A Note from Amy Towner, CEO…
As we approach the mid-point of 2024, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your steadfast support of Health Care Foundation for Ventura County (HCFVC) and its vital mission. I am excited to share some updates and inspiring stories that are shaping our path this year!
In May, Lions Clubs International Foundation and Lions District 4-A3 donated a combined total of $200,000 to establish the Ventura County Lions Clubs Diabetes Care Collaborative. This program will improve diabetes outcomes in Ventura County, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
On May 1st, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, under the leadership of District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, contributed a generous $10,000 donation from asset forfeiture to support the Addiction Medicine Inpatient Withdrawal Program.
On June 28th, the Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency Barry Zimmerman retired after 28 years of dedicated service to the Ventura County Government. To honor Barry’s leadership and commitment, HCFVC and VCHCA are donating an engraved brick to be placed in the Healing Garden at Ventura County Medical Center.
Additionally, we invite you to explore a touching story from Certified Child Life Specialist Caitlyn Morton and learn about long-time HCFVC Board Member, Sim Tang-Paradis.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2024, we anticipate the upcoming launch of WeGive Community Giving Initiative! This initiative presents our community with a meaningful opportunity to invest in strengthening Ventura County Health Care Agency’s capacity to provide quality compassionate health care for all!
Thank you for inspiring and supporting HCFVC in shaping a healthier and more philanthropic Ventura County community!
Lions Club International Foundation Provide
Ventura County Lions Clubs Diabetes Care Collaborative
Health Care Foundation for Ventura County (HCFVC) is pleased to announce Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has generously awarded a $100,000 matching grant to Lions District 4-A3, which raised $100,000 locally. This combined total of $200,000 will support the Ventura County Lions Clubs Diabetes Care Collaborative. HCFVC is proud to partner with Lions District 4-A3 to improve diabetes outcomes in the community, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
LCIF adopted diabetes as one of eight global causes worldwide to combat the significant rise in Type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Care Collaborative will address this issue regionally by equipping selected federally qualified health centers in Ventura County with advanced diagnostic vision tools. These tools will help diagnose, manage, and treat diabetic patients, aiming to prevent and mitigate potential complications.
Each year, up to 34,000 diabetic patients and many more pre-diabetic patients within Ventura County Health Care Agency’s (VCHCA) public health and hospital system will directly benefit from the newly acquired equipment. The enhanced quality of care will ensure these patients receive annual diabetic screenings and at least two A1C checks per year.
Barry Zimmerman, Director of VCHCA, remarked “Through support from people in our community and LCIF, we ensure that everyone, especially vulnerable populations in Ventura County, has access to the necessary resources to manage and prevent diabetes. Together, we are working to foster a healthier community and improve the quality of life for all. Thank you, Lions Clubs, for your commitment to diabetes care and health equity.”
HCFVC extends a heartfelt thanks to LCIF and Lions District 4-A3 for their generosity and dedication in supporting large-scale diabetes awareness, prevention, and management initiatives across the nation.
HCFVC Summer Updates:
Ventura County’s Philanthropic Partnership Empowers Addiction Recovery
of District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, contributed a generous $10,000 donation from asset forfeiture to support Health Care Foundation for Ventura County (HCFVC). This contribution supports Addiction Medicine Inpatient Withdrawal Program (AMIWP) at Ventura County Medical Center. Under the medical leadership of Dr. Tipu Kahn, AMIWP is the only program of its kind in Ventura County and saves lives by providing safe and specialized inpatient withdrawal treatment for addiction diseases. This collaboration between the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and HCFVC exemplifies the power of Ventura County partnerships in creating impactful philanthropic change in our community!Thank you, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, for your commitment to anti-drug efforts and fostering a healthier and more connected Ventura County!
by providing addiction recovery services to those in need.
Health Care Hero Spotlight: VCMC’s Certified Child Life Specialist
Caitlyn Morton Brings Comfort to Pediatric Patients
Recently, a premature baby born at VCMC required an extended stay for several additional months, posing a significant challenge for the baby’s young siblings. Certified Child Life Specialist* Caitlyn Morton recognized the need to support these siblings by helping them understand the timeline for their newborn sibling to return home, offering guidance to navigate the situation through the “bear doll”. Caitlyn and Nurse Irais Mora collaborated to create a teaching aid featuring a stuffed animal equipped with feeding tubes, leads, and IV lines, which would all be gradually removed at different milestones, symbolizing the progress toward their baby sibling’s eventual homecoming. Further, at the end of this medical journey, the young siblings brought their “bear doll” home, as a reminder of their resilience and bravery during a challenging time.
*A Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) is a healthcare professional who provides children and their loving families with additional support and resources to help process the often stressful situation of illness or hospitalization. Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) is proud to feature Caitlyn Morton, as Ventura County’s only CCLS. Caitlyn described her position, saying, “My role involves fostering a positive and supportive environment through play-based interventions, education on coping skills, and conducting developmental assessments.”Clinically trained in understanding the developmental impact of illness and injury, Caitlyn brings a specialized skill set and unique perspective, ensuring high-quality care and comfort for pediatric patients and their loved ones.
Click Here to support Child Life Specialists at VCMC, ensuring essential care for pediatric patients and their families during challenging times.
Barry Zimmerman:
Celebrating 28 Years of Dedicated Service to Ventura County
Barry Zimmerman, Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency (HCA), has dedicated 28 years to serving the Ventura County government. He began his career as a financial manager in Workforce Development, later becoming Director of the Human Services Agency, and assuming his current role as Director of HCA in 2021. Reflecting on his leadership at HCA, Barry stated, “It has been an honor to lead the Ventura County Health Care Agency and collaborate with such dedicated and compassionate professionals. Together, we have made strides to improve the health and well-being of our community,
HCFVC Board Highlight: Sim Tang-Paradis Sr. Vice President &
Group Branch Manager at City National Bank Westlake Village
HCFVC Board Member Sim Tang-Paradis is the Vice President and Branch Manager of the Westlake Village office of City National Bank. Sim was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. From 1975 to 1979, the Khmer Rouge, a radical movement, ruled Cambodia after seizing power through a guerrilla war. In 1975, the brutal regime forced city residents into the countryside, sending “undesirables” to re-education camps where they endured nearly four years of hard labor and indoctrination. In October 1979, Sim, her parents, and her four siblings fled the war-ravaged country and sought refuge in the United States. This was after enduring four years of inhumane treatment and constant starvation, during which her parents tragically lost four of their nine children.
After starting a new life in Thousand Oaks, Sim began a banking career at First Interstate Bank in Westlake Village as a Regional Occupational Program student and steadily worked her way up. Before joining City National Bank, Sim served as Vice President and SBA Business Development Officer at California Oaks State Bank in Thousand Oaks. In 2018, Sim became a valued board member of Health Care Foundation for Ventura County. She is also an active community member, dedicating her time to volunteering with various nonprofit and community organizations throughout Ventura County and Southern California.
Sim is deeply committed to HCFVC’s mission of enhancing Ventura County Health Care Agency’s (HCA) ability to deliver quality healthcare to all, especially to those in marginalized communities, regardless of their ability to pay. She values HCFVC’s efforts in strengthening the economic vitality of Ventura County’s health and hospital safety net system. Additionally, stemming from her lived experience as an interpreter for her mother, Sim holds a profound passion for language interpretation and language access. This aligns with HCFVC’s strides for a Language Access Program, dedicated to providing comprehensive language assistance and ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all. HCFVC extends its heartfelt gratitude to Sim Tang-Paradis for her invaluable and long-standing contributions to HCFVC.
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