The Hero Squad

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Are you a volunteer superhero? Are you a people person who loves to be social? Do you want to attend fun local events for free? If so, join the Hero Squad!
We’re a team of outgoing, fun individuals who like having fun as well as making a difference. We are looking to expand our Hero Squad with more like-minded individuals and hopefully you will be one of them!
Event Background:
The Heroes Run is a 5k, Fun Run, and Obstacle Course created in partnership by the VMC Foundation, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Clara County Fire Department. The Heroes Run raises funds on behalf of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and directly benefits children’s health services. This year marks the 5th year of the Heroes Run, and it’s expected to be the biggest one yet.
Volunteer Position Description:
The Hero Squad is a group of volunteers who are committed to the Heroes Run and its mission. Volunteers will be asked to attend monthly meetings where we discuss outreach strategies and opportunities to promote the Heroes Run. Small teams of Hero Squad members will lead initiatives to raise money and gain participants by attending local events and spreading the word. Other outreach strategies will also be implemented as discussed in monthly meetings. These can be as simple as putting flyers on cars, organizing radio ads, to even setting up booths at other runs to promote the Heroes Run. Know that we will ask you to wear a hero costume, or at minimum a Heroes Run t-shirt! (if you don’t have your own, we will provide one!)
Skills Desired:
· An outgoing personality and ability to engage with potential registrants.
· Ability to quickly learn about the Heroes Run in order to correctly answer questions.
· Available to attend some evening and weekend events.
Perks:
· 2 free Heroes Run registrations for you and a friend
· Paid entry for you and a friend to attend events where you are promoting the Heroes Run
· Snacks will be provided at monthly meetings
· Free Heroes Run swag
· Pride knowing that you are helping make Santa Clara County a better place by supporting our public hospital. The only hospital that accepts everyone regardless of ability to pay.
Commitment:
· August through November
· Attend Monthly Meetings
· Promote the Heroes Run twice a month at various events or in various forms
· Communicate efforts and results with the Heroes Run manager
Be a hero and join us!
If interested, email Ignacio at Ignacio.Vallejo@hhs.sccgov.org

The VMC Foundation Annual Gala, “Puttin’ on the Ritz”

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Join us for the party of the year!

The VMC Foundation Annual Gala, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” is happening on September 23, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Villa Ragusa in downtown Campbell.

[button link=”www.vmcfoundation.org/gala”]buy tickets[/button]

Experience a 1920’s Jazz Club inspired evening with music by Black Olive Jazz

Dazzle in 1920’s or black-tie attire

Savor the delectable cuisine of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme.

Taste great local artisan wines.

Bid on unique auctions items.

Dance the night away with DJ Haun Solo

Feel the love knowing that all proceeds go to the VMC Foundation, and benefit Santa Clara Valley Medical Center – the public health & hospital system of Silicon Valley

Our First Ever Scavenger Hunt!

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Events & Adventures presents;
The VMC Foundation Scavenger Hunt

JOIN THE HUNT!
A creative and fun way to help raise funds for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC).

SCVMC is the largest and busiest hospital in the Silicon Valley region, and the only one that provides care to all, regardless of ability to pay. The VMC Foundation is the nonprofit organization that helps make it happen by raising donations from the community.

Come out and help us raise much needed dollars in a unique and creative way. All the while hanging out with friends and having a good time doing it.

Here’s the plan:
Prior to the event, you will create your team of 5. On Sunday, July 23rd we will meet at Rookies Sports Lodge Downtown, 99 S First St. San Jose at 1PM. With your team, we will go over the rules of the game, grab a pre-event cocktail and head out on a fun scavenger hunt! The hunt will last about 2 hours, and after we will reconvene for food, drinks, and prizes!

Now, what makes this scavenger hunt a unique volunteer opportunity is that all the participants will be fundraising while playing! The scavenger hunt has been created to earn points for items obtained. Every item secured in the scavenger hunt should be able to be used in the VMC Foundation’s silent auction. We will provide all the tools needed to procure items from local vendors such as gift cards, hotel stays, and priceless opportunities! Of course, we will also have fun challenges and questions along the way to score some extra points!

The team that finishes with the most points will get an awesome prize sponsored by Logitech! Drinks and snacks will be provided at the end of the hunt while the scores are being tallied.

A few things that will be helpful to bring:
– A car with a full tank (yes, you will have the option to travel during the hunt – it’s not necessary, but might just give you that extra edge. Just make sure you have room for your teammates!)
– A fully charged smart phone (trust me, you will want it – lots of points will be earned by using your phone!)
– A GPS unit
– A pen & notepad
– Running shoes (this is a competition!)

