SLUHN receives ‘generous’ gift for pediatric services

St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) recently recognized the founder of a literacy professional development company and his wife for a donation to pediatric services at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Bethlehem. 

The undisclosed gift from Mike and Jean Grabaritz will be represented by a plaque in the St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialty Center, the region’s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to children, allowing families to coordinate multiple specialty appointments in the same day at one location in Center Valley. 

The naming follows the dedication of The Isaacman Family St. Luke’s Children’s ER this past month, following the official opening of the St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in June. 

“Jean and I are pleased to support St. Luke’s Children Hospital in its ongoing effort to improve the health and well-being of local children. We are inspired by the wonderful care St. Luke’s provides and the recent announcements of the new Children’s Hospital and children’s emergency room,” said Mike Grabarits, former president and chief academic advisor of Step By Step Learning, a literacy professional development company that trains teachers to be more effective in closing the academic gaps when teaching reading, writing, spelling and comprehension. 

 Grabarits became interested in learning why children were not learning to read to grade level in 1985 and he and Jean developed several companies that changed the reading trajectory of many underprivileged children nationwide, including Step By Step Learning, SLUHN said. 

“This gift from Mike and Jean is so meaningful and appreciated by St. Luke’s,” said Dr. Jennifer Janco, chair of pediatrics. “This will certainly enhance the services that we can provide to our youngest patients and enable us to continue building upon our growing pediatric footprint in the greater Lehigh Valley.” 

The Grabarits’  also support and are involved in several non-profits, including PBS39 and the Minsi Trails Boy Scouts of America. 

  “I believe you need to invest in your community and St Luke’s is a great institution that is caring for our residents that need specialized medical care. Our intention with our gift is to make a significant impact in the lives of children served by St. Luke’s,” he said.