With more than $800,000 raised and one week left in its annual giving campaign, time is ticking down to help Emanuel Medical Center expand advanced cardiac care in Turlock.
In week five of the six-week effort to raise $1 million, hospital employees brought in $67,070 and community volunteers raised $177,455 more, bringing the total pledged to date to $814,522.
When donations reach $1 million, Turlock couple Jeani and John Ferrari will donate $500,000 more to the campaign, which will bring new lifesaving heart programs and equipment to Emanuel.
Dr. Harold Tabaie is Emanuel’s medical director of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, and feels the urgency to see the campaign through successfully.
“Think about your heart,” he said. “If something happens to your heart – if the ticking stops – no money can replace it. But as long as your ticker works, you can enjoy life. That’s what makes this fund drive such an urgent matter.”
Money raised during the annual giving campaign, called Legacy Circle, will be used to expand advanced cardiac care at the hospital so no one with a heart-related medical need will have to travel or be transferred out of town for treatment. Building that program began with the opening of the Cardiac Cath & Interventional Lab in April, and will expand with an upgraded cardiac operating room that will allow open-heart surgery to begin next spring.
In late 2012, two state-of-the-art cardiac operating suites are scheduled to open, and the final vision for the project is to develop a dedicated space consolidating all of Emanuel’s cardiovascular services. Legacy Circle volunteers and donors are supporting the program by committing to raise $1 million a year for five straight years.
Rick Falkenberg of Turlock is a three-year Legacy Circle volunteer.
“We all get requests to give to charities, and sometimes we say no and feel badly afterward,” he said. “This is such a good cause and something we need in our hometown. I don’t want anybody to miss the opportunity to be a part of it.”
Shirley Pok is the hospital’s vice president of development, and knows the hard work Legacy Circle volunteers have in store for them in the next week. But she’s confident they will reach the $1 million goal.
“It’s going to take all of us. Let’s unite through our giving to bring advanced cardiovascular services to Turlock,” she said.
To donate to Legacy Circle, call 209-664-5180 or visit www.emanuelmedicalcenter.org/give.