Marin General Hospital Foundation 2012 Annual Fundraising Gala Caps
GREENBRAE, CA — Marin General Hospital Foundation's ( annual Spring Gala drew more than 50 sponsors. "'Feria de Espana", held May 12th at Sausalito's Marinship Park, "topped all expectations," said Jon Friedenberg, President of the Marin General Hospital Foundation, "We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from our community of patients, physicians and employees."
Proceeds will benefit Marin General Hospital's Trauma Center and Emergency Department (ED).
The crowd of 450 was greeted at the entry to the reception tent by staff members of the ED and walked past live horses at the entry toward a fountain in the shape of a larger-than-life horse. Guests were surrounded by screens showing video footage of the Spanish Feria celebration (provided by 32Ten Studios.) Following the reception they moved to the dining tent, which had been transformed by fabric walls bathed in light and streamers that created the feel of a medieval festival. A flamenco performance set the mood for a Spanish-themed dinner prepared by Taste Catering.
Highlights of the program, emceed by Phillip Percy Williams, formerly of Beach Blanket Babylon, included an award presented to legendary donor and supporter Mary Barbara Schultz by Dr. Jim Dietz, chief of the hospital's ED and Dr. Edward Alfrey, Medical Director, Trauma Services. They expressed the hospital's gratitude for her longtime support, as well as the Schultz family's donation two years ago of $2.89 million to jumpstart the extensive ED upgrades that will streamline and improve patient flow in the ED. (Construction began last May.)
Three grateful beneficiaries of Marin General Hospital's ED team were featured in a video presented at the event. Novato resident Mark Samii and his wife Lily arrived at the ED after he received a nasty head injury from a fall against a rock wall. After driving to another hospital, he was sent by ambulance to Marin's only designated trauma center, located at Marin General Hospital. He credited the emergency trauma care with helping him achieve a full recovery. San Anselmo resident Don Lazzarini told of enjoying a sunny golf outing and suddenly being gripped by chest pain and pressure. Friends put him in an ambulance that was met at the ED door by a cardiology team. They raced him to the catheterization lab and saved his life.
The third testimonial came from the parents of Gunnar Sandberg, a Marin Catholic High School baseball pitcher who was struck in the side of the head in 2010 by a 100-mph ball. Sandberg's injuries required neurosurgery to relieve pressure on his brain, followed by three months in a medically-induced coma before beginning his miraculous recovery. His father, Bjorn Sandberg, spoke movingly of the quality of care and the importance of having a local trauma center. "We owe everything to Marin General," he said.
Following the program, guests danced to the music of the Dick Bright Orchestra.
"Feria de Espana" was chaired by Foundation Board member Susan Gilardi. The top sponsor was The Haynes Family Foundation (Mrs. Reta Haynes), followed by Bon Air Center and Barbara McCullough. Among the dozens of corporate sponsors were Anesthesiology Consultants of Marin, Inc., Cardiovascular Associates of Marin and San Francisco Medical Group, Inc., CEP America, California Advance Imaging, Gilardi & Co. LLC, Marin-Sonoma IPA, Mollie Stone's, Marin Specialty Care, Union Bank, Moss-Adams LLP, Wareham Development, Alambic Investment Management LLP, City National Bank, Bank of Marin, Minto & Wilkie and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Other individual contributors included Bruce F. Braden, Jeff & Judi Kirshbaum, The Schultz Foundation, Marie Boylan & Jeff Freedman, Linda Hothem and Dr. Pino Esposito, Mrs. A. Hartwell Jewell, Andrew L. Pansini Trust, and Julie Simon Munro.
A full list of sponsors is available at www.maringeneral.org/foundation.
For more information call the Marin General Hospital Foundation, 1-415-925-7770, or e-mail Joann Rossi, rossij@maringeneral.org.
