April 2021
Caring Community Update
April 2021
April 18 – 24 was National Volunteer Week, and a perfect opportunity to recognize the incredible impact that volunteers have on our community. We are incredibly grateful to our Foundation Board of Governors and all of our committee members, who are volunteers, giving of their time and talents to help improve the health of everyone in the Salinas Valley and surrounding communities.
We know that many of you spend your own time volunteering in our community, and we extend our appreciation to you as well!
Fundraising
The Salinas Valley Health Foundation is in the planning stages for the upcoming “Help Us Grow” (HUG) Employee Giving Campaign kick-off event. This annual campaign encourages employees of Salinas Valley Health to give back by donating through payroll deduction to support established Foundation funds like the Healthy Kids Fund, which provides medical needs grants to children and families for equipment and services, the Greatest Needs Fund, which makes an impact where it is needed most, and other worthwhile funds. The refreshed and expanded campaign will be rolling out to all employees starting next month!
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Gamers across the Central Coast have begun registering for Extra Life with
one mission in mind: to play games and heal kids! Extra Life is a program
of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals that leverages the passion
of the gaming community to join forces and fundraise for their local Children’s
Miracle Network Hospital. Currently, the Central Coast gaming community
has raised over $6,000 to fund critical pediatric services and equipment
for Salinas Valley Health Medical Center. Gamers and supporters are welcomed
to register for Extra Life at
www.extra-life.org and join us for national game day on November 6th. The Salinas Valley Health Foundation will be cheering on our Extra Life
United gamers this weekend as they compete against other hospitals in
a variety of tournaments and a prize pool of $250,000. We invite you to
join our Extra Life Facebook Group by scanning this QR code using your
phone’s camera.
We are excited to kick off our Costco Warehouse campaign this May where guests can round up their change or donate at the register to help support their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The campaign will run from May 1st through May 31st. This year local businesses will have the opportunity to purchase a $500 Jumbo Balloon where they can display their business name or family name during the month of May in their local Costco Warehouse. To participate in the Jumbo Balloon Program visit the membership services associate at your local warehouse.
Our community partner Bay Federal Credit Union will also be kicking off their May Balloon Icon Campaign at all 7 Bay Federal branch locations along the Central Coast. We are thankful to our friends at Bay Federal for their constant commitment to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program over the years and their commitment to children’s health. Thank you Bay Federal Credit Union!
Announcements
If you haven’t had the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19, it is not too late. Everyone 16 and over is now eligible to receive a vaccine, and the Salinas Valley Health Clinics is vaccinating up to 1000 people per day in their streamlined clinic. You can register through www.myturn.ca.gov and if you need assistance in the registration process, Salinas Valley Health Clinics staff is here to help. You can call 831-771-3885 for help registering for your first or second vaccine dose.
Salinas Valley Health Clinics has vaccinated more than 35,000 people so far, with that number growing every day. If you haven’t done so, please consider signing up and helping the efforts toward CommUNITY ImmUNITY.
| Foundation Board of Governors | Foundation Staff | |
| Carla Spencer, MSN, RN, NEA-BC | Jeff Wardwell | |
| Chair | Chief Philanthropy Officer | |
| Monica Tovar | Melissa Gross | |
| Vice-Chair of Development | Director of Strategic Development | |
| Mark Faylor | Sheri Dawes | |
| Vice-Chair of Governance | Development Services Manager | |
| Mitch Secondo | Amanda da Graca | |
| Treasurer | Individual Giving Manager | |
| Barbara Balentine | Andrea Cisneros | |
| Secretary | CMN Hospitals Program Coordinator | |
| Arlene Dedini | Jaime Shipman | |
| Linda Grier | Administrative Assistant | |
| Clint Hoffman | ||
| Michael McMillan | ||
| Susan Merrill | ||
| Misty Navarro, MD | ||
| Bill Norman | ||
| Carrie Taylor | ||
| Rachel McCarthy Beck, MD |