The local couple will be the recipients of a Lifetime of Service and Achievement Award and will assist the College in reaching a $400,000 goal to help fund student scholarships.
Chestnut Hill College will honor Ann and Mark Baiada of BAYADA Home Health Care at its 12th Annual Scholarship Gala on Thursday, May 13, 2021. In celebration of their recognition, the Baiadas initially announced that they would generously match $100,000 in contributions made during The Baiada Scholarship Challenge. As of May 4th, the Baiada $100,000 Challenge was met and thanks to the generosity of the Baiadas, they have generously pledged an additional $40,000, raising the Baiada Challenge to a total of $140,000.
The Baiada Scholarship Challenge, a virtual fundraising event, kicked off April 15 and concludes May 13, the evening of the Gala. Details for the Baiada Challenge can be found here.
A highlight of the evening’s festivities will be the presentation of a Lifetime of Service and Achievement Award to Gala honorees, Ann and Mark Baiada.
The Lifetime of Service and Achievement Award was created to recognize Chestnut Hill College benefactors who have made outstanding, regionally and/or nationally recognized contributions over a significant period of time to advance Catholic education.
The recipients display a wisdom and depth of service and leadership that has made a significant difference to Catholic education and, ultimately, to Chestnut Hill College.
The Baiada’s are widely recognized for being global leaders in home health care through their company, BAYADA Home Health Care. Founded in 1975 by Mark Baiada, BAYADA Home Health Care revolutionized home health care by creating a patient-centric organization, where all patients are provided with comfort, independence, and dignity and a safe home life.
Ann, a longtime registered nurse, added years of hands-on experience to the organization and founded BAYADAbility Rehab Solutions in 1998, the first and only home health care rehabilitation nursing program.
Under the Baiada’s leadership, BAYADA, grounded in its values of compassion, excellence, and reliability, has prioritized helping people first for more than 45 years. The Baiada’s have carried the same sentiment to their community service and philanthropy. Ann and Mark have dedicated their time and treasure to several higher educational institutions across the Greater Philadelphia region, disaster relief efforts across the nation, and Catholic Charities.
“We believe that education, faith, compassion, and continued growth are crucial in embracing this motto, and Chestnut Hill College has fostered a community that shares these same values. We are inspired by the College’s students and alumni and look forward to the seeing how they make an impact in their communities.”
The Scholarship Gala is the largest fundraising event for the College, with all proceeds raised directly funding student scholarships. Last year, the College raised more than $365,000 at the event, which supplemented the $20 million in financial assistance and scholarships awarded to students in 2020.
“Each year, the Scholarship Gala provides the opportunity to celebrate the support and commitment of the friends of the College to our students and our institution,” said Sister Carol Jean Vale, president of the College. “We are privileged this year to honor one of Philadelphia’s most generous and caring couples, whose dedication to service and to others in their community mirrors the values of the College and our founders.”
Find more information on how to support the Scholarship Gala.
