Firmly
ROOTED
MERCY MEDICAL CENTER MERCED FOUNDATION
Spring 2015
All in the Family
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Family Birth Center is an ideal place for bringing new life into the world
The Macha Family is grateful for the care they received at Mercy’s Family Birth Center.
In Merced, we are so fortunate to have a beautiful, well-equipped space that is staffed by caring professionals at Mercy’s Family Birth Center. When Eddie and Christina Macha were blessed in 2010 with news of a newborn joining them, they were thrilled. Macha and his family were also excited to choose the Family Birth Center for their families’ delivery destination. Both were eager to have Dr. Paul Tsai as their obstetrician, not only because he is a wonderful doctor, but also because he was the doctor who delivered Christina! Christina’s pregnancy was “perfectly normal.” However, during labor, Eddie sensed that something wasn’t quite right. The Macha’s baby was over ten pounds and became stuck during delivery-- an emergency situation known as shoulder dysplasia. While Macha never sensed panic in the room, a ‘Code D’ was announced throughout the unit, and teams appeared instantly. “It was like they appeared through the walls,” recounts Macha. “They were working fast and laser-focused.” When the baby was born, she was not breathing and didn’t have a heartbeat. Immediately, the infant was moved to the mobile Valley Children’s Unit setup in the room, and successfully resuscitated. “Without that staff, their expert training, and the in-house proximity of the Valley Children’s Hospital Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we would have had a very different outcome,” Macha shared with obvious emotion in his voice. It was parents Eddie and Christina who would hold their breath for the next few days, searching for indications of further signs of distress from their newborn daughter, Ashlan. The family did not have to be transported to another facility to receive the care they needed, but instead were able to take advantage of a hotel stay program at Mercy. “Hotel stays” are available for families in distress if there is availability at the facility. This program enabled Christina to recover
from her traumatic birthing experience, to nurse their baby daughter, and to remain in close contact with the staff that was caring so lovingly for their daughter. Sweet Ashlan is now four years old and thriving. “Dr. Tsai and Ashlan’s pediatrician, Dr. Tan, knew our situation well and visited us often during our stay,” says Christina Macha. “It was a blessing to have Ashlan at Mercy.” “Our lives were touched in a powerful way,” says Macha. “We will always support the mission of the dedicated staff throughout Mercy Medical Center.” Eddie Macha is now a Board Member for the Mercy Foundation, and the Macha family will welcome their second child at the Family Birth Center this summer. At the Family Birth Center, the staff acknowledges what a privilege it is to be part of a family’s birth experience, and they revel in the joys and challenges of each unique experience. “Every single birth is a miracle,” according to Clinical Educator Dawn Butler, RN. Butler has been delivering babies in Merced for 33 years, and says she sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to each newborn. She says that each birth has its own challenges, but singing to them seems to bring everyone in the room back to the joy of the moment. Her passion for maternal and infant care is shared by the close-knit staff. “We have a fabulous team of doctors and nurses who are close and deliver excellent care,” says Rebecca Cates, RN, Director of the Family Birth Center. “You get a great environment when you have good communication among the staff and good support from the administration.” When the new Mercy Medical Center facility was built in Merced, what is commonly referred to as a ‘maternity ward’ was purposefully named the FAMILY Birth Center. The focus was to be on family-centered care -- not just about the babies or just about the moms. In name and in spirit, growing strong families from the start is their ultimate goal. (continued on page 2)
Family Birth Center Tour You will be shown where you need to go to register, as well as each room you will be in during the different stages of your stay in the Family Birth Center. Second Tuesday of every month 6:00pm Tours in English and Spanish Mercy Medical Pavilion, Third Floor, Classrooms C & D Labor of Love A 4 week program that prepares the expectant parents for the end stages of pregnancy, the childbirth process, and breathing and relaxation techniques. The class will also cover postpartum and newborn care. Wednesdays from 6:00pm – 9:00pm in English First Saturday 9:00am – 3:00pm in Spanish Mercy Medical Pavilion, 3rd Floor, Classroom C Pre-registration is required - $10.00 fee Lactating with Love This program will cover the basics on breastfeeding. In addition, the class offers mothers the support they need with this new experience. Call the Education Department at 209.564.4384 for information on dates and times. Mercy Medical Pavilion, 3rd Floor, Classroom C Pre-registration is required but there is no fee. For more information or to sign up for any of these classes, please call Mercy Education Center 209.564.4384 Other services available: • Deliveries by Obstetricians & Family Practitioners • Labor and pain management with excellent anesthesiologists • Same floor operating rooms dedicated to Cesarian Births • Lactation Educators • On site WIC representative • Level II (NICU) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit located on the same floor, operated by Valley Children’s Hospital For more information on our Maternity Services, please call 209.564.5200
