Hospital Foundation marks 30 years
In 1907, the death of a little girl of appendicitis caused her
grieving family to act, and Hazel Hawkins Hospital rose as the
manifestation of a family’s love.
More than 100 years later, San Benito County’s hospital is
transforming itself to meet the needs of the 21st Century with an
ambitious expansion financed largely through a voter-approved bond
issue.
Hospital Foundation marks 30 years
In 1907, the death of a little girl of appendicitis caused her grieving family to act, and Hazel Hawkins Hospital rose as the manifestation of a family’s love.
More than 100 years later, San Benito County’s hospital is transforming itself to meet the needs of the 21st Century with an ambitious expansion financed largely through a voter-approved bond issue.
For 30 years, the hospital has turned again and again to a group of volunteers who together comprise the Hazel Hawkins Hospitals Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting the community’s hospital.
“Our main objective right now is raising money for the new emergency room,” said Leah Dowty, the director of the foundation. “Even though Measure L is supporting the building of facilities, it’s going to take millions of dollars to equip it. When the women’s center goes under construction that will be our next focus.”
The foundation is governed by a 21-member board of directors, with a straightforward mission of securing charitable contributions to support the hospital, its programs and projects.
And while longtime volunteer Dee Hone said the organization has a notoriously low profile, the results speak volumes about the foundation’s role in the community.
The foundation amassed $2.6 million in contributions last year – the most in its history. Much of what came in arrived through grants that Dowty chases down.
The foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary with a dinner-dance and fundraiser Nov. 7 at San Juan Oaks.
Dori Hoyle of Hollister was honored as Donor of the Year and San Benito Bank as Corporate Donor of the Year.
The foundation raised $1.2 million in 1998, enough to fund the William and Inez Mabie Skilled Nursing Center. In 2002, the foundation board led a campaign to renovate what became the Mabie-Northside Skilled Nursing Facility.
More recently, the foundation raised $375,000 to equip an ambulatory surgery center, $37,000 for tuition assistance to hospital employees and $2.6 million in grants that led to establishing a clinic in San Juan Bautista and forming a health education alliance.
“In such a small community with so many worthy nonprofit organizations and so much need, competition for charitable dollars is fierce,” said Peggy Pierce, the foundation’s president. “We’re extremely grateful to our founders, donors and local funders and partners … San Benito Bank, First Five San Benito County, the city of Hollister and the Community Foundation for San Benito County.”
The foundation has no operating overhead, Dowty said. Its modest office and staff costs are paid through the hospital district. “All the money we raise goes right to the programs,” Dowty said.