Start creating your teams now & don’t miss this fun event!

Grant from El Camino Healthcare District Brings Smiles to Sunnyvale

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Thanks to a grant from El Camino Healthcare District, low-income patients in north county are able to receive top-notch dental care at the Valley Health Center Sunnyvale clinic. Over the past year, VHC Sunnyvale has served 874 dental patients, performing emergency, restorative, and maintenance dental procedures. 94% of the patients served are eligible for the Medi-Cal Dental Program.

A patient recently shared: “The services that I have received in the last year are absolutely above and beyond the ordinary. As a low-income senior I truly appreciate these exceptional services.”

El Camino Healthcare District has been a long-time supporter of dental services provided at VHC Sunnyvale, and we are very grateful! Click here to learn more about ECHD’s Community Benefit Plan for 2017.

Can’t get enough of 2016? Check out our Annual Report

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We are pleased to share our 2016 Annual Report, highlighting the terrific people and projects that made last year a special one.  The report also includes our Includes Independent Auditors’ Report and Financial Statements.

To read the report, visit our “Publications” page under the “About” menu, or click here.

VMC Farmers’ Market Opens May 10

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Join us for live music and fresh produce as we kick off the 2017 Farmers’ Market season at VMC!

The party before the party!

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We’re trying something new this year; a party to get ready for another party.

The VMC Foundation Annual Gala “Puttin’ on the Ritz” will be held on September 23rd, 2017 at Villa Ragusa in Campbell, CA.   This is the party you know and love (and will hopefully sponsor/attend).

But to ensure that our gala has the amazing silent and live auctions that it always does, we’ve organized a special “Gala Gift Gathering Party” prior to the actual event. Join us on June 9th, 2017 from 4:30PM-7:30PM for drinks, food, and a live performance from Scared of Spiders (Chris Wilder’s jazz trio), all while raising donations for the VMC Foundation! (Location will be emailed after RSVP)

It’s a casual event that’s free* to attend.  And you’re invited!

What is the Gala Gift Gathering Party?

The Gala Gift Gathering Party is a casual get-together designed specifically to “gather gift items” for our auction. The reception will be held in the home of our own generous Debbie Burdsall and offers a fun and convenient way to donate your auction gift. The required gift minimum is $50 in value, but of course the more the better!*

Size is limited and reservations are taken in the order received. Please bring your donation and completed forms with you. Download the Auction Donation form here.

Suggested items to consider as a donation:

* Dinners/Hosted Parties

* Community Items (Gas Gift Certificates, Oil Change Certificates, Manual Labor, Construction work)

* Restaurant Certificates

* Computers/iPads/etc.

* Vacation homes

* Experiences (Hot air ballooning, Kayaking, Ski & Snowboarding passes)

* Sports Memorabilia

* SF Giants/Golden State Warriors/SJ Sharks/SF 49ers/Stanford Tickets

* Fine Wine & Champagne

* Golf Packages

* Jewelry

* Cash Donation

* A unique item or package that no one else has or can get!

 

To RSVP, please email Julie Ott with how many guests will be attending and their names. Can’t wait to see you there!

Chris’s essay in the Mercury News…

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In case you missed it (or want to read it again, like the way some of us watch The Breakfast Club over and over), this was published in the Mercury News on March 22:

As you may know, the President’s first budget draft eliminates funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, and for the Corporation for National Service. His first take on a health care bill – the one designed to replace the Affordable Care Act – slashes Medi-Cal expansion and would leave millions without coverage.

I feel strongly about this. See, not long ago I chaired the board at San Jose Jazz, and today I work closely with Silicon Valley Creates. I know well the good they do, and what will be lost if they go away.

Longer ago I ran City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley, the premiere AmeriCorps program in the South Bay. I know well the good it does. I also know what will be lost if it goes away.

And for thirteen years I’ve run the foundation at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. I’ve gotten my health care at SCVMC that whole time…just like thousands of individuals and families who need primary care or the unique, specialty care our public hospital provides. One in four residents of Santa Clara County have recently used or rely on SCVMC, just like me.

Yes, we very well know the good it does.

You of course remember the “ice bucket challenge” of 2014, a clever idea that went viral and raised tons of well-deserved money for ALS research. Dump ice on your head, film it, post it, and donate to ALS…fun! More than fun in fact: The ice bucket challenge introduced a whole new group of people to the idea that giving to a cause is helpful and even feels good and makes you happy. Again, fun!

