Mission Matters Winter 2021
Meet our Delicious Destinations co-chairs inside
A letter from our president Dear Friends of the Foundation, Over the last few months, when it felt as if we were in the toughest time of the pandemic, we saw our healthcare heroes, patients, donors, and community partners step up in incredible ways to serve our community. We are truly blessed to have supporters like you, who have shared your time, talent, and treasure to be a light for so many during these uniquely difficult times. Looking back on this fall, it’s safe to say our events looked different. We had to adjust for the safety of our community. Fortunately, we were able to have our Mulligans for the Mission Golf Tournament at the beautiful TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course. Your generosity raised $272,000 for Ascension St. Vincent’s Mobile Health Outreach Ministry. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to TPC Sawgrass, HNI Healthcare, HopCo, and our other outstanding sponsors for ensuring this event was a success. I’d invite you to mark your calendars for our 2022 events. Delicious Destinations will take place January 14 & 15, 2022 at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Please join us for a journey through the Spice Route as we encounter a diverse menu of flavorful foods. This year marks an important milestone as we celebrate the Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation’s 20th Annual Delicious Destinations. We will celebrate our 40th Red Rose Ball on February 25, 2022 at The River Club. I hope to see you at our upcoming events to support our Mission. As we move into the holiday season, it’s important to take time to reflect, re-center, and refocus our sights on our Mission. As a Catholic healthcare system, we are called to provide spiritually centered holistic care for all. With your generosity, we are improving the health of our community. Thank you, again, for all you do to support our Mission. Blessings,
Virginia Hall President, Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation
Meet our newest Foundation associates
Mary Anne Thomas
Jen Stockman, M.P.A., CFRE
Hope VanOsdol, J.D., M.S.W.
Director of Foundation Development
Foundation Development Manager
Foundation Development Manager
Joining the team with an extensive background in nonprofit management and fundraising, Mary Anne was the Executive Director of the Ponte Vedra YMCA for 14 years. She also served as the Regional Philanthropy Officer for the American Red Cross.
Jen Stockman is a Miami native and a graduate of both the University of Florida and the University of North Florida. She comes to us with extensive experience in development, child welfare and social services - most recently managing foundation giving for the Wounded Warrior Project.
A native of Indiana, Hope graduated from Xavier University as well as Indiana University. Before joining our team, Hope practiced law in Indianapolis and worked for the Marion County Public Defender Agency.
In her free time, she loves to play tennis, volunteer, and spend time at the beach with her family.
Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and pets as well as volunteering in the community.
She is also passionate about human rights issues and has traveled to Australia and India to participate in human rights advocacy programs.
Events roundup Golfers raise critical funds at Mulligans for the Mission Thank you to all our sponsors and players for participating in the 13th Annual Mulligans for the Mission, presented by HNI Healthcare. We truly enjoyed partnering with TPC Sawgrass to provide a top-of-the-line tournament experience while supporting our local community. Through your support and gracious giving, we raised $272,000 for Ascension St. Vincent’s Mobile Health Outreach Ministry. This program brings our associates beyond the walls of our health system to provide acute and preventative medical care to those who would otherwise have no access to healthcare. Again, we appreciate for your participation and support of this cause. Mark your calendars for next year’s event, which will be held on Oct. 2 & 3, 2022.
Mark your calendars
S AV E THE D AT E
P O N T E V E D R A I N N & C LU B
FEBRUARY 25, 2022 7 P.M.
THE RIVER CLUB
BLACK TIE
CELEBRITY CHEF BY THE SEA LUNCHEON
VIP PREVIEW RECEPTION
DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS
Friday, January 14 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, January 15 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 15 7:00 p.m.
We will continue to keep you updated about all future events via email, social media and our website at GiveStVincents.org.
