Cross River accelerates plan to upgrade ambulance bays in Israel through its Bays of Life initiative

FORT LEE, N.J. - Cross River Bank, a technology infrastructure provider that offers embedded financial solutions, and Foundation@ Cross River, its philanthropic arm, today announced its Bays of Life initiative, an effort to double down on its long-standing mission to upgrade ambulance bays in Israel. Funds raised from the Bays of Life initiative will go towards modernizing critical access points to hospitals throughout Israel to better serve those injured in the ongoing war there. The initial Bays of Life contribution will go to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Israel.

“For many years, Barzilai Hospital of Ashkelon has been providing outstanding state-of-the-art emergency care to the southwestern part of Israel, serving most communities affected by rocket fire,” says Gilles Gade, Founder and CEO of Cross River, and a volunteer paramedic for Hatzalah in N.Y. and Magen David Adom in Israel. “We are proud and honored to play a small part in the Hospital’s life-saving mission through our Bays of Life project. We are both awed by, and admire, the work of all medical professionals at Barzilai Hospital and throughout Israel in the face of sheer atrocities and utter destruction. We applaud their courage and determination in fulfilling the state of Israel’s mission since its establishment of being a light unto the nations.”

Cross River recognizes the need to support the development of upgraded ambulance bays at hospitals throughout Israel, critical spaces specifically designed to enhance ambulance crews’ direct access and expedite patient admission into the hospital. These seconds are crucial to saving lives, particularly in trauma cases, and more efficient access will support safe and professional treatment to an increased volume of patients. The Cross River Ambulance Bay at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center was dedicated earlier this year. Now, the Company is stepping up its efforts and inviting friends and partners to join the critical life-saving endeavor at other hospitals around Israel.

This week, Cross River opened the next round with an initial donation to Barzilai Medical Center, which treated hundreds of wounded in critical condition immediately following the attacks. The hospital has expressed an urgent need for funds to purchase emergency supplies and equipment. Medical staff there continue to care for the influx of patients, even as rocket attacks have shaken the hospital, shattering windows in the children’s ward and destroying the two main passageways of the hospital.

“The Barzilai Medical Center is on the frontlines and our team continues to serve everyone who comes to the hospital doors, both in times of peace, as well as in war, with great devotion,” said Professor Chezy Levy, CEO of Barzilai Medical Center. “Since the beginning of the brutal terrorist attacks on October 7th, our hospital has treated more than 800 injured, some with life threatening conditions. We are proud of all the medical and non-medical employees who continue to come to work despite the rain of missiles, treating the patients with great empathy and sympathy. We are grateful to Cross River for leading the charge on an upgraded ambulance bay so we can continue to treat serve all those in need of emergency care.”

With over 170 employees of its global workforce based in Israel, Cross River has remained committed to unequivocally supporting Israel. Since the horrific terrorist attacks on October 7^th, Cross River employees in both the U.S. and Israel have joined efforts to donate many pallets of medical supplies to emergency first responders in Israel. The Company has been focused on setting up a crucial employee support network, including mental health and childcare resources, and its philanthropic arm, Foundation@, has also double matched donations to charities making an immediate impact in Israel.

Companies, foundations or other organizations who wish to join Cross River’s Bays of Life initiative, please reach out to bays@crossriver.com.