practices, as the hospital is the first LEED Gold health care facility in New Jersey and the largest on the East Coast.

Above all, the Musso Garden was designed to be a healing and nurturing oasis for all. Steven G. Littleson, FACHE, president of Jersey Shore, comments, "The Musso Healing Garden provides a healing and reflective space for Jersey Shore’s patients, guests and team members. It is truly beautiful, and we are grateful to the Musso family for their vision to create the garden, and their generous support of Jersey Shore’s mission to provide the best health care experience." Ron Kirk, a Director of the Nicola-Musso Charitable Foundation, who served as project liaison and spokesperson for the Musso family, thanked the many people who contributed to the completion of the garden. He gave special thanks to the Meridian team, as well as to Giejda Landscaping and Mark and Cindy Giejda, who installed the Healing Garden, ensuring that it reflected the family’s vision. Mr. Kirk commented, “The Musso Healing Garden is a special space that honors the lives of Angela and Victor Musso, and reflects their commitment to helping others. It is a fitting tribute to a very special couple.”

About Jersey Shore University Medical Center:Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health family, is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – the first children’s hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Jersey Shore is the regional provider of cardiac surgery, a program which has been ranked among the best in the Northeast, and is home to the only trauma center and stroke rescue center in the region. Jersey Shore University Medical Center specializes in cardiovascular care, orthopedics and rehabilitation, cancer care, neuroscience, nerve surgery and women’s specialty services. Through the hospital’s clinical research program, and its affiliation with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Jersey Shore serves as an academic center dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, training future physicians and providing the community with access to promising medical breakthroughs. For more information about Jersey Shore University Medical Center call 1-800-DOCTORS, or visit www.JerseyShoreUniversityMedicalCenter.com.