Well I think it’s high time for a less-fun, but equally important idea to go viral: Donate now to the nonprofits you love who are under attack. Not everyone is comfortable writing to congress or marching in the streets (which is still vital), but donating to the charities that will be impacted by these proposed cuts is another great way to channel your anger toward something positive.

You ARE angry, aren’t you? This isn’t even political, really: You don’t need to be a liberal or democrat to appreciate jazz, or a museum or the ballet. I served on San Jose Jazz’s board with conservatives and progressives alike. Through City Year, I met Bill Clinton and John McCain and Carly Fiorina, all of whom appreciated the ideals of national service.

And I’ve met Republicans and Democrats whose lives were saved by our county’s trauma team.

I can’t guess about San Jose Jazz or City Year, but here’s something certain: SCVMC isn’t going anywhere. Your public hospital has been here since 1876 and has weathered all kinds of storms. Its leaders and doctors and nurses are a brilliant team, and our county leadership is determined and resolved. This new storm, however, will bring challenges. And simply put, it makes me angry.

Now is absolutely the time for a new wave of viral philanthropy. If you’re angry about any effort to stop federal funding for arts programs that make our communities vibrant and exciting, donate to your local arts council. If you’re steamed about destroying the Corporation for National Service and the democracy it builds in our nation’s young people, give to your local favorite AmeriCorps program.

And if you’re upset about low-income families losing coverage while the wealthy see a reduction in cost, or about the very idea that some deserve quality health care while others perhaps don’t…well, there’s a public hospital foundation that could really use your help.

Please.

You don’t even need to dump ice on your head.

Great Highway event raised 100k+ for Neonatal ICU

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The Redwood City-based event center The Great Highway hosted their annual Lobster Feed on February 4th with one thing on their mind – babies! Founder Rozalyn Mendence toured VMC in early 2016 and was inspired by the life-saving work of VMC staff of the Neonatal ICU (NICU). As she learned, the VMC Foundation was actively fundraising to replace the Giraffe Bed isolettes that house the newborns during their first weeks of life in the NICU. The machines simulate the safety and conditions of a mother’s womb and help VMC staff save lives. Roz committed to raising $40,000 at her annual fundraiser, almost double what they raised last year, enough to buy a single Giraffe Bed unit.

With her partner Gary Pollack, Roz got to work and organized the most successful Lobster Feed in her company’s history. Over $100,000 was pledged! Which means we aren’t just buying ONE giraffe bed, we’re buying TWO! The event was attended by over 150 of their friends and colleagues and was truly memorable. From giant boats of lobsters to pristine classic cars, a signature drink (the “Oh Baby”) and giraffe themed decorations, this event was eye catching, fun and inspiring. Thank you The Great Highway for a night we will never forget.

The State of the County 2017

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Last night the President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Dave Cortese gave his State of the County Address to a standing-room-only crowd. He spoke for sixty minutes, far longer than his previous SOC address.

…because in 2017, I think you’d agree, there’s more to discuss.

President Dave Cortese (second from  left) with a crew of us who fought for Measure A last year: Ben Field, Betty Duong, Tom Steyer, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, me, Supervisor Cindy Chavez and Derecka Mehrens. 

A reminder: The County owns and operates Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and the Health & Hospital System of which it is part–the busiest healthcare deliverer in Silicon Valley and making up roughly half of the 19,000 employees of Santa Clara County (not including some 25,000 home care workers, according to President Cortese, whom he also praised).

But no matter where in the County one works, Dave’s message resonates and in my view, informs how we must think and act: 2017, Dave proclaimed, will be the Year of Compassion.

I was sitting in a section of the Board Chambers last night reserved for we who helped pass Measure A, the County’s historic supportive housing bond. Along with my colleagues Kevin Zwick and Derecka Mehrens, we applauded throughout Cortese’s speech and took pride every time he referenced the bond measure to upend the housing crisis. And the reason we did, he reiterated again and again, was that ours is a compassionate community.

At times he openly defied recent federal threats to our region’s marginalized and underserved, referencing the recent County lawsuit to defend sanctuary policies. It says a lot about our County that this was the strongest applause line of the night: All the work we’ve done, all the people we’ve helped, all the distance we’ve come… We are not going to turn back and abrogate our responsibilities now.

His message of dogged determination and the need for deliberate compassion certainly resonated with me. See what you think; here is Dave Cortese’s State of the County Address (and it’s been edited somewhat; don’t be afraid). Read it and let me know what speaks to you.