| Article |
Oct. 25, 2001
Oakland Tribune
Medical Center Fund Drive Nears Goal
A fund-raising effort to provide up-to-date equipment for a new five-story trauma unit in Alameda County Medical Center's Highland campus in Oakland is doing well, with $4 million of $5 million raised so far. .
The Alameda County Medical Center Foundation, the nonprofit entity of the medical center, launched the campaign in March of 1999 to raise money for the unit, which is scheduled to open by the middle of next year, said Cherlyn Spencer, executive director of the foundation. "We are now instituting the community phase of our fund-raising efforts to get the bussinesses, faith-based organizations, clubs and the general community involved," said Spencer. ŚWe're hoping to raise at least $400,000 from the community." .
The foundation has partnered with the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and has proposed that they support a discount booklet that can be used as part of a 50,000-piece direct mail campaign, said Spencer. There are also plans for a community fund-raising event in the Oak Tree restaurant in Jack London Square in December, and the continuation of what the foundation has dubbed "Have-A-Heart" parties, where people invite 10 friends to their home to hear a presentation on the need for donations. .
So far, major grants awarded to the foundation include a $225,000 contribution for Kaiser Permanente Group to furnish and equip the pediatrics unit, $1 million from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation of Oakland to buy a CT scan, $295,000 from the California Endowment Foundation to furnish and equip the primary care unit and $125,000 from the Alameda Alliance for Health to furnish the adult HIV/AIDS program. .
In addition, hospital staff and board members, along with foundation board members have donated $600,000. .
"We still need funds to furnish and equip an OB/GYN urgent care unit costing about $1 million. And we need funds for other specialty clinics," said Spencer, who recently returned from Detroit, where she went to request a $6000,000 grant from the Kresge Foundation. .
Highland Hospital operates as the primary trauma unit for Northern Alameda County, serving approximately 1,800 patients a year, according to the chief of trauma services, Dr. Caesar Ursic. .
"Once the new trauma facility is up and running we'll be a larger, more complete, more modern facility," said Ursic, who attributes delays in patient care to old equipment. .
"Highland will have the largest trauma unit in the Bay Area and will be equipped and prepared to deal with the trauma with those who suffer from serious car accidents to mass casualty situations such as the Oakland hills fire Loma Prieta earthquake," he said. .
Spencer said that since the attacks of Sept. 11, "people are more on the willingness to give," although she doesn't make any direct connections between those events and her foundation's achievements and securing funds for the trauma facility.
"Some people are participating in philanthropy for the first time and those first time donors may be inclined to give to another cause," Spencer said.