Bill Gold, Phil Karsh and Eddie Robinson Receive National Jewish Health President’s Award

Together, the three men have contributed 142 years of volunteer leadership to the organization

National Jewish Health recognized prominent Denver businessmen Bill Gold, Phil Karsh and Eddie Robinson on July 23, 2014, for more than 142 years of combined service they have contributed to National Jewish Health as directors of the institution. They each received the National Jewish Health President’s Award. Recipients of the President’s Award are prominent leaders in the national business and philanthropic communities who work to further the mission and vision of National Jewish Health.

“These three men have been titans in the Denver community for decades,” said Rich Schierburg, chair, Board of Directors, National Jewish Health. “They oversaw the creation of the world’s largest asthma treatment program through a merger with the National Asthma Center in 1978 and in recent years, have helped guide the growth of the institution as we expanded our clinical and research enterprises.”
“As heath care has evolved, they have helped to ensure that the institution was flexible and able to thrive in a changing world while staying true to our mission to heal, to discover and to educate,” said Dr. Michael Salem, MD, president and CEO of National Jewish Health. “We appreciate and admire the dedication and selflessness that each of these gentlemen have contributed to our organization over these many years.”

Bill Gold joined the Board of Directors in 1974. Over the years, he has served on numerous committees, including Administrative Policy, Audit, Executive, Investment, Strategic Planning and the Development Board. The Clinic Work-up Rooms in the Smith Building bearing the Gold family name are a testament to the generosity of the Gold family over the years. Beyond his service to National Jewish Health, Gold has been a visionary and leader in the children’s apparel industry and in the Jewish community for decades. He has been recognized for his work on issues impacting academic achievement.

Phil Karsh has given more than 51 years of service to the boards of National Jewish Health and the National Asthma Center. From 1991 to 1995, he was chair of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Development Board, and the Executive, Executive Compensation, Finance and Strategic Planning committees. During those years, the institution received national recognition for its research and clinical programs. In 1999, Karsh served as Chair of the National Jewish Health Centennial Celebration and was instrumental in its success. He had an incredible 40-year career in advertising – founding and leading the Denver-based firm of Karsh & Hagan. Karsh’s philanthropic leadership has extended to numerous organizations in the Denver community.

Eddie Robinson joined the National Jewish Health board through the merger with the National Asthma Center. He has given a combined 51 years of service to these organizations. He was Chair of the Board of Directors from 1986 to 1990, and oversaw the opening of the Cohen Clinic, which greatly expanded the institution’s focus on outpatient care. Robinson has been a member of the Development Board, as well as the Executive, Finance, Government Relations, Nominations and Strategic Planning committees. The Robinson family has a long legacy of support of National Jewish Health, starting with Eddie Robinson’s grandfather’s service on the National Asthma Center board, and his father’s role as a National Trustee for National Jewish Health for more than 40 years. Robinson and his brother also led their family business, Robinson Dairy. Eddie Robinson has been recognized throughout the Denver community for his many civic contributions.