5 minute read
Maximizing Community Impact
Angela Y. Fu wears many hats — as a real estate developer and investor; mother; first generation immigrant; philanthropist; and more. In all aspects, Angela is driven by her desire to help those in need. This is exemplified by her long-standing support of community-based organizations, including Huntington Hospital. “I choose to support Huntington because it’s a hospital you can trust,” Angela says. “It also makes a real difference in the lives of its patients.”
Most recently, Angela chose to support our work by investing in the creation of our new surgery center. This important construction project involves outfitting our surgery suites with state-of-the-art technology and future-ready infrastructure. Improvements will help enhance health outcomes, serve even more patients and further improve the patient care experience. Deciding to invest in our surgery project stemmed in part from Angela’s personal understanding of the need for high-quality surgical care: Her late mother had several surgeries later in life. “Surgery is often time-sensitive,” Angela says, “and it can be the turning point in your health care journey.” She was also inspired by the tour she received of our new surgical facilities. “Huntington’s robotic surgery equipment is particularly impressive,” Angela says. “Advanced surgical equipment helps to save lives.”
Grateful for quality care.
Angela first began giving to Huntington in 2007, starting with a gift to help expand our Nan and Howard Schow Emergency & Trauma Center. She notes she has been a patient in our Emergency & Trauma Center a couple of times and remarked on the quality of care she received. “Everyone in the emergency department was so efficient and professional,” Angela says. “I will forever appreciate the care I received.”
While pregnant with her oldest son Christopher, Angela also turned to us for help when she developed a dangerously high fever. Physicians soon discovered that the infection she contracted could prove fatal to her unborn child, so Angela underwent an emergency cesarean section. After a successful delivery, Christopher was cared for in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for two weeks. “I was scared and worried as a first-time mom,” Angela says, “but everyone in the NICU was so kind, and the nurses were extremely attentive and comforting.” Today, Christopher is healthy, all grown up and married. “To this day, I credit Huntington with saving his life,” she says.
Establishing a legacy of giving.
After immigrating from Taiwan to the U.S., Angela earned her MBA from California Lutheran University and quickly rose through the ranks as an escrow agent. She subsequently earned her real estate license and went on to pursue a successful career in real estate development and investment. Today, Angela is mostly retired and participates in a myriad of hobbies, including wine tasting and singing.
Angela supports health care, education, cultural and community programming as a way to give back for her success. “This community built me up,” Angela says, “so I am always looking for new projects and organizations to support.” She serves on the board of directors of Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital in Taiwan. In 2017, she founded Wish of Angel’s Missions, a charitable foundation dedicated to helping individuals lead fulfilling lives. Her foundation enables her to budget for and fund charitable projects — including her recent gift to our surgery construction project. “To serve people is in my blood and in my heart,” says Angela.
In the near future, Angela plans to devote all of her time to Wish of Angel’s Missions. She is also preparing her family and friends to continue her legacy. Christopher and her youngest son Matthew already serve on the board of the foundation. Additionally, she often encourages her friends to give back and introduces them to the organizations she supports, including Huntington. “I want everyone to know that I trust Huntington Hospital,” Angela says. “It’s important for me to do my part and contribute to its work.”
Advancing surgical care.
Over the last two years, we have been engaged in an ambitious project to build out our surgical center to include future-ready infrastructure. Thanks to the support of generous community philanthropists like Angela Fu, we recently completed work on seven brand-new and eight existing surgical suites.
All suites have been intentionally designed to provide leading-edge treatment across various specialties and are fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology — including the latest generation robotic surgery equipment. These enhancements are already having a meaningful impact on the lives of patients in need of life-changing or life-saving surgical care. In 2022, we were able to perform more than 10,400 surgeries in our enhanced surgery center.
In a future phase of the project, we will also be updating additional surgical facilities, including our post-anesthesia recovery unit, patient preparation area, waiting room and related administrative space.
Transformational giving.
To honor and thank our most generous supporters, Huntington Hospital established our Benefactor Circle program. Donors contributing gifts of $250,000 or more join this program and help provide the highest level of support for ongoing needs and other transformative work here.
Benefactor Circle donors receive a Benefactor Card to facilitate additional patient support services on campus and in our Nan and Howard Schow Emergency & Trauma Center. They also enjoy special recognition on our campus.
For more information about our Benefactor Circle, please contact Cathi Chadwell, executive director of philanthropy and public affairs, at (626) 397-3241.