Delicious Destinations co-chairs discuss why they give back to the Foundation
Dr. Samer Garas and Dr. Nina Garas
Dr. Saumil Oza and Mrs. Neetal S. Oza
Health care is more than a profession for Ascension St. Vincent’s cardiologists Dr. Samer Garas and Dr. Saumil Oza – it’s a passion and a true calling. That’s why the physicians are co-chairing the Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation’s 20th anniversary Delicious Destinations fundraiser in partnership with their wives, Dr. Nina Garas and Mrs. Neetal S. Oza. The couples recently came together at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside’s Delores Barr Weaver Heart Pavilion to discuss why the Foundation’s mission is so meaningful to them as well as how the proceeds from Delicious Destinations will make a significant impact for our community’s underserved and underinsured. Dr. Samer Garas said his family has been involved with Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation since they moved to Jacksonville about 20 years ago. “The Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation provides amazing services to those people that need them and are unable to get medical support otherwise,” he said. “The Foundation’s community outreach programs are extra special because they reach out to people who aren’t even seeking healthcare because they’re either afraid to come and get help or because they don’t have the money.” Dr. Oza echoed these sentiments, adding that the Foundation’s Mobile Health Outreach Ministry specifically reaches across all parts of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. “There are very few medical programs like this that can actually help people get back on their feet, get healthy, and improve their lives,” Dr. Oza said. “Our goal is to intervene as soon as possible for those who are struggling to control medical conditions that could spiral if not treated quickly and managed properly. In fact, we often find that those we serve aren’t aware of serious conditions, such diabetes or high cholesterol, until our team diagnoses them.” Mrs. Oza recalled a time she volunteered for the Medical Mission at Home event that particularly moved her and solidified her commitment to supporting the Foundation and its mission. “I washed the feet of people who were homeless at the outreach event. I washed their feet, cleaned them, talked to them, heard where they lived and how they survived,” she said. “I saw what kind of shoes they were wearing when they walked in – some had holes, others were far too tight. Giving them a clean pair of socks and shoes meant the world to them.” Dr. Nina Garas said this year’s Delicious Destinations will ensure the Foundation receives critical support for outreach programs like these, all while attendees enjoy delectable culinary creations and exquisite wines from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “The theme of this year’s event is the Spice Route, and it’s symbolic of cultural globalization,” she said. “The Spice Route led to the spread of Eastern spices to the Western world, resulting in more flavorful cuisine. Over the past year, people have not been able to travel, so we thought this theme would be a nice way to bring all these cultures, flavors, and foods to our own home.” The couples are all looking forward to hosting the milestone Delicious Destinations, presented by Miller Electric Company, at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club on January 14 & 15. Chef Tom Gray, owner and executive chef of Prati Italia and Town Hall Restaurants, will serve as the celebrity chef for the event. He will be joined by 12 chefs from the region who will present dishes celebrating the “East Meets West” evening. Visit GiveStVincents.org to learn about Delicious Destinations, register for tickets, sponsor the event, or donate to the silent auction.
Mission moments
Ensuring Robert had safe transportation Robert*, a truck driver with a history of Afib, drove his truck to a hospital in Macclenny after having palpitations. He was then transferred to Ascension St. Vincent's for a higher level of care. He expressed concern about not having any local family or friends to transport him back to his truck. When Robert was discharged, our case management team secured transportation with JAX CARE from the Good Samaritan Fund. The patient expressed his gratitude and relief that he was able to be transported safely.
Connecting Jason with life-saving medical technology Jason* was recently admitted to St. Vincent's Clay County for hypertension and confusion. Our associates discovered that he had not only suffered a mild heart attack, but he was also in acute heart failure. Jason needed a follow-up appointment with a cardiologist, but until that appointment, he would need to use a LifeVest, which unfortunately was not covered by his insurance. This specialty vest was vital to Jason's recovery as it is designed to send a shock whenever the heart dips to an irregular rate. The Good Samaritan Fund covered the cost of Jason's LifeVest, ensuring he was protected while waiting to receive a pacemaker.
Providing Elizabeth reliable rides to dialysis Elizabeth* is a patient undergoing dialysis treatment who recently fell and injured her knee. This injury kept her from being able to drive herself to appointments, and although her teens could support her at home, none of them were old enough to drive. When Elizabeth missed one of her dialysis appointments, she became increasingly worried about how to get to her next treatment. That's when our case management associates stepped in to arrange reliable transportation for Elizabeth for her future appointments with support from the Good Samaritan Fund.
Helping Ryan manage a difficult situation Ryan* was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and moved to Jacksonville so that his family could assist him with his treatments. He then developed a blood clot, which required surgery and hospitalization at Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside. His sister flew in from out of town to take care of him and his mother-in-law who had also become ill, but due to unforeseen circumstances, she was unable to pick him up upon his discharge from the hospital. Between the financial strain of his recent move and the unpaid time off work seeking treatment, Ryan was not able to afford a ride home. That's when our associated connected him with the Good Samaritan Fund. The case management team arranged a Lyft ride home for Ryan with the use of these Foundation funds generously donated by our supporters. *Patients’ names changed for privacy.
Thank you to our generous supporters The Emily Balz Smith Foundation recently awarded $15,000 for the Mobile Health Outreach Ministry. This gift provides Mobile Health clinics serving migrant farmworkers and their families in St. Johns County.
The Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics recently awarded a grant to the Mobile Health Outreach Ministry. This grant provides adult dental clinics that serve uninsured patients in need of emergent and on-going dental care.
Our team recently received a gracious donation from Holy Spirit Catholic School. The funds came from Holy Spirit’s “Dress Down Day,” which allows students to wear blue jeans instead of their usual uniforms if they bring in $2 to donate to charity.
Gratitude for our givers Because health is our top priority, Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation decided to postpone our 2021 spring events. As these events are essential in raising funds that help us serve the poor and vulnerable, we asked our donors to shift their event sponsorships to direct support. Through their generosity, we are able to provide free medication, medical care on our Mobile Health Outreach Units and preventative services.
Special thanks to the following sponsors that have made our Mission their Mission:
• Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgical Associates, P.A. • • Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Williams • Morgar Realty, Inc. • Ray Ware Hardware •
Office: 904-308-7306 | Email: TheFoundation@ascension.org 1 Shircliff Way, Jacksonville, FL, 32204 GiveStVincents.org @GiveStVincents
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