Success isn’t going to their heads. Even though they’ve raised about 93 percent of the $15 million they’ve targeted for their Cornerstone Campaign, the Marian Medical Center Foundation isn’t slacking off.
The foundation held its big annual fundraiser, Waiters’ Night, on Aug. 1, at Tres Hermanas Vineyard and Winery on Foxen Canyon Road.
More than 300 guests paid $150 for a cocktail reception and dinner and milled about on the huge sweeping lawn in a beautiful, historical setting. I heard that stagecoaches used to travel a nearby road. Two massive, magnificent oak trees, each more than 200 years old, were nature’s centerpieces, creating a leafy shelter for partygoers.
As waiters with pleated white shirts and black bowties circulated with wine, appetizers, and then dinner, the foundation’s gracious, efficient executive director, Lynette Muscio, moved around, orchestrating details and overseeing a very smooth operation.
Of course, there were silent and live auctions, with fast-talking auctioneer Jim Glines pulling in cash for trips, social events, a diamond and sapphire ring, and art by Nat Fast and Betsy Jones. Ed Murray emceed, and Dr. Mark Juretic, president of the foundation board, spoke to the crowd.
The Cornerstone Campaign, with co-chairs Ann Foxworthy Llewellen and Georgann Ferini at the helm, began about a year ago to raise money to start building a new hospital for our growing community. This is the largest fundraising campaign in the history of nonprofit organizations in Northern Santa Barbara County.
I was lucky enough to be at the table hosted by Tres Hermanas owners Marvin and Paulette Teixeria. I immensely enjoyed both their humor and their syrah and viognier, which were served with the New York steak, grilled artichoke, potatoes, salad, and chocolate torte. The Hitching Post cooked and catered.
Jeanne and Edwin Woods were there with daughter Prudy Noon, as were Sue Sword and Doris Lohr. Mayor Larry Lavagnino, one of Marian Medical Center’s most visible and vocal success stories, would not have missed this event for anything. The mayor had quadruple bypass surgery at MMC and can’t stop praising the care he received.
County Supervisor Joni Gray is always at the center of a buzzing conversation crowd, and this event was no exception. She and husband George Wittenburg were at the hub of a group that included Judge Art Garcia and Charles Cova, president of MMC.
The Okerblom Memorial Service
Dr. Robert Okerblom has been my doctor for umpteen years. During that time, he and his wife Eilene have performed many acts of kindness for me. It was with the heaviest of hearts that I attended the memorial service for their son, Eric, who recently died in a tragic accident.
St. Louis de Montfort’s was packed on the morning of July 31. About 800 family members, friends, colleagues, and patients filled the church. Of these, 80 to 100 had to stand.
St. Joe’s Father Ed gave us insight into Eric’s heart, mind, and soul and let us know that this planet has lost an extraordinary human being.
Grief is the most personal and the most excruciating of emotions. We can only hope that the abundance of love and caring directed at the Okerbloms will comfort the heartbroken parents.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Aug 13-20, 2009.