All in the Family From page 1
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Classes and Services Available through Mercy’s Family Birth Center
Patient, Tomasa Andrade-Garcia, watches as Family Birth Center nurses adjust her daughter, Alexis, on the Bili Blanket. The beautiful and spacious patient rooms have large windows, private bathrooms with showers, gliders, and loungers to accommodate sleeping visitors. Soothing decor is complemented by the most advanced technology. Bili Blankets and the award-winning Panda Warmers are specialized equipment that enable babies to receive extra postpartum care bedside, in proximity to their parents. Everyone who works at the Family Birth Center is invested in providing the most rewarding birthing experience. Many have worked together ten years or more. Doctors and nurses communicate well and often in the 33 bed floor, according to Butler. “The first thing I want to discover about a potential new employee is whether moms and babies are their passion,” says Cates in an emphatic tone. “It’s important for our team that this is where their heart is.” The Family Birth Center puts a premium on education, both for its staff and for the families it serves. New parents are encouraged to take advantage of comprehensive childbirth preparation classes, called Labor of Love, to help them become familiar with what they might experience during labor, postpartum, and with newborn care. Education for parents about breastfeeding begins before the babies come too. Carol Madruga, RN, teaches the childbirth classes at Mercy Medical Center and has been a certified childbirth educator for 25 of her 29 years working at Mercy. “We know that ‘breast is best’ when it comes to growing healthy babies, and that the education component is so important for confidence and a successful result,” says Madruga. Staff are constantly learning more about best practices themselves as care providers.
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Donations to the Mercy Foundation’s Heritage Club enabled the staff to purchase the “gold standard” of continuing education modules: the Perinatal Orientation and Education Program (PEOP). Training and continuity of care can be somewhat intangible to the community outside of the medical center -- until a patient finds themselves in a crisis situation. Last year, two couples in the Merced Community were expecting triplets. Triplet births are very rare and put the expectant moms in the high-risk category. According to Butler, fourteen staff members drilled for weeks to prepare for all of the possible contingencies involved with a triplet birth. SIM Mom and SIM NewB, the life-like manikins purchased by the Foundation for the Family Birth Center in 2014, create realistic simulations for the most effective training opportunity. “When we have an emergency, we respond smoothly as a team,” says Butler. “With consistent standards you get the same action, no matter what shift or combination of staff members are present.” There are times of intense activity, and then there are times when no amount of training can prevent parents from leaving the hospital with empty arms. Cates credits the kindness of the community of caregivers in Merced for the incredible evolution of perinatal services that they are now able to provide. Hinds Hospice coordinates their Angel Babies program, which helps ease the pain and transition for a grieving family. The Family Birth Center’s perinatal services have been recognized by a hospital accrediting association as a best practices program. “I’ve gotten calls from as far as Texas from hospitals wanting to use our center as a model for caring for families who have lost little ones,” says Director Cates. The Family Birth Center staff are all highly-trained to be sensitive, skilled, and synchronized caregivers. Each of the professionals who contributed to this article independently shared the same sentiment, “We are blessed to do this work.” Every birth has a beautiful story. The Mercy Foundation is proud to support such a wonderful place to have your baby; with well-trained professionals and a facility designed to the needs of families. Let your story unfold at the Family Birth Center, where you can benefit from services you’d expect at a large hospital in an intimate family-focused environment.
