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Community Corner

Monmouth Medical Center Surgeon Plays Santa for 14th Year

Santa Claus, a.k.a. Stephen Chagares, M.D., FACS. Monmouth Medical Center general surgeon, and Mrs. Claus, a.k.a. Dr. Chagares’ wife Marianne made their 14th annual Christmas Day pilgrimage to bring toys and spread holiday cheer to young patients at The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. Santa and Mrs. Claus were accompanied by Santa's helpers – the Chagares’ nieces, nephews and close friends.

Toys were collected through donations from Dr. Chagares’ patients as well as toy drives organized by Colts Neck High School and New Jersey Strength and Conditioning in Shrewsbury. A few special gifts included warm and cozy blankets for all the children (pink and blue), pillows and candy canes decorated as reindeers in a festive basket.

“We thank Dr. Chagares and his family and friends for their generosity of spirit and for so selflessly thinking of others in the true spirit of the holiday season,” says Monmouth Medical Center President and CEO Frank J. Vozos, M.D., FACS. “We are so grateful to the members of the Colts Neck community, New Jersey Strength and Conditioning and patients of Dr. Chagares for helping to make this possible.”


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