San Francisco General Hospital Foundation Raises More Than $1.6M

San Francisco CA

26 February, 2021

11:05 AM

Description

Press release from the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation: Feb. 26, 2021 San Francisco General Hospital Foundation (the Foundation) raised more than $1.6 million at the annual HEARTS IN SF free virtual event honoring three health equity programs at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG). Proceeds from the event, held on Thursday, February 11, 2021 and streamed by over 1,200 households, will support vital initiatives and programs with a focus on health equity and access for all. HEARTS IN SF event proceeds (2004–2021), combined with Hearts in San Francisco artworks, have raised nearly $34 million. "This year, the Foundation celebrated the importance of a strong safety-net hospital, an integrated public health system, and civic leadership committed to health equity, social justice, and access for all," said Kim Meredith, San Francisco General Hospital Foundation CEO. "We are grateful for the support—especially this year—from individuals, corporations, and foundations, which enables the Foundation and ZSFG to remain on the front line with on-the-ground innovation and compassionate care. Bank of America's $50,000 match challenge personifies that commitment." The centerpiece of the hour-long program was a conversation with Dr. Robert Rodriguez, who is a ZSFG Emergency Department doctor and was a member of the Biden-Harris Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board and ZSFG CEO Susan Ehrlich, led by Kim Meredith. They went in-depth into the COVID-19 pandemic and the integral part the city's modern public hospital, ZSFG, played, and continues to play, in caring for the city's coronavirus cases. In the past year, over 30% of San Francisco's hospitalized cases were treated at ZSFG. Other highlights of the evening included appearances by California Governor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed, Tony Bennett, Santana, Bob Weir, and a special performance by the Kim Nalley Band featuring jazz & blues vocalist Kim Nalley, with Tammy Hall on piano, and Mike Zisman on bass. During the event essential workers on the frontline of care were honored and three programs were featured which focus on health equity and ways to better serve our city at ZSFG and in the community. They included: Empowered by Heart SF is a series of San Francisco based events geared toward improving heart health through wellness workshops, neighborhood celebrations, and important conversations around education and prevention of heart disease. Richard H. Fine People's Clinic is one of the first outpatient clinics at a public hospital in the U.S. Today, this primary care clinic within ZSFG provides comprehensive care to some of the city's most vulnerable—with a strong commitment to social justice. Solid Start promotes integrated care coordination for all pregnant people, children, and families. By mobilizing Community Health Workers and working with clinical partners and community-based organizations, Solid Start is working to open doors for a chronically underserved population. The event Committee was led by Chair Janis MacKenzie, Reunion Chair Judy Guggenhime, Honorary Chair Pam Baer, Host Committee Co-Chairs Alex Rosenblatt and Bob Tandler. HEARTS IN SF Event Corporate Sponsors: Bank of America, Genentech, The Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation, UCSF at ZSFG, Blue Shield, Intel, Kaiser Permanente, Salesforce, Twitter, Wells Fargo HEARTS IN SF Event Individual Sponsors: Pam and Larry Baer Family Fund, Bob Tandler and Valli Benesch, and Lisa Stone Pritzker Family Foundation HEARTS IN SF Media Sponsors: Alice @97.3, Channel Q 97.3HD2 / 1550am, CrossingsTV, JCDecaux, KCBS All News 740 AM and 106.9 FM, NBC Bay Area, OutFront Media, San Francisco Business Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco magazine, SFGATE.com, and Telemundo Select Heart sculptures from the iconic "Hearts in San Francisco" public art project are on display in San Francisco's Union Square through October 2021 and in the Flood Building windows until Sunday, February 28, 2021. This press release was produced by San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. The views expressed here are the author's own.