“La Vie en Rose” Benefit Gala
Adding Another Dimension to Breast Cancer Prevention “La Vie en Rose”, which in French translates to ‘life in pink’, will be the theme for the Mercy Foundation’s gala event on Saturday, September 26th, 2015. The event will benefit the purchase of a 3D mammography machine that will provide leading technology for early detection of breast cancer. “Three-dimensional (3D) tomographic imaging is a new and very promising advancement in the quest for early breast cancer detection,” according to Medical Director of Medical Imaging Services and Chairman of the Radiology Department Mark Wagner, DO. “The addition of a tomosynthesis unit to our department will greatly enhance our ability to serve the female patient population in terms of their breast health care.” With 3D tomographic imaging, the confusion inherent with overlapping tissue is reduced. Breast tissue can be viewed in slices, similar to computed tomography (commonly referred to as a CT or CAT scan). The Hologic 3D Mammography system produces a 3D mammogram in addition to a conventional 2D mammogram. The Hologic 3D Mammography procedure allows a physician to see small masses, multiple or hidden masses, and distortions associated with cancers much more clearly in the 3D pictures. Calcification fields, which may be precancerous indications, are more easily interpreted in the conventional 2D image. Having both 3D and 2D images provides more comprehensive views and allows a physician to compare changes from previous 2D examinations. Anthony Cordeiro, Director of Imaging at Mercy Medical Center,
cites a compelling list of reasons why this major gift acquisition will benefit the community: -- 41% increase in efficiency for detecting cancers over conventional mammography -- 40% reduction in “callbacks” for false positives -- significant reduction in unnecessary biopsies Lead mammography technologist Robin Reese recognizes that patients generally don’t like to come in for their initial screenings, and become very fearful if they are called back to the office for a second evaluation. “Sometimes people are crying when they walk through the door,” adds Reese. “Having more information will reduce callbacks and anxiety for every patient we screen.” Doctors and scientists agree that early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. If found in its earliest stages, the chances of surviving breast cancer are much greater. “Our goal is to provide quality care locally, on par with what you would otherwise have to travel out of town for,” says Cordeiro. “This technology will make Mercy an even more desirable destination for patients and physicians alike.” The 2015 “La Vie en Rose” gala will be the event of the season for those who want to help make the new 3D mammography available in the Mercy Medical Center community. The event will be blacktie, and the Merced Community College IAC Amphitheatre will be transformed into the streets of Paris. “We’re really excited to bring this cutting edge level of service, but we really need support to make it happen,” says Foundation Board Chair, Carla Kelley. The cost to bring the new 3D mammography to Mercy Medical Center is $400,000. The Mercy Foundation would love for you to join us for this elegant soirée for a worthwhile cause to bring additional advanced medical technology to our community. Please contact the Foundation office to learn more about different sponsorship levels that are available at 209.564.4200.
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2015 Spirit of Philanthropy Awards
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Mercy who are so dedicated,” says Reese. “They are just a bunch of hard-workers and many have employee contributions deducted from their paychecks each period. Being part of this community is a privilege.” The Community Champion Award recognizes an individual that demonstrates selflessness and dedication to the community through generous donations of time, talent, and treasure toward furthering the Mercy Foundation’s mission. This award also recognizes someone who is dedicated to improving patient care in Merced and its surrounding communities. Rose Eager was honored for her family’s generous and expansive presence in the community. When Rose (an RN) and her husband Dr. Earl Eager, an orthopedic surgeon, arrived in Merced in 1957, Dr. Eager was one of the first specialists in a town of general practitioners.
