A Note from Amy Towner, CEO…
On behalf of Health Care Foundation for Ventura County, it is our pleasure to welcome you to our inaugural newsletter! We are thrilled to share this platform and introduce you to the mission of the Foundation and the stories of hope and heroism by the medical professionals we proudly support. Established in 2014, Health Care Foundation for Ventura County, Inc. (HCFVC) is a public benefit nonprofit corporation dedicated to strengthening, enhancing and augmenting the capacity of Ventura County Health Care Agency (VCHCA) to provide high quality care for all, regardless of ability to pay. Through a robust system consisting of two hospitals (Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital), 46 ambulatory care clinics, behavioral health, public health, medical examiner and emergency medical services, this public health and hospital safety net system provides comprehensive, cost-effective and compassionate health care for our diverse community, especially those facing barriers, through an exceptional workforce, education and forward-thinking leadership.Although the past several years presented many challenges, we are inspired by the resilience and generosity of our community as you came alongside HCFVC to support our health care professionals with donations making possible life-saving medical equipment, timely technological advances, quality training and cost-effective practices to address urgent needs and wrap-around services that benefit everyone.
Ventura County’s strength is palpable, and we know how much people care. This provides us the commitment to promote a healthier county by building a culture of philanthropy. From amazing employees and retirees to generous community members and like-minded organizations, we unite around the common goal of growing the award-winning hospitals and ambulatory care clinics that we rely on to continually improve service lines covering every aspect of health care as the primary safety net provider in our area that cares for all citizens, regardless of ability to pay.
There are many front-line heroes and grateful patients, including county retirees, who rely on our county health care system and who understand firsthand the goals and values of HCFVC. Our hope is that this newsletter will deepen our shared purpose of making Ventura County the healthiest county in the nation and help you get better acquainted with HCFVC’s accomplishments and the amazing system we proudly support. We also look forward to providing you with timely articles and access to resources you will find helpful to planning forward with philanthropic investment strategies that may benefit you and your family. This month’s featured stories fittingly demonstrate personal connections to HCFVC and VCHCA. Please enjoy the Donor Spotlight on Noel & Pam Klebaum, Current Events of WeGive Employee Giving, our Featured Impact Program HOPE (Health Occupations Pipeline Education), and Board Highlight on Stuart Siegel, MD.
In Philanthropic Spirit,
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT:NOEL AND PAM KLEBAUM WeGive Retiree Donation through Pension Plan Deduction
When invited to help form a new foundation that exclusively supported VCMC, SPH and a large network of health care clinics under the umbrella of VCHCA, Noel Klebaum, a retired attorney formerly with the County Counsel’s Office, eagerly accepted the leadership opportunity. Noel went on to serve for two terms as co-founder and board member for HCFVC. He and his wife, Pam, now find it personally gratifying to not only give through recurring deductions from Noel’s pension plan, but also to donate their valuable time enhancing the lives of others. Click here to read more…
Want to join Noel and Pam as WeGive Retirees by making a one-time or recurring pension plan deduction? Click here!
Current Events: TOUCHDOWN! WeGive Employee Giving Golden Football Challenge Crushes Goal
HCFVC serves HCA with the “WeGive” employee giving program, which engages over 8,000 Ventura County employees, where 100% of their dollars are invested back into vital medical equipment and programs in HCA that provides care to over 95% of County employees and their families. We launched our annual WeGive campaign in February and are thrilled by the enthusiastic response from our county employees as they endeavor to support major initiatives that not only impact their health outcomes, but those of individuals and families throughout the county. This year HCFVC hosted a Golden Football Challenge to create healthy competition countywide among co-workers, while building a culture of philanthropy. Congratulations to teams with the greatest participation securing the coveted Golden Football to proudly display at their offices: County Clerk Recorder, Library and County Executive Office. A special shout out to ambassador coaches who rallied their teams including Simone Seydoux and Michelle Ascension, Linda Garcia and Nancy Schram, and Maggie Hahn and Dr. Sevet Johnson! To learn more about how you can participate and bring your team/department to the finish line, click here!
PROGRAM IMPACT STORY
Each summer, HOPE (Health Occupations Pipeline Education) admits 30-40 local high school and junior college students interested in pursuing a career in health care into an intensive program designed to expose them to a broad range of professional pathways, while creating a pipeline of future medical and ancillary workers in Ventura County.
HOPE was inspired and continues to be led by Cheryl Lambing, MD, FAAF, in partnership with HCFVC, to address a widening gap between healthcare job openings and students considering health care as a viable career option.When approached by Dr. Lambing, HCFVC decided to sponsor the program with the goal of helping students gain competencies in three key areas: Motivation, Knowledge and Skills development. HOPE encourages students to develop personal skills that will serve them throughout their careers through accountability of high marks in attendance, professional appearance and demeanor. Other relevant areas such as patient empathy, health outcomes, costs, provider experience and equity are also covered during the six-week course. Finally, personal resiliency, health and overall wellness are emphasized. We are inspired and grateful to Dr. Lambing and her colleagues for their foresight and commitment to the profession and the youth of Ventura County.
Since its inception, many students have successfully completed degrees and professional certifications which aid in supplementing our system that has been stretched beyond capacity due to the COVID pandemic and a workforce that has chosen retirement in record numbers.We love sharing personal testimonies as graduates sing HOPE’s praises: “Being able to shadow doctors and interact with their daily routines gave me an understanding of what life was like being involved in health care. I was able to observe surgeries what I had never heard of before, see patients of all sorts, and learn from some of the most genuine doctors that have true passion for what they do. This program only confirmed my lifelong dream to go into medicine and become a doctor.” Kaitlyn Wallace, Summer Scholar graduate, University of Colorado
Interested in learning more or possibly qualifying for an upcoming summer program?Click here or call (805) 652-6228 to speak to a representative.
BOARD HIGHLIGHT
Stuart E. Siegel, MD, Retired Pediatric Oncologist,
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Board Chair, HCFVC
