A Note from Amy Towner, CEO…
As we step into a new year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your steadfast
support of Health Care Foundation for Ventura County (HCFVC) and its impactful mission. As we continue our journey filled with new possibilities and aspirations, I am excited to share some of the updates and initiatives that will shape our path in 2024.
Our second annual Golden Football Challenge successfully kicked off in February. This ignited the spirit of competition and philanthropy across Ventura County. The enthusiasm and engagement from our county departments reflect a collective dedication to addressing critical healthcare needs to fortify our local healthcare system.
Deputy District Attorney Heather Sweatman shares her heartfelt and challenging childbirth story at VCMC, in a moving grateful patient story. Despite facing initial hurdles, Heather’s successful delivery of her baby, supported by Dr. Watabe and VCMC nurses, highlights the hospital’s dedication to personalized care and its pursuit of excellence.
We are pleased to spotlight the inspiring impact of Reach Out and Read Ventura County (RORVC), a program that HCFVC proudly supports. RORVC enhances early literacy, strengthens the parent-child bond, and promotes positive healthcare interactions.
Denise Bean-White, HCFVC Board Member and the Founder and President of Consortium Media enriches the HCFVC board with her exceptional wealth of experience and expertise. Denise’s remarkable track record of impactful collaboration between non-profits and media corporations is a tremendous asset to our board. Her story highlights the transformative and unique impact individuals bring to HCFVC.
As we navigate these new horizons into 2024, your compassionate support is invaluable. Together, let’s shape a healthier and more vibrant Ventura County community!
In Philanthropic Spirit,
HCFVC Spring Updates: HCFVC’s 2024 WeGive
Golden Football Challenge Breaks Records!
The thrill of competition filled the air as the second annual WeGive Golden Football Challenge kicked off on February 6th at the Board of Supervisors meeting! The WeGive Employee Giving initiative remains a crucial avenue for Ventura County employees to stand alongside their local healthcare system. This initiative fosters meaningful contributions to address the most pressing needs of our shared community.
To ignite a sense of competition for the Golden Football Challenge, Ventura County Departments were broken down by employee census and divided into three divisions: big, medium, and small. The winners were determined by the highest percentage of participation per division!
The Golden Football Challenge concluded on March 30th with record-breaking participation! Congratulations to the 1st place winners: Ventura Superior Court, Ventura County Library, and the Board of Supervisors for their exceptional performance and contribution! If you’re a Ventura County employee looking to positively impact your community beyond the Golden Football Challenge, click here to learn how to make a post-game play!
If you’re not a Ventura County employee and unable to participate in the WeGive Golden Football Challenge, HCFVC offers other WeGive Giving Initiatives like WeGive Retirees. Additionally, please stay tuned for the upcoming launch of WeGive Community. Join the culture of philanthropy today!
A Heartfelt Grateful Patient Story:
Heather’s Childbirth Experience at VCMC
While often portrayed as a joyous occasion, childbirth can be filled with unexpected challenges for many mothers. This underscores the importance of selecting the right doctor and hospital, ensuring expectant mothers receive personalized care and support tailored to their unique needs and circumstances. In October of 2022, Deputy District Attorney, Heather Sweatman, faced a challenging childbirth at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC). Her baby was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction, complicating her pregnancy. At 39 weeks, Heather went to VCMC for a planned induction. However, after 2 days without progress, Heather decided to return home to rest.After a 24-hour break at home, Heather returned to VCMC to resume her induction process. Despite another 48 hours passing without significant progress, Dr. Watabe, Heather’s doctor, proposed one final induction attempt before considering a cesarean section. With the assistance of Dr. Watabe and the VCMC nurses, Heather successfully delivered her baby within an hour. Reflecting on her experience after pregnancy, Heather expressed, “Despite feeling scared, exhausted, and in pain, it was still manageable, largely because of the dedication of the staff and nurses who went above and beyond to ensure a more comfortable experience.”
Heather’s story stands as a testament to the high standard of care upheld by the dedicated medical professionals at VCMC, made possible through the compassionate generosity of our community. Reflecting on the challenges of childbirth, Dr. Watabe stated, “Whether someone has a low-risk pregnancy and desires a team to support her in a low intervention birth or if the pregnancy takes an unexpected turn and requires specialists and subspecialists to provide the highest level of care, we pride ourselves in being able to provide that personalized care in a way that is as seamless as possible.” Health Care Foundation for Ventura County deeply appreciates Heather’s positive outcome and her generosity in sharing her inspiring story. Heather’s story emphasizes the crucial importance of choosing a medical professional and hospital that caters to the individual needs of every patient.We invite our community to experience the exceptional care provided at Ventura County Medical Center. HCFVC offers tours for those interested in witnessing the personalized approach and dedication of our medical professionals, made possible through the compassionate donors in our community!
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Program Impact Story: Reach Out and Read Ventura County: Transforming Primary Care Exam Rooms into Reading Sanctuaries
HCFVC is pleased to support the Reach Out and Read program at Las Islas Clinic and Academic Family Medicine Center, the first two early literacy initiatives in HCA’s ambulatory care clinics. Reach Out and Read Ventura County (RORVC) is on a mission to transform primary care exam rooms into literary-rich environments. The program does this by encouraging parents to read aloud to their children while providing free, age-appropriate books in both English and Spanish to their young patients. By fostering a culture of shared reading experiences, RORVC aims to enhance early literacy, strengthen the parent-child bond, and promote positive healthcare interactions, ultimately preparing children for success in school and life.Board Highlight:
Denise Bean White, President, and Founder of Consortium Media
HCFVC board member Denise Bean-White, is the President and Founder of Consortium Media, a brand development company located in Ventura County and the Bay Area. With over 35 years of expertise spanning newspaper, radio, network television, and cultural DEI work, her brand strategy offers a unique perspective that provides the in-depth creation of messaging and brand personalities that build and communicate effectively in government, corporate, and nonprofit fields.
The philosophy Denise infuses in Consortium Media is to do well in the world by doing impactful work, and Denise’s passion to spark change inspired her to develop a deepened focus on social change. Denise has sewn the fabric of Consumption Media’s culture to be woven with a deep commitment to helping non-profits and youth, bringing light and information to the public about social issues. She donates countless professional service hours to raise awareness for causes that speak to her heart, with a specialty in linking charities and corporations together for cultural brand alignment programs that build capacity and success for all.
Denise Bean-White’s CM+ company garnered in 2023: two Gold Herme’s international creative awards, an Addy for media integration strategy, and she was named CEO of the Year from the San Fernando Business Journal Woman’s Council for 2023. Her wealth of experience, commitment to social change, and track record of impactful collaboration between non-profits and corporations make us incredibly fortunate to have her on our HCFVC board!