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The Mercy Foundation is so proud to honor exceptional members of our community each year, who exemplify the spirit of giving with their annual Spirit of Philanthropy Awards. Administrators, Foundation Board Members, and other philanthropyminded individuals affiliated with Mercy Medical Center Merced gathered for a special reception on the Donald J. Stewart Family Garden Café Patio on May 1st to celebrate the honors. “These awards really celebrate those who elevate the level of health care in our community with time and financial support,” said Mercy Medical Center President, Chuck Kassis. The Merced community consists of caring people who take action in the present to build and maintain quality health care for the future. Local individuals, professionals, and organizations work passionately and contribute generously toward this common goal. “These awards are not only about the significant financial contributions made, but also the culmination of time, talent, treasure, and commitment made in the spirit of giving back to the community,” says Board Member and Chair of the Spirit of Philanthropy Awards Committee, Michelle Symes-Thiara. “It’s always a great gathering of people who make a difference.” Six individual awards were presented to the 2015 Spirit of Philanthropy Award winners. The Inspiration Award for Philanthropy is presented to an individual or family who has improved the quality of life in our community by demonstrating exceptional civic responsibility through financial support, innovation, and ethical leadership on behalf of Mercy Medical Center. This year’s recipient, Marilyn Reese, joked that the Foundation must not have anyone else to nominate-- but she knows better than that! “Marilyn has been on the short list for this award multiple times, but she’s usually so involved-including being involved with the awards committee-- that we couldn’t have her vote for herself! This year she was unable to attend the actual nominating meeting, so we were able to select her,” says Symes-Thiara. Reese was a bank lending officer for 25 years before she began her second career as a professional volunteer at Mercy. Her husband, Foundation Board Member and Robert, was head of the Pharmacy this year’s Community Inspiration Department for many years and Award winner, Marilyn Reese. spent a lot of time at the medical center. Reese chose to become involved at Mercy to work near him and because she knew so many people there already. “I’ve called Mercy my home away from home for many years,” Reese said with a laugh. Her time as volunteer includes being an active member and Past President of the Volunteers of Mercy, as well as currently serving her second nine-year term as a Board Member for the Mercy Foundation. She has also been active with the Merced Chamber of Commerce and California Women in Agriculture. The Reese family has donated to the Mercy Foundation every year since 1985. Reese has two grown sons, four grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, which makes her a professional grandmother as well as a professional volunteer. “What I think really means a lot to me is working next to people at
This year’s Community Champion award winner, Rose Eager (bottom left) with her beautiful children. “Dr. Eager was one of the original members of the Mercy Foundation back in the 1980s,” according to family friend, Doug Fluetsch. “He was a pioneering physician who deeply understood the importance of giving back. Mrs. Eager has certainly followed through on that legacy.” The Eagers raised a tight-knit family with nine children, the majority of whom are involved in medical communities as professionals themselves. They were instrumental in constructing the beautifullycarved Tree of Life donor wall at Mercy Medical Center Outpatient Center, and have an operating suite named for them. Rose Eager is a respected artist in Merced and continues to support many events and campaigns with the Foundation between visits with her 32 grandchildren. She donates to Mercy Medical Center because she’s witnessed the evolution of health care in Merced and supports it whole heartedly. “Fortunately I’m healthy and don’t have to go visit very often,” says Eager. “But it really is wonderful that we have so many services available here in Merced.” The Partner in Excellence Award is presented to the business or organization that exhibits a philanthropic philosophy, which includes providing financial support and volunteer assistance to Mercy Medical Center. The American Legion Riders, affiliated with the Merced American Legion Post 83, were honored with this award. The membership enthusiastically stepped in to sponsor a motorcycle “Ride for the Cure” to benefit the Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center last year. Member Donna Silveira created and coordinated the ride for a number of years before combining forces with the American Legion Riders.
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“He is very cheerful when he walks into the office and cares a lot about his employees and patients,” says medical biller, Lisa Chavez. His financial support for the Foundation and the extra administrative roles he’s assumed also demonstrate Dr. Roy’s dedication to the Merced community. He was a Physician Cabinet Member during the Capital Campaign for the new Medical Center, and has served as one of two physicians on the Dignity Health Mercy Medical Center Community Board since 1999. He enjoys looking at the administrative side of the hospital from a medical professional’s perspective, as an advocate for patient care and quality.
This year’s Physician Champion Award Winner, Dr. Atul Roy, enjoying Mercy Foundation’s 2013 Gala with his family.
