Vadasz Family Fund Gives $2 Million Challenge Grant to Hospital

The Capital Campaign for Emergency Care at Sonoma Valley Hospital has received a $2 million challenge grant from the Vadasz Family Fund, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.  The grant will match, dollar for dollar, new gifts to the $11 million campaign, up to $2 million. The $2 million in gifts from the community must be raised by September 2013 in order to receive the grant. 

"Community investment is essential to maintain and improve our healthcare services in the Valley," Les Vadasz stated in a news release. "We hope that our action will encourage others to join us and make this important investment for the future." 

“We are very grateful to Les and Judy Vadasz for this tremendous contribution," said Kelly Mather, hospital CEO. "Their support for the Campaign and their faith in our community hospital are inspiring for all of us at SVH.  We are confident that we will raise the $2 million required to meet the criteria for the Challenge Grant. The response from the community has been tremendous so far.”

Gary Nelson, Campaign Co-Chair, said, “Thanks to the generosity of so many in our community, the campaign has raised over $5 million to date and with the new Vadasz grant we will reach $9M when it is matched. We are thankful to each individual gift as it represents not only their generosity but also their commitment to the future of Sonoma Valley Hospital.”

The Sonoma Valley Hospital Capital Campaign for Emergency Care is raising funds to close the gap between the $35 million general obligation bond (GOB) approved by Sonoma voters in 2008, to meet the State of California seismic standards and the cost of the new construction and equipment. New seismic standards require most California hospitals to retrofit, rebuild or close by 2013. Thanks to the GOB obligation plus $11 million in philanthropic support from the community, Sonoma Valley Hospital will meet this deadline.

Included in the project are a new central utility plant, east/west wing infrastructure upgrades, west wing seismic upgrades, infrastructure for electronic health records, expanded parking, electrical upgrades, and the new wing for a new state-of-the-art Emergency Care Center and Surgery Center.  It is only through the completion of this project that the hospital will be able to continue serving Sonoma well.

According to Harmony Plenty, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation and Campaign Director, the campaign is offering naming opportunities to major donors to the new Marcia and Gary Nelson Family Emergency Care Center and the Surgery Center. These naming opportunities include patient rooms, waiting areas and lobbies as well as entire departments in the hospital.

“Naming areas of the hospital in memory or honor of families, parents or children has proved to be very popular among donors”, said Plenty. “Sonoma Valley Hospital is where we go in time of emergency and for most of our medical care.  It is a point of pride in our community. Naming a piece of SVH is a great way to demonstrate your support for the excellent health care provided close to home.”

For more information about the campaign, contact Harmony Plenty at 707.935.5070 or hplenty@svh.com.