In eight years, Health Care Foundation for Ventura County has raised over $10m to enhance vital programs and to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment for Ventura County.
Dateline Ventura County, CA March 22nd, 2023. Health Care Foundation for Ventura County (HCFVC) recently launched its 8th annual drive for WeGive Employee & Retiree Giving for its county employee donation campaign. This annual campaign is an opportunity for county employees to support the most urgent medical needs of their community, with one hundred percent of every donation invested back into the local healthcare system. To date, this campaign has provided over $475,000 in critical medical equipment. HCFVC also runs community and physician giving campaigns and has options for the public to donate specifically to causes that speak to them, such as Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, Addiction Medicine, Disaster Relief and Medical Therapy Unit, etc.
Since 2014, HCFVC has raised $10,830,472 in revenue which does not include in-kind gifts, goodwill, and revenue-producing investments made to strengthen Ventura County Health Care Agency. Other major accomplishments by HCFVC include supporting:
- Ventura County Medical Center, an award-winning Level lll Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the first and only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Ventura County creating a Women’s & Children’s hospital within a hospital.
- Ventura County Medical Center’s Level II Trauma Department, the West County’s designated trauma department, is known for its extraordinary team of skilled surgeons covering neurology, orthopedic, and general surgery cases.
- Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Ventura County Medical Center, which provides comprehensive Pediatric Hematology/Oncology services to detect, diagnose and treat children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders close to home. Along with the full scope of care, the center includes psycho-social-emotional support for patients and their families to keep their spirits up.
- Santa Paula Hospital, a Baby Friendly Hospital, features options for labor and delivery to augment the mother’s journey by providing midwifery, alternative birthing aids, and firsthand experiences.
- The creation of the third Ronald McDonald Family Room in the State of California, at Ventura County Medical Center. Families receiving premier pediatric care for their children’s illnesses can be closer to home, and the Family Room offers a respite space adjacent to their child during their time of need, regardless of their ability to pay.
HCFVC’s success is due to the passionate powerhouses of its founding and current members as well as executive management. In 2014, Ventura County’s healthcare landscape was changing and experiencing tighter reimbursements affecting the care of our county’s most vulnerable population.
County leadership asked local philanthropist and volunteer Amy Towner to create a non-profit organization that would exclusively serve Ventura County Health Care Agency (comprised of hospitals, neighborhood clinics, public health, behavioral health, medical examiner, and emergency medical services) in a unique public-private partnership.
“There should be no barriers to access great healthcare in Ventura County and surrounding environs. The quality of care at Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital is second to none, and our mission must ensure our residents have premiere care, state-of-the-art medical equipment, and support to help keep our community healthy. One of my favorite memories was acquiring the radio-frequency ablation unit that ablates nerves in the spine. Ventura County Medical Center had the doctor, nurses, and space to implement a pain management clinic but was in dire need of the equipment, and WeGive funded with agility.” Said Amy Towner. “Grateful patient, Brett Schultz, gave personal public testimony of gratitude about how a car accident left him with debilitating back pain requiring pain medication to go to work so he could support his family, which resulted in dependence on opioids. Falling into despair, Brett contemplated ending his life until Brett’s pain was reduced by 75% and his pain medication reduced by 50% after one treatment at Ventura County Medical Center. One strategic philanthropic investment contributes to making Ventura County a great place to work, live and play.”
The initial challenge was assembling co-founders who had historical belief in and dedication to the mission of Ventura County Health Care Agency. Towner was able to assemble a “Who’s Who” list for her inaugural Board of Directors.
The first co-founding board member was Dr. Stuart Siegel, recently retired from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), who practiced as a pediatric oncologist and was the founder of Children Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at both Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and at Ventura County Medical Center. Dr. Siegel traveled to Ventura County monthly for almost 40 years to help treat Ventura County children with cancer.
The second co-founding board member was Harold Edwards, current CEO of Limoneira in Santa Paula and son of the late Dr. Samuel Edwards, who was Chief Medical Officer for Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital. Harold is a global businessperson who was raised with a passion for quality health care.
The third co-founding board member was retired County Counsel Noel Klebaum, who developed corporate documents that allowed the Ventura County health care system to be served by donations from the charitable organization. Noel has always been a man of integrity and philanthropy who has a heart for the mission of the Ventura County Health Care Agency which runs as an enterprise system that is primarily self-sustaining through its own contributions.
Each additional board member since has come with stellar qualifications and a determined passion for furthering the mission of the Health Care Foundation of Ventura County.