Dr. Roy also enjoys spending time with his wife, Amita, and two grown children. The Partner in Excellence Award is presented to the medical business that exhibits a philanthropic philosophy, which includes providing financial support and volunteer assistance to Mercy Medical Center. The partners at Merced Pathology Medical Group received this award from the Mercy Foundation in recognition of their consistent support of foundation campaigns and events. The established group has an exclusive contract with Mercy Medical Center for all of their surgical pathology needs.
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“This award is very generous and really just validates what our members have been doing to try to make a difference,” says Neal Camp. The American Legion Ride for the Cure incorporated the refurbishment and raffle of a bike that was donated by Mercy UC Davis cancer patient, Mike Gleason. Both the ride and the raffle ticket sales raised awareness and funding for the cancer center. The group is planning to grow the event for next year, and has organized a tour of the cancer center for its new members similar to the one that sparked their initial interest to help others in our community. The Physician Inspiration Award is presented to the physician who has improved the quality of life in our community by demonstrating exceptional civic responsibility through financial support, innovation, and ethical leadership on behalf of Mercy Medical Center. Dr. Dennis Cesar, MD was chosen to receive this year’s Physician Inspiration Award for Philanthropy. “The days go very fast when he is in the office because he likes to joke around, and has lots of patients that want to see him,” Kara Barron says of her longtime boss at the Merced Urology Medical Group. Dr. Cesar has given generous, consistent financial support to the Foundation since 1997. He was also a member of the Capital Campaign cabinet when leadership was needed to transform the dream for a modern new facility in Merced into a reality. The philanthropic focus for Dr. Cesar and his wife, Theresa, reaches way beyond the Merced city limits. The couple does missionary work in Nicaragua through their non-profit foundation, Hearts Afire. In Nicaragua, Dr. Cesar sees patients, arranges surgeries, and brings medicine and supplies. Their foundation built a facility for handicapped children, Los Pipitos. He also brings doctors, residents, and others interested in assisting with their mission when making semi-annual visits. The Cesars are setting a great humanitarian example for their four children and six grandchildren as well. The Physician Champion Award recognizes a physician that demonstrates selflessness and dedication to the community through generous donations of time, talent, and treasure to furthering the Mercy Foundation’s mission. The award also recognizes someone who is dedicated to improving patient care in Merced and its surrounding communities. Dr. Atul Roy, MD, a partner with Central Valley Nephrology Medical Associates, received the Physician Champion Award this year. He was also just recognized by Mercy Medical Center for 25 years of faithful service. Dr. Roy expressed his gratitude for the award, and was honored to be recognized for his efforts to make a difference in his patients’ lives. “It’s time consuming, but I’m very attentive to details with my patients and do everything I can to give compassionate care and lessen their time as inpatients.”
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American Legion Riders - Post 83, this year’s Partner in Excellence Award winners, as they prepare to start their motorcycle ride to benefit the Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center.
Merced Pathology Medical Group partners Dr. Grant Carmichael, Dr. Shawn Emery, and Dr. Steve Phillips, winners of this year’s Physician Partner in Excellence Award. Dr. Grant P. Carmichael, MD, Dr. R. Steve Phillips, MD, and Dr. Shawn C. Emery, MD comprise the partnership at Merced Pathology Medical Group. “Of course we like to support the Mercy Foundation,” said Dr. Phillips enthusiastically. The Mercy Foundation is very grateful for the opportunity to honor such incredible philanthropists in this community. We are deeply honored by your service and for your significant contributions towards creating the highest possible standard of excellence in health care for all of the people of Merced.
