MCH Foundation Celebrated its Donors at the Annual Summit Circle Donor Appreciation Dinner

Gloria & Alan Wolen

Lake Arrowhead, July 6, 2022 –

On Thursday, June 30th, MCH Foundation hosted their Annual Summit Circle Donor Appreciation Dinner at SkyPark at Santa’s Village. Nearly 150 people gathered at the woodsy wonderland to hear the latest news from the hospital and learn about how their donations have made an impact. Peter Venturini, Foundation Board President, welcomed attendees. “This dinner is our opportunity to thank you, our Summit Circle Members, for your donations. Your generous support keeps our hospital thriving and growing.” He also thanked Bill and Michelle Johnson for providing the great venue, and Little Bear Valley Blues for the music.

2019 was the last time the Summit Circle Dinner was held, and since that time, the Foundation raised over $1MM and was able to help purchase the following items:

  • 3D mammography machine
  • Surgery cameras
  • Video laryngoscope for intubations
  • Patient lift and air mattresses for our Skilled Nursing Facility
  • Bladder scanner and a medication and supply dispensing system for our Emergency Department

“Our donors understand the importance of having a hospital in our community and help make it a reality, and we can’t thank them enough,” says Kim McGuire, Director of Community Development. Kim went on to thank the Bloye Family for their $400,000 donation for the central registration project. “I’m excited to tell you that this project is finally underway! We’re in the demolition phase. Once complete, we will have a comfortable waiting area for patients coming for non-emergent services and a dedicated registration area with privacy. It also means no more waiting in line in the ER to register for things like blood work or diagnostic tests. We hope to be using this new area by the fall.”

Kim also talked about recent grants such as:

  • $100,000 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to help with the central registration project.
  • Small grant to explore the feasibility of having a rural medical residency program in partnership with a medical school in order to help us attract and retain physicians.
  • $100,000 to help address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine uptake in our community.
  • Yvonne Waggener, CFO, recently acquired a $200,000 grant to replace our old carpeting with new flooring to improve infection control and make the hospital look more attractive.
  • Julie Davis, Emergency Department Manager, got a $120,000 grant to help with behavioral health services.

Peter & Jeannie Venturini

Kim also highlighted the work of the MCH Auxiliary. The Auxiliary is a volunteer corp of about 60 people who help in our departments and raise money for the hospital. They also run the hospital’s gift shop. “Despite the gift shop being closed for two years and most of their events canceled, they were still able to give a $25,000 donation last year. They also continued to do things like make Easter baskets for our kids, hold bake sales and candy sales during holidays,  give scholarships to support staff furthering their education, and even set up a pop-up gift shop in Crestline – all to raise money and make our lives a little easier and we are so grateful for them,” said McGuire. “We are working hard to get them back into the hospital and hope to have their new gift shop up and running by the end of the year.”

In addition to the central registration project, gift shop and new flooring, Kim briefly touched on a few of the other upcoming projects:

  • Wrapping up the remodel of the Med/Surg nurses station and installing a new HVAC system.
  • Building out new office space to make departments like insurance eligibility more accessible for patients.
  • Relocate the pharmacy by moving it into office space contiguous to the cafeteria’s dining area. This move is necessary to meet standards set by the CA Board of Pharmacy and other regulatory boards.
  • Gathering quotes to remodel the Rural Health Clinic in Lake Arrowhead.
  • Obtaining a minor use permit to be able to start work on the campus with projects such as:
    • A new parking structure
    • The Willerth Education Center will be built on top of the parking structure so there will be a dedicated space to provide continuing education to staff with mock patient rooms. The Willerth Education Center will also offer health and wellness classes to the community.
    • Plans to expand our Skilled Nursing Facility.
    • Build a new med/surg wing.

Dr. Van Martin

MCH is still holding COVID vaccine clinics. “We’ve served thousands and thousands of people through our clinics and our Rural Health Clinic did an amazing job of making it so painless and convenient. We are still holding clinics on Friday afternoons in the George M. Medak Conference Room on the 2nd floor of the Medical Office Building. We’re also preparing to offer vaccine for little kids ages 6 months to 5 years old. More information on that will be coming out soon.”

In closing remarks, Peter Venturini expressed his perspective of the role of the hospital’s Foundation, “With most endeavors there are visions, which turn into plans, which in turn become reality. The Foundation and you, its donors, are the enablers. You make the visions and plans of the hospital become a reality. We sincerely appreciate your support.”

Donors who give a total annual gift of $500 or more will be recognized as members of the Summit Circle and will receive an invitation to the annual Summit Circle Donor Appreciation Event – a can’t-miss event and if you’re a part-time resident or new to the mountain, it’s a great way to meet people in the community. To join, or for more information, please visit www.mchcares.com/foundation/join-summit-circle/.

If now is not the right time for a gift, there are many options available to those who wish to include MCH Foundation in their long-range planning, such as a bequest in your will. If you have any questions, please contact Kim McGuire at (909) 436-3263 or email Kimberly.mcguire@mchcares.com.