Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital dazzled guests with golden flair, glam and glitz March 12 at the 22nd Annual Foundation Gala, “Rhapsody in Gold,” presented by Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs. Most importantly, an unprecedented $1.1 million was raised for Loma Linda University Health’s Vision 2020 campaign and the construction of a new Children’s Hospital tower.
“Our community made history tonight at ‘Rhapsody in Gold,’” said Jillian Payne, executive director, Children’s Hospital Foundation. “The outstanding support of our sponsors and guests will help Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital create a better tomorrow for our patients and their families.”
This year’s sold-out event welcomed over 1,000 guests and garnered the highest number of sponsors — 83 individual and corporate — in the event’s 22-year history. In addition to Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs’ presenting sponsorship, McCarthy Building Companies, NBBJ and Jtec Healthcare Construction Management came together for the Shirley N. Pettis Award sponsorship. The three companies represent the campus transformation team responsible for the construction of the new Children’s Hospital tower, which is expected to break ground in spring 2016.
Loma Linda University Medical Center CEO Kerry Heinrich, JD, also addressed guests during the evening, acknowledging the dedication to providing the best of care to the children who need it.
“Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital provides the latest research, the best facilities and the most compassionate whole person care in the region,” he said.
Events of the evening
A big surprise of the night was a last-minute matching donation of $250,000, brought in from the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild. It was the largest donation of the evening. During the “Fund-a-Vision” portion of the evening, guests were invited to donate an amount of their choosing toward Vision 2020. The Loma Linda Guild promised to match every dollar up to $250,000.
During the recognition portion of the evening, former LLU Children’s Hospital administrator Zareh Sarrafian, MBA, was honored with the Gatsby Award for his contributions benefiting children in the community and beyond. He was also presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding dedication and a lifetime of distinguished service to children. Through both personal and professional service, Sarrafian has demonstrated the desire, motivation and the devotion to improve the lives of children.
Sarrafian, who is currently CEO for Riverside County Regional Medical Center, humbly accepted the award and said, “It is I who have been blessed to serve God in this institution.”
The Children’s Hospital Foundation also honored Tony and Sandy Cappelli of Steven’s Hope for Children with the Hometown Hero Award and bestowed Riverside Community Health Foundation with the Shirley N. Pettis Award.
One patient family was also recognized during the event — the Rubino family. After Bethany and Sean Rubino’s son, Vinny, was successfully treated at LLU Children’s Hospital as a newborn for a severe heart defect, they decided to adopt Sabrina, an orphan from China, three years later. Sabrina also had a heart defect and would need specialized care. Both underwent challenging heart surgeries as infants. Now, Vinny, 5, and Sabrina, 3, are both happy, vibrant children and are doing well.
“Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital is like heaven on earth,” Bethany said in a video shown during the gala. “They gave us a family.”
Much of the funds raised came from the live auction portion of the evening. The big seller was a Bandon Dunes golf trip that included traveling by private jet to a two-night, 36-hole golf experience at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, which sold for $16,000 and was generously donated by David S. Layton. Other items garnering high bids were the Kenya Safari Experience, selling for $9,000, and a suite at Staples Center for a Clippers game, which sold for $7,500.
In addition to the check presentation, the roaring twenties event, emceed by K-FROG’s Heather Froglear and NBC4’s Tony Shin, culminated with a glamorous chandelier aerialist performance and a confetti blast leaving guests full of positivity and anticipation, reflective of the promising future ahead for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and Vision 2020.