MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, August 4, 2011--El Camino Hospital has been selected as the Outstanding Corporate Grant Maker with More Than 300 Employees by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Silicon Valley, and will be honored on AFP Philanthropy Day on November 18, 2011.
El Camino Hospital has been selected as the Outstanding Corporate Grant Maker with More Than 300 Employees by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Silicon Valley, and will be honored on AFP Philanthropy Day on November 18, 2011.
The nomination was based on a number of criteria, including the hospital’s direct major financial support in the community; its encouragement and motivation of others to take leadership roles in philanthropy and community involvement; and its philanthropic support of innovative or collaborative approaches to solving problems. In Fiscal Year 2010-2011, which ended June 30, 2011, El Camino Hospital directed a total of $5,901,892 to be invested in the Silicon Valley community through the hospital's Community Benefit Program. The impact of this philanthropic giving was felt by more than 75,000 individuals and families.
"For nearly 50 years, locally governed El Camino Hospital has provided excellent, comprehensive medical care to meet the needs of people living in the diverse and growing communities of Silicon Valley," stated Bettina C. Kohlbrenner, MNA, CFRE, Executive Director, Fund Development of EMQ FamiliesFirst. "Simultaneously, the hospital has helped to advance community health by developing and sponsoring innovative and effective community benefit programs. They have forged long-term, collaborative relationships with approximately 50 community-based organizations and health care providers working to improve the health status of the area’s vulnerable populations."
Among the many contributions cited in the nomination were the 2009 and 2010 grants to the Alzheimer's Association to help fund the pilot and expand its Care Givers’ University, a community education curricula designed to help 1,500 families understand and cope with the stresses of providing care to a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease. Also noted was the hospital's support of programs at local schools which address health-related needs at school, provide early detection services, support health education, address mental health issues, and increase physical activity.
According to several nominators, El Camino Hospital has been at the forefront of corporate grant making, taking an analytical and systematic approach to its community benefit efforts and responding to the documented health needs of the community.
"Like a well-managed venture capital fund, El Camino Hospital invests in social change for the betterment of the community," said Maureen Wadiak, associate director, Community Services Agency. "The hospital takes the long view, permitting agencies to reach greater numbers of children, families, and seniors. They collect meaningful data to assess program effectiveness, thus contributing to the body of knowledge in social innovation."
Other letters of support cited El Camino Hospital’s generous contribution of funds, talent and resources to nonprofits.
"When exploring a new program, we turn to El Camino Hospital first for feedback about feasibility and evaluation-is this of value to our community and how do we know?" said William Fisher, CEO of Alzheimer's Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter. "They often identify potential barriers or challenges, and offer solutions drawing on their vast network of health care and social service providers."
The nomination was supported by a host of nonprofits in the Silicon Valley, including EMQ FamiliesFirst, Eating Disorders Resource Center, MayView Community Health Center, Community Solutions, Campbell Elementary Unified School District, Cancer Support Community, Community Health Awareness Council, Cupertino Union School District, Health Trust, Mountain View Whisman, The Palo Alto Program, Pathways Hospice Foundation, Sunnyvale Community Services, West Valley Community Services., Alzheimer's Association, Santa Clara Family Health Plan, and the Silicon Valley Community Services.
"This award shows us that our Community Benefit Program really is making a difference to the health and welfare of the Silicon Valley Community," said Cecile Currier, vice president of corporate & community health services for El Camino Hospital. "But it also is a testament to all the partners with whom we’ve worked over the past five years. We’re grateful that this program raises awareness of the tremendous needs to be filled."