Foundation Gala celebrates recent accomplishments
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| Fresno police officer Brian Nieto, who was taken to University Medical Center after being shot in the line of duty, and police chief Jerry Dyer were two of the Community supporters who spoke at the Foundation Gala. |
The event is held annually to honor the donor-investors, clinicians and staff for all their generous contributions to Community’s facilities, programs and services.
“This is the first Gala where we celebrate the new home of the Table Mountain Rancheria Trauma Center and its successful move to the downtown campus,” said Rob Saroyan, Foundation vice president, fund development. “Their $10 million gift in 2003 made so many things possible and we recognize their generosity in all that they do.”
Table Mountain Rancheria was honored through a short video where the nationally recognized trauma team talked about the importance of a having a trauma center for the Valley. Fresno police officer Brian Nieto, who was shot in the line of duty in July 2006, gave a personal testament about his life being saved because of the trauma center and its staff.
“If I’d been taken anywhere else, I don’t think I would’ve made it,” he said.
Another video tribute honored longtime benefactor Pete P. Peters. For the first time in decades of philanthropic support, the Leon S. Peters and Pete P. Peters foundations joined equally for a gift of $3 million in support of Clovis Community Medical Center’s maternal child services.
The new center at Clovis Community was named the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Future Generations Center.
“It will allow us to enhance our facilities, equipment, and most importantly, care…” said Clovis Community chief executive Craig Castro. “This gracious gift is vital to major expansion plans that are currently under way at Clovis Community."
And the finale of the night came with the announcement of Terry’s House, a hotel-like facility to be built on the corner of Fresno and R streets that will house family members of patients who need to be close to their loved ones. A video gave the audience a tour of where the facility will be located and visual renderings of the house.
Terry’s House was named in honor of donor-investor Tom Richards’ brother, Terry, who was injured in a car accident years ago. Back then, Richards’ mom had to drive 80 miles each way to the hospital while he recovered over five months. Today, knowing the meaning of having family close during difficult times, Richards is spearheading the drive to build Terry’s House.
“We have so many good things to report this year – from enhancing to expanding,” Saroyan said. “The Gala allows us to pause for a moment to reflect on our friends who have been so generous and done so much for those who pass through our doors.”
This story was reported by Mary Lisa Russell. She can be reached at mrussell@communitymedical.org.