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Memorials and Honorariums January - March 2015
With sincere appreciation, we acknowledge the patrons listed here who have chosen to preserve a memory or pay tribute to a loved one by donating to the Mercy Foundation. In Memory of Polly Anthony Carla and George Kelley In Memory of Zeb Davis Dorothy and Dennis Riskey In Memory of Zeb Davis & Ron Dittmer Phyllis Lang In Memory of Peter Fluetsch Nada and John Pazin In Honor of Marlene Hagerman Beverly and John Raggio In Memory of Mark Imberi Lannie Haslouer In Memory of Lucy Kidder Mary and Scott Camper In Honor of Kathy Kohrman Michael Aldrich Glen Bruss Elizabeth and Chuck Kassis Lisa and Mike Wegley Adam Williams In Memory of Tom Pollicita Natalina Descalso Del Nero In Memory of Mary Spaulding Phyllis Lang In Memory of John and Elsie Raggio Beverly and John Raggio In Memory of Delia Ramirez Christopher Ramirez In Memory of Joe and Celestine Silva Beverly and John Raggio In Memory of Gladys Snead Suzanne and Robert Carpenter In Memory of Geraldine Song Eugene Green In Memory of John Wainwright Barbara Wainwright In Memory of Dr. Dolores Tan Lee Ann Applegate Yadranka Bartulovich Kim Bee and Soon Theam Anne Bulchis Emily Cangie Jeanne Chang Dr. Carolyn Comilang Judith and Roger Dooley Matthew Edmundson Horrigan Foundation, Inc. Michelle and James Hsu Carol and Clark Kellogg Timothy Kolb Lalli Luzmarina Diana Mehlman Delene and Mark Meidlinger
Merced-Mariposa Medical Society Mercy Medical Center Merced Quency Nguyen Dr. Annapurna and Arani Reddy Pia Roy Nancy and Gene Seto Spinardi & Jones, CPA’s Dr. Vivian Tan Bee and Zoilo Tan Dr. Paul Tsai Zain Yousaf Lucy Laiho Yu
The Heritage Club A Dedicated Difference The Heritage Club has a thriving membership. This is the place to be in Merced if you have a desire to share your passion for elevating the quality and availability of local health care. A motivated collective that meets socially, Heritage Club members enjoy a connection to their financial contributions. They choose to make a difference by dedicating a reliable source of funding to the Mercy Foundation with a relatively modest annual investment. “Our diverse but like-minded members create a dialogue amongst themselves and with the professionals who deliver care and who make decisions about the future of healthcare in Merced,” says Board Champion Cyril Lawrence proudly. “It’s a very meaningful investment of time and resources.” Technology and training have consistently been the focus of the group’s acquisitions that benefit Mercy Medical Center. The next planned equipment purchase for the Heritage Club is an ambulatory electroencephalogram (EEG). This would enable 24-hour monitoring of patients to discover seizure disorders. Patients are able to go about their normal routines while wearing this compact and portable equipment. If an event occurs, there will be a mechanical reading and the opportunity to record more data manually around the event. “Seizures never happen when you want them to,” says Adam Williams, Director of Respiratory Services. “Like when you take the car into the shop and aren’t able to replicate the problem for the mechanic.” The equipment would benefit adult patients and children alike. Seizures present differently, and with children it’s especially challenging to document the events. Without the monitoring capability, Williams notes that we can only treat the events but not the cause of the seizures locally. With this acquisition and often with others, there is a collateral benefit to the community. Physicians who are considering job options are attracted to work at medical centers that allow them to use more advanced technology in their chosen area of expertise.
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“This is an extremely attractive service for us to offer for patients and physicians,” added Williams. Past gifts sponsored by the Heritage Club have been programs and equipment requested from different areas within the Medical Center. Newborn babies in the Family Birth Center benefit from the Bili Blankets and Panda Warmers that enable bedside care in their first hours of life. Surgical patients now have the benefit of the Trimano Arm Support in the operating room as well as the Spine Program used by surgeon Gabriel Garcia-Diaz, MD. The 24hour C.A.R.E. Channel provides a calming environment throughout the medical center. The Digital Retinography System (DRS) was the club’s most recent gift. It has the ability to make large-scale optical screening programs accessible, which are key to preventing diabetes-induced vision impairment and blindness. Board member Katie Favier and her husband, Phil will host the next Heritage Club social in June at their family farm south of Atwater. Favier is happy to host the group and commends the membership for making a consistent commitment to the Foundation. “We will present an interesting educational component at our social, and it’s a great opportunity for Board Members and Medical Center personnel to connect with the membership and the community,” says Favier. She anticipates that there may be nearly 100 people in attendance, and would welcome new people who are interested to join them as well. “It’s always nice to have new folks join us. We’re all about connecting to the larger community that Mercy Medical Center serves.” If you are due to renew your current Heritage Club membership, look for the renewal letter in your mailbox. If you would like to learn more about Heritage Club, renew your membership or become a new member, please visit us at www.supportmercymerced.org.
