$2 Million Dollar Drive
Pushes Ahead

Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation’s ambitious drive to raise $2 million for much-needed new equipment for the hospital is now better than three-quarters of the way toward completion. Through both grants from local philanthropies and large gifts from numerous individuals, the community is demonstrating that it wants to make sure the hospital has the most effective cancer-fighting and diagnostic tools.

“The people of the Napa Valley know the Queen is an outstanding hospital,” says Foundation Chief Development Officer Richard Green, “and they’re willing to give generously to keep it that way.”

The fundraising drive focuses on three new technologies that will be of immediate benefit to numerous local residents. About a third of the $2 million total is earmarked for improved cancer treatment through purchase of a prostate brachytherapy device and a multileaf collimator. (For more about how these high-tech tools will help the Queen’s Community Cancer Center provide state-of-the-art care, see page 9.)

The remainder will go for purchase of a new computerized tomography (CT) scanner, an essential diagnostic tool used both for victims of auto accidents and other traumas and to guide treatment of patients with cancers, heart disease, and many other ailments. The new CT scanner will not only replace the hospital’s aging equipment, but will give doctors more detailed information more quickly.

In addition to large grants from the Gasser Foundation, the Napa Valley Vintners Association, and the Gilmore Foundation, the fund drive has received over $200,000 in gifts from individuals, including many gifts of $10,000 and over.

For example, Lino and Marjorie Bartolucci made a donation of $25,000. “I had a bad tractor accident ten years ago,” says Lino, a grape farmer. “The hospital took care of me so well, and when we made a little money we decided we should give them some.”

“Both of us are healthy now and we have to thank God for many things,” adds Marjorie. “We wanted to give the hospital something, and it was our pleasure to be able to.”

The Foundation’s trustees have also given generously. Bill Dodd and his wife, Mary, donated $10,000. “I want to have the best in medical technology right here in Napa,” Bill says, “so that if someone gets sick we can take care of them here locally, instead of sending them miles and miles away. That’s important to me, to my family, and to everyone in our community.”

Bill and June Maus made a donation of $13,443. “We gave 100 shares of American Express stock,” explains Bill, another member of the Foundation Board. “There were some tax advantages, which never hurts. It was also just something we wanted to do, because the hospital’s doing a wonderful job.”

A gift of $10,000 came from First American Title Company of Napa. “For the last two years the real estate market here has been very strong,” says First American’s president, Andrea Schrader, who’s also a Foundation trustee. “If you live and work in a community, it’s important to share the good times, and this was a good opportunity to share.”

Martha Kongsgaard’s gift of $10,431 was made for very personal reasons. Although Martha now lives in Seattle, her family has deep roots in Napa and has supported the Queen since it was founded. But her mother’s emergency cardiac surgery at the hospital was one key reason Martha made her donation. “Queen of the Valley saved my mother’s life,” Martha says. “The idea that this kind of heart surgery is available in the Napa Valley is just mind-boggling, and I’m glad to be able to help.”

And how’s her mother doing? “She’s never been better,” Martha answers happily. “In fact, she just got home from Paris last night.”