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$2 Million – We Did It!
Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation is happy to announce that it has successfully completed the $2 million fund drive first announced last summer. The funds were raised for purchase of a new CT scanner for the hospital and for advanced equipment for cancer treatment.
“This is by far the largest amount the Foundation has raised within such a short time, and we’re extremely thankful to everyone who helped make that possible,” says Jim Tidgewell, president of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “This is further evidence of how much the Foundation has matured as an organization and how deep community support for the hospital is.”
Over half the funds were given by local foundations, including a $400,000 grant from the Napa Valley Vintners Association’s 1999 Wine Auction; a $600,000 grant over two years from the Peter and Vernice Gasser Foundation; $40,000 from the William Gilmore Foundation; and $25,000 from Community Projects, Inc.
Gifts from individuals were also important. Some were large, such as the $25,000 donation from Hack and Stella Wilson. “We are great admirers of the Queen,” Hack explains. “We believe in the hospital, totally. We were glad to have an opportunity to show our appreciation for the good work the hospital does.”
Hundreds of other local people came through with smaller gifts, but those donations of $25, $50, and $100 added up to a substantial portion of the total raised.
For example, Eleanor Peterson of Napa frequently donates in honor of her mother and father, Percy and Agatha DeVita, and her brother, Francis DeVita. “They were all taken care of at the Queen, and I’ve been a patient there, too,” Eleanor says. “I’m glad to be able to help.”
Petite Abruzzini of St. Helena, another regular donor, says, “I just like Queen of the Valley. We go there and we want to support it, because we feel it’s a good hospital.”
Delores and John Bailey of Napa say their donations are a form of enlightened self-interest. “Of course we support the hospital any way we can,” Delores says. “Why? Because it’s our hospital! And the more support it gets, the better the hospital can be — and we want it to be the best hospital around.”
