French Hospital Foundation’s “Share the Hope” Raises More than $1.2 Million to Help Cancer Patients

Amount surpasses previously set record for most funds raised at a French Hospital Foundation event

The French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) Foundation is proud to announce that the tenth anniversary “Share the Hope” event, held on April 8, 2017 at Hearst Ranch, raised an astounding $1,268,000. This includes $968,000 from ticket sales and auctions, plus the announcement of a $300,000 gift from Noreen Martin and her husband, Dr. Chris Hulburd, to establish a new cancer education fund.

 

The results exceed prior year amounts and now hold the record for most funds raised at any FHMC Foundation event. Over the past ten years, “Share the Hope” has raised more than $3,000,000 to benefit the programs and services offered free of charge to cancer patients and loved ones at the Hearst Cancer Resource Center (HCRC) at FHMC. Proceeds from the event support the HCRC Endowment Fund and the Martin Hulburd Family Cancer Education Fund.

This new cancer education fund will help produce comprehensive educational programs through the HCRC for those diagnosed with cancer, all offered free of charge. A wide range of topics will be covered, such as nutrition, exercise, stress management, integrative medicine, treatment advances, clinical case studies, and managing personal finances.The HCRC Endowment provides crucial long term financial support, ensuring that the Center will continue to be an oasis for cancer patients and their families for years to come.   

A special tribute was also held to recognize Steve Hearst for hosting the event for the past ten years. The Hearst Family was instrumental in providing the seed funding to construct and open the Center in 2008 and the Hearst Foundation helped establish the HCRC Endowment.

“The incredible generosity of Steve Hearst, Noreen Martin, Dr. Hulburd and the many donors who contributed to this event is overwhelming. This must be the largest amount raised at any fundraising event in San Luis Obispo County,” says Alan Iftiniuk, FHMC President/CEO. “We are deeply honored to provide this valuable service to help cancer patients in our community.” 

The HCRC collaborates with community and physician partners to provide supportive and educational services necessary for cancer patients to understand their disease, manage treatment, and maintain dignity and quality of life throughout all aspects of their cancer experience.

  

About French Hospital Medical Center

French Hospital Medical Center, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is rated one of the Top 100 Hospitals in the nation and one of the Top 50 Cardiac Hospitals in the nation by Thomson Reuters. The Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center provides the latest innovative cardiac and imaging technology on the Central Coast. The hospital’s current modernization and redesign project is an example of the commitment to meet the growing needs of the community with lifesaving advancements in medicine coupled with excellent, compassionate care. The hospital is home to the unique Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families.  French is a Dignity Health member of the Central Coast which also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA. Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service.  Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.