Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network Partnering with Oneonta Area Restaurants to Host Plates of Hope Benefiting Cancer Institute Initiative

Oneonta, NY – Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network is teaming up with Oneonta area restaurants to raise funds to advance cancer care in the Central New York region. Between June 1 and 7, 2025, community members may visit a participating restaurant and 10 percent of their purchase will benefit Bassett’s $7 million project to expand Bassett Cancer Institute at FoxCare Center in Oneonta and purchase a new mobile cancer screening unit to serve Bassett’s eight-county service area.

“The event coincides with National Cancer Survivors Day on June 1, making it an opportunity to honor and celebrate those who have faced cancer with courage and resilience,” says Sheila LeMaster, Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network. “Thanks to the generosity of local restaurant partners, we are thrilled to introduce Plates of Hope. We hope the event is an opportunity to bring community members together for a cause that is close to so many of our hearts, and we can make a lasting impact in the fight against cancer.”

Participating restaurants include:

Social Eats (Sunday, June 1, from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.) 
546 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

Dazzo’s Kitchen (Monday, June 2, from 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.)
42 River Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

Autumn Café (Tuesday, June 3, from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
244 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

Toscana Northern Italian Grill (Wednesday, June 4, from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.) 
76 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

Stonewall at the Meredith Inn (Thursday, June 5, from 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) 
4206 Turnpike Road, Delhi, NY 13753

Humphrey’s (Friday, June 6, from 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) 
437 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

B Side Ballroom & Supper Club (Finale Night – Saturday, June 7, from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.)
1 Clinton Plaza Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820

The finale event, which will be hosted by the B Side Ballroom and Supper Club on Saturday, June 7, will feature hors d’ouevres, beer, wine, and spirit tastings from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; remarks from a cancer survivor and Bassett Healthcare Network leadership at 5:30 p.m.; and music by Steel Rail Band at 8 p.m. There is a donation requested of $50 per person.

Improving Cancer Treatment at FoxCare Center

An expanded medical oncology unit at FoxCare Center in Oneonta will increase access and upgrade equipment at one of Bassett’s most needed cancer treatment locations. The project will add exam rooms, increase the number of infusion treatment bays, modernize the cancer pharmacy, and provide a more comfortable, soothing environment for patients, among other improvements.

Making all healthcare services more accessible to the people of Oneonta and fully utilizing A.O. Fox Hospital’s capabilities remain major objectives for Bassett Healthcare Network. Care provided by Fox has increased, with inpatient admissions up 11.5%, inpatient surgeries up 52%, women’s health visits up 15%, pediatrics visits up 10.8%, and dentistry visits up 27.8% in 2024. Physician recruitment efforts have expanded, leading to nearly 40 new providers hired across Bassett’s Oneonta-based practices over the past year. In addition, more specialists are rotating into the area.

“I am committed to the success of A.O. Fox Hospital and FoxCare Center,” says Staci Thompson, MHA, FACMPE, President and CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network and President of A.O. Fox Hospital. “An important part of this includes the expansion of cancer services at FoxCare Center, where 6,388 cancer treatments were administered in 2024 alone.”

Getting Bassett’s Mobile Cancer Coach Back on the Road

Another project included in the Bassett Cancer Institute Initiative will allow Bassett to invest in a new state-of-the-art mobile cancer screening coach. This RV-style medical coach first hit the road over a decade ago, providing diagnostic and preventive services to a significant number of uninsured and underinsured patients who live in remote, rural areas within the eight-county area Bassett Healthcare Network serves.

In 2017, the original vehicle was replaced, but due to the large region the coach covers, mileage adds up quickly, leading to numerous repair costs. The coach is currently off the road due to engine failure and electrical issues. A new coach, equipped with digital screening equipment and clinical exam space, will cost $1.5 million dollars.

“Bassett’s mobile cancer coach is one critical way we can perform outreach and serve economically disadvantaged and underprivileged populations. Early detection saves lives,” says Dr. Alfred Tinger, Chief and Medical Director of Bassett Cancer Institute. “The numbers of patients seeking cancer care at Bassett facilities continues to climb. In 2024, more than 990 patients were diagnosed with cancer at Bassett Cancer Institute. This philanthropic initiative to improve our facilities and expand our services has never been more important.”

Learn How You Can Make a Difference

Learn more about Friends of Bassett’s Plates of Hope week-long restaurant event by visiting bassett.org/PlatesofHope. Learn how you can make a difference and be part of the greater Bassett Cancer Institute Initiative, Moving Cancer Care Forward, at bassett.org/MovingForward.

About Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network
The Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing philanthropic support for Bassett Healthcare Network. The Friends connect caring members of the community with opportunities to make a difference through the power of philanthropy. Community support makes a tangible difference, funding state-of-the-art equipment, new programs and initiatives, and medical education – all to benefit the individuals and families living in Central New York. To learn more about the Friends of Bassett, visit www.friendsofbassett.org, follow the organization on Facebook, or sign up to receive the quarterly e-newsletter.

About Bassett Healthcare Network
Bassett Healthcare Network is an integrated health system that provides care and services to people living in a 5,600 square mile region in upstate New York. The organization includes five corporately affiliated hospitals, over two dozen community-based health centers, more than 20 school-based health centers, two skilled nursing facilities, and other health partners in related fields. To learn more about services available throughout the Bassett Healthcare Network, visit www.bassett.org. Follow Bassett on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. Bassett Healthcare Network is an equal opportunity provider and employer.