February 24, 2026

Each year, Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) observes the date of January 18 to commemorate the establishment of the first Hospital in Newark.  This year, LMH celebrates 128 years of healthcare in the Licking County community.  As part of an annual birthday tradition started 22 years ago, Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) employees generously provided monetary donations and cold weather items, such as new outerwear and blankets, to donate to The Center for New Beginnings and The Salvation Army. 
 
“Improving the health of the community requires more than just providing quality healthcare.  Our employees are dedicated to giving back to the community as well,” said LMHS President & CEO Rob Montagnese.  “The annual birthday celebration is a wonderful display of the staff’s compassion and concern for the well-being of others, and 128 years of providing care to our community shows the lasting success of LMH and the trust that residents have in our community Hospital.”
 
For the birthday gift collection, a friendly interdepartmental competition was established.  Various departments were organized into teams and competed to determine which team donated the largest amount of cold weather items in pounds and the largest monetary donations.  Total contributions of cold weather items equaled 89.8 pounds and monetary donations totaled $9,252.  The donations were divided equally, and Rob personally delivered the monetary donations to The Center for New Beginnings and The Salvation Army.