Spring Cleaning
When is the last time you dusted off your portfolio? Presented by Bill Altavilla and Planned Giving Advisory Committee Member, Mason Brawley In the springtime a person’s thoughts turn to — spring cleaning! Spring cleaning can be a favorite chore. Why? As things get weeded out, we discover treasures we forgot we had. When we’re done, our shelves and closets are clutter-free and accessible. Spring is also the perfect time to reevaluate our financial situation as we file income tax returns. Not a pleasant thought - but necessary. During tax preparation, we review our income and tax deductions and often find that neither is enough. Additionally, one area that can be found lacking during the annual review and organization of financial documents is a review of your estate plan and beneficiary designations. “Many of us have insurance policies, annuities, IRAs, 401(k) plan accounts, and brokerage accounts. But most people don’t review the beneficiary designations of those assets on a regular basis. If the beneficiary designation forms are incomplete or not completed properly, you may be jeopardizing your estate planning objectives. This is a great time to review your beneficiary designations to make sure they still align with your estate plan,” says Mason Brawley, member of Mercy Foundation’s Planned Giving Advisory Committee and attorney for the Law Offices of Murphy and Brawley. Once you ensure that your heirs have been protected, you might consider turning your attention to other giving opportunities. Including
a non-profit, such as the Mercy Foundation, as a beneficiary of an insurance policy, annuity, retirement account, or bank or brokerage account has numerous benefits. • Your assets remain in your control during your lifetime. • You can modify your beneficiary designations if your circumstances change. • You can direct your gift to a particular purpose (please check with the Mercy Foundation to ensure your gift can be used as intended). • There is no upper limit on the estate tax deductions that can be taken for charitable gifts. • You can feel assured that your gift will support the Mercy Foundation in the way intended when you are gone. At the Mercy Foundation, we can help you determine the best avenue for you to attain your philanthropic goals. Gifts to the Mercy Foundation help enhance the quality of health care available to you, your family, and your neighbors. Community giving helps us to advance our capabilities and stay on the cutting edge of new technological advancements in health care. If you would appreciate assistance or more information about how to designate the Mercy Foundation as a beneficiary of your estate, please contact Lisa Wegley at 209.564.4200.
New Planned Giving Advisory Committee In an effort to help people in our community achieve their personal philanthropic and financial goals, the Mercy Foundation is proud to announce the formation of a new committee designed to help demystify the process of estate planning. “My experience has been that people are intimidated by the process, but not at all by the prospect of creating a lasting benefit for their community and their loved ones,” says Mercy Foundation Planned Giving Specialist Bill Altavilla. Altavilla has been helping people with their estate planning for nearly 25 years, and will be coordinating the efforts, along with Foundation Board Member Eddie Macha, who is the Chair of the Planned Giving Advisory Committee. “To manage the legacy you’ve worked to build in your lifetime, it just makes sense to work with people and organizations you trust,” says Macha. Members of the new Planned Giving Advisory Committee have expertise and experience suited to assist you in an advisory capacity.
Board Members Carla Kelley
Philip Brown, RN Kathleen Crookham Katie Favier Dan Holmes Vice-Chair, Fund Development Parminder Sidhu, MD Daniel Ikemiyashiro, MD Chuck Kassis Vice-Chair, Marketing Ric Kirby Edward Macha Secretary Cyril Lawrence Steve Koenig Board Chair
Treasurer
The Mercy Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Committee members are: Eddie Macha, UBS Financial Services Jeff Lawry, London Properties Jeff Schanze, Supreme Lending Shawn Dwyer, Leap Carpenter Kemps Insurance Ron Ewing, UBS Financial Mason Brawley, Law Office of Murphy & Brawley Altavilla has discovered that clients who take control of their personal estate planning feel “calmness, peace of mind, and a feeling of real accomplishment.” We’d be happy to help you start planning today, and to provide more information about the committee and planned giving options. Please contact one of the committee members directly, or the Mercy Foundation at 209.564.4200 or visit www.planyourlegacy.supportmercymerced.org.
