NYC Health + Hospitals Celebrates the Harlem Hall Of Fame Induction of Henry J. Carter, CEO of Wheelchair Charities and Namesake of NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
Hank Carter has donated nearly $40 million to NYC Health + Hospitals in equipment and programs for patients and residents with disabilities
Oct 19, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals today celebrated the induction of Wheelchair Charities Inc. CEO and long-time benefactor Henry “Hank” J. Carter into the Harlem Hall of Fame. The event was organized by the Advisory Board of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Memorial Community Center and hosted by Spectrum News Anchor Cheryl Wills. This year’s honorees also included Dance Theatre of Harlem founder and renowned choreographer Arthur Mitchell, recognized posthumously.
For over 50 years, Hank Carter has directed his philanthropy to improving the quality of life for thousands of individuals living with disabilities through his non-profit organization Wheelchair Charities Inc. In 1974, he held a charity basketball game that raised $5,000 and marked the beginning of Wheelchair Charities. Its Basketball Classic became the staple fundraising event that led to a $400,000 initial investment in electric wheelchairs, computers, and other medical equipment for the patients in Goldwater Specialty Hospital’s Young Adult Ward. By 1990, he organized the first all-pro basketball fundraising game at Madison Square Garden.
“I was truly blessed by God. I had good friends and good people around me. I thank the many people who helped me over the past 53 years and continue to support and donate to help the people in wheelchairs live happier and productive lives,” said Wheelchair Charities CEO & Harlem Hall of Fame Inductee Henry (Hank) J. Carter. “When my friend, Al ‘Tjader’ Fogle, was shot in July 19, 1972, I did not know I would be doing this 53 years later. This is what God wanted me to do.”
“I had the honor to participate in Mr. Carter’s induction into the Harlem Hall of Fame. His philanthropic work makes the induction well deserved,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter CEO Floyd R. Long, LNHA, MBA. “He has enabled patients and residents of Health + Hospitals to live their lives with optimal independence. It has been a blessing to have Mr. Carter as a mentor and friend.”
“Mr. Carter’s generosity has made a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of Coler residents. Through his charity’s provision of custom motorized wheelchairs and a variety of other devices and resources, he has enhanced their independence, mobility, and quality of life. We are deeply grateful for his compassion and continued commitment to our residents,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler CEO Nataliya Yakovleva, LNHA, LMSW.
Carter has donated nearly $40 million to NYC Health + Hospitals in equipment and programs for patients and residents with disabilities. This includes thousands of manual and motorized wheelchairs, specially equipped buses, pressure sensitivity beds, therapeutic equipment, and more than 1,000 state-of-the-art computers that feature voice recognition, zoom-text, and a pointer device to facilitate use by quadriplegic individuals. The donated equipment are among the most technologically sophisticated available and can be operated by the movement of a patient’s eye.
In 2004, the NYC Health + Hospitals Board of Directors voted unanimously to rename Coler-Goldwater’s Department of Rehabilitative Medicine the Henry “Hank” Carter Rehabilitation Center. In 2013, the Henry J. Carter Nursing Facility & Specialty Hospital opened — becoming the first time a living person received this honor in the health system’s history.
“Henry J. Carter has led the epitome of a Hall of Fame life, always giving back to others, constantly making a difference and doing the next right thing in all instances. He deserves this enshrinement and his name upon buildings, but the thing he cares about most is the thousands of people he has empowered,” said State Senator and Committee on Aging Chair Cordell Cleare.
“Henry ‘Hank’ Carter is a true Harlem treasure whose life reminds us that greatness is measured not by what we achieve for ourselves, but by what we do for others. For more than five decades, Hank has turned compassion into action, restoring dignity, independence, and hope to countless individuals living with disabilities. His generosity has changed lives, strengthened families, and left a lasting mark on our community. It was an honor to celebrate Hank’s induction into the Harlem Hall of Fame and recognize a man who has dedicated so much of his life to lifting others up. Hank, your kindness, generosity, and unwavering commitment to serving others are an inspiration to us all. This honor is well deserved,” said New York State Assemblymember Al Taylor, 71st Assembly District.
Carter was born in Tampa, Florida, but he spent most of his life in Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City. After graduating from Long Island City High School in 1961, he attended Baruch College in 1965 to study accounting. Drafted into the Army in April 1966, he served in Vietnam, achieved the rank of Sergeant, and received several military honors. By the end of his military service, Hank was voted the best boxer in the Army as well as the Most Valuable Player in Army basketball.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Rafael Dominguez, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care, 646-694-4910
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
The Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility at 1752 Park Avenue and 122nd Street in Manhattan features 365 beds for two distinct types of healthcare services: long-term acute care and skilled nursing care. Accredited by The Joint Commission, Carter’s 201-bed Specialty Hospital is the only Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) in New York, and serves medically complex patients, many of whom require ventilator support. Carter’s 164-bed Skilled Nursing Facility serves residents whose medical needs require management and care that cannot be provided at home. The facility features technologically advanced support equipment and highly qualified on-site staff that are available 24/7. Carter is ranked #4 in Newsweek’s Best Nursing Homes in New York 2026 and received high-performance ratings in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care from U.S. News and World Report’s Best Nursing Homes 2026. To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter or to schedule an appointment/tour, please call (646) 686-0000 or visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/carter.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Henry J. Carter & Wheelchair Charities Inc.
Henry J. “Hank” Carter grew up in the Queensbridge Projects, Long Island City, New York. He was educated in the public school system and attended Baruch College. Mr. Carter served in Vietnam, and was awarded the Army’s Good Conduct Medal, a Bronze Star, and other military honors. Upon his return to New York, he began a successful career in the banking industry. Over 40 years ago, Carter visited a friend at Elmhurst Hospital who had been paralyzed by a gun violence; he was later transferred to Coler-Goldwater Hospital on Roosevelt Island. He was touched by the special needs of the patients and residents there, and inspired by their perseverance in the face of extraordinary challenges. To help alleviate suffering and provide independence and hope, Mr. Carter created Wheelchair Charities, Inc.