What is the history of philanthropy at your hospitals?
Our decades of offering compassionate, quality care are based on generosity and expertise of extraordinary people.
Saddleback Memorial began when the residents of Leisure World, envisioning a world-class hospital in South Orange County, raised $500,000; and developer Ross Cortese donated nine acres. It opened in 1974 and was the first community health facility serving the growing Saddleback Valley. Philanthropy helped build Meiklejohn Critical Care Pavilion with a gift from the late philanthropists Louise and Bill Meiklejohn, the largest in Saddleback Memorial Foundation history. A current $50 million plan further expands facility needs and technological capabilities. The gifts to Saddleback Memorial-San Clemente helped support heart programs and technology. Orange Coast Memorial Foundation supported development of the new six-story Patient Care Pavilion that provides access to some of the most respected physicians, advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities for cancer, surgery, obesity and imaging services at Orange Coast Memorial, the only not-for-profit hospital in the region.
MemorialCare Health System also does its share to help our communities. In fiscal year 2009, our medical centers provided $158 million in charity care and community benefits. We support local charities like March of Dimes, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Habitat for Humanity and the American Heart Association.
How can employers help?
Philanthropy is an effective tool for companies trying to meet consumers’ rising expectations for the role businesses should play in society, says a McKinsey survey. Employers and their work force can help ensure high-quality health care through many philanthropic channels — individual gifts, corporate grants, in-kind gifts, payroll deductions, major gifts, estate and planned gifts, endowments, tributes, corporate giving, fund-raising events, sponsorships and more. As businesses continue to be impacted by the economy, many are supplementing their charitable giving with longer-term pledges and gift commitments. No matter the size of a gift, we are deeply indebted to those who choose a life of significance through generous philanthropic commitments and trust their philanthropy to us.
Cecilia Belew is president, Saddleback Memorial Foundation at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente. Paul Stimson is director, Orange Coast Memorial Foundation at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley. The not-for-profit MemorialCare Health System includes Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente. For additional information on excellence in health care, please visit memorialcare.org.