Associate Members Shailesh P. Patel, MD Marilyn Reese Michelle Symes-Thiara April Zinser, RN
Walt Adams Vicki Bandoni Frank Berry, MD Lawrence Blazina, MD Anna Bolling, PhD Nancy Brawley Judy Campbell Suzanne Carpenter Bert Crane, Jr. Nettie Descalso Del Nero
Catherine Fluetsch Doug Fluetsch Nini Freitas Skip George Philip Golden Doris Gonella Steve Hale M. Stephen Jones Lydia Lobdell Carol Madruga, RN
Amie Marchini Barry McAuley Dennis McKim Chuck Meyer Greg Olzack Mark Pazin Garth Pecchenino Judy Pfitzer-Boyer Margaret Pia Billie Razzari
Ken Robbins Marcee Samberg, RN Carol Soares Ed Spinardi, II Betty Santi Stewart Donna Tetangco, RN Nancy Whittaker, RN
Honorary Members Bert Crane Rose Eager-Sabo E.J. “Almo” Lorenzi
Mercy Medical Center Merced Foundation I www.supportmercymerced.org I Page 7
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2740 M Street • Merced, CA 95340
The mission of the Mercy Medical Center Merced Foundation is to further Mercy Medical Center’s commitment to provide excellence in health care through stewardship, financial support, and community collaboration. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Mercy Foundation
Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:00am - 4:30pm 2740 M Street Merced, CA 95340 Phone 209.564.4200 Lisa Wegley Foundation Executive Director Bill Altavilla Planned Giving Specialist Delene Meidlinger Annual Giving/Event Officer Heidi Pedrozo Associate Development Officer Sally Strasser Data Entry Clerk Barbara Adams Volunteer Lannie Haslouer Volunteer Visit us on the web: www.supportmercymerced.org If you no longer wish to receive future fundraising information for Mercy Medical Center Merced Foundation, please identify yourself by contacting us at 209.564.4200 or emailing us at mercyfoundationmerced@dignityhealth.org.
Bound together with Threads of Love Humankindness is shown every day in the halls of Mercy Medical Center. In the Family Birth Center, it can be the littlest things that make the biggest difference. Those who sew with Threads of Love use their talents to create hand-sewn garments for babies who are born prematurely, or who may not be going home with their parents at all. “It’s impossible to find clothes for babies who are born as small as a half-pound,” says retired obstetrical nurse, Cathy Blankenship. Blankenship, who worked with many of the current Family Birth Center staff before retiring in 1999, created an outfit for a very small patient on her own before learning of the national, non-denominational ministry. Now she coordinates the volunteer efforts at Mercy Medical Center, Valley Children’s Hospital, and other satellite nurseries. Threads of Love provides comfort and clothing to preemies who may require an extended inpatient stay. Tiny patients receive tiny vests designed with velcro that can fit around tubes and monitors, plus a cap and booties. Lovey dolls are also handmade and designed to foster bonding between moms and their preemies. Moms put the sock dolls into their shirts to absorb their scent, then the dolls are placed near the isolated babies. Not only are the dolls soothing for the babies, but the families save them as keepsakes from their baby’s birth.
“I’ve seen what it’s like for these families first-hand,” says Blankenship warmly. “They want to have something that they can keep that belonged to their baby.” In addition, Family Birth Center Director Becky Cates donated her wedding dress to Threads of Love for the purpose of creating custom burial outfits for those in need. All handmade offerings are part of a healing Christ-centered ministry, and are accompanied with a simple prayer for the baby and for the family. The local Threads of Love chapter has about 10 people who contribute time and talents regularly, but is always very appreciative to receive donations of new fabric and/or sewn outfits. There is a constant need for creating the Lovey dolls and for Isolette covers. Please contact Cathy Blankenship directly at 209.722.3786 if you would like to be part of this healing ministry.