MISSI NFOCUS

A M a g a z i n e F o r T h e F r i e n d s O f S t . F r a n c i s M e d i c a l C e n t e r | S u m m e r 2 0 1 3

In This Issue...St. Francis is All about

Sweet Beginnings

Dear Friends:

This year has brought many exciting new opportunities for St. Francis Medical Center to bring innovative services to the communities we serve. The changing and shifting needs in our community, coupled with the fundamental changes in our nation’s health care delivery system, has strengthened our resolve to empower our patients with the education and resources they require to achieve better health and to realize their full human potential.

As you’ll read in the pages of this issue, our recent successes have been both large and small, from landing enormous multi-year grant programs such as Welcome Baby!, to our Prom Project, which provided a young man his very

life in Southeast Los Angeles. This is what inspires us to embrace our value of

us continue to carry out the Mission of the Daughters of Charity.

At the heart of everything we do are those who join us in our Mission – you, our donors, supporters, volunteers, business and community partners, and Foundation Board of Trustees. We are blessed to have your support, contributions and involvement, for it is through you that we can continue to change the lives of the men, women, children, and babies who count on St. Francis Medical Center for help.

As you read through this issue of Mission Focus, please remember that each of you is a vital member of the St. Francis family – a family that brings love, healing, joy and hope to people everywhere. May our successes, large and small,

Mary Eileen “Dub” Drees

Blessings,

Mary Eileen “Dub” DreesVP of Development and CEOSt. Francis Medical Center Foundation

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MISSI NFOCUSFEATURES

1 Letter from Mary Eileen Drees

2 Features

3 Letter from Gerald T. Kozai

4 St. Francis’ Sweet Beginnings Program

7 Women’s Luncheon and Fashion Show

9 Prom Project 2013

11 Coming Home to St. Francis

13 2012 Charity Ball Highlights

15 Vida Sana Promotes Community Wellness

17 Ralph’s and Food 4 Less Community Rewards

18 Fun(d) Dates to Remember

Mission Focus is published by:St. Francis Medical Center Foundation

3630 East Imperial HighwayLynwood, CA 90262

T (310) 900-7330F (310) 900-7335

www.sfmcfoundation.org

EditorMary Eileen Drees

Chief Executive Officer – SFMC Foundation

WriterDaisy S. Pizana

Contributing AuthorConner McMains

St. Francis Medical CenterGerald T. Kozai, Pharm. D.

President/CEO

Sister Joyce Weller, D.C.Chair – Board of Directors

George ColmanChair – Board of Trustees

Daughters of Charity Health SystemRobert Issai

President/CEO

Sister Marjory Ann Baez, D.C.Chair – DCHS Corporate Board

© Copyright St. Francis Medical Center Foundation

O N T H E C O V E R : Sweet Beginnings Spotlight, Page 4

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Gerald T. Kozai, Pharm.D. President and CEO St. Francis Medical Center

Dear Friends:

For over 350 years, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul have been dedicated to providing essential health care services that promote health and wellness. Through the staunch

continue to secure the funding needed to support programs that are helping to prevent disease and chronic conditions, and ultimately, improve the quality of life for our community at-large.

Two of our newest programs reach out to families and the youngest members of our society. They are our Babies Come First and Welcome Baby Initiatives. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s

and death. Through a generous grant in the amount of $445,300 from First 5 LA, we have the funding and education resources necessary to put into place the practices that are proven to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding. In collaboration with our physicians, nurses,

joining the more than 19,000 “Baby Friendly” hospitals and birthing centers worldwide.

maternity patients. Through an initial $429,289 grant awarded to the Foundation, also from

There is no more valuable gift than the gift of health, and we are privileged as a health ministry to not only support healing, but to also support well-being. Through the personal commitment

dreams we share together in our future.

Sincerely,

Gerald T. Kozai

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overweight child decreases with each month of breastfeeding.

Welcome, baby!

continued on next page

Meet Sylvia BavarsadMeet Sylvia BavarsadProject Manager for Babies Come First InitiativeProject Manager for Babies Come First Initiative

The challenge is getting mothers to consistently breastfeed their children. Even mothers who want to breastfeed can become discouraged without proper support. Common breastfeeding

perceptions and other factors can lead mothers to give up on breastfeeding in

child is hungry. And many — particularly

of formula, which allows any caregiver to help with feeding time. However, formula is nowhere near as nutritious as breast

About Babies Come FirstUnderstanding the need for maternal and child health support in Southeast Los Angeles, the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation secured grant funding

from First 5 LA for two important

Come First, involves an institutional alignment with the breastfeeding policy recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Babies Come First provides breastfeeding education to St. Francis Medical Center

promote breastfeeding best-practices among their patients. In addition, the

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30%Breastfeeding for 9 months reduces a

baby’s odds of becoming overweight

by more than 30 percent.

Sylvia Bavarsad is the Project Manager for St. Francis

Medical Center’s Babies Come First. She has been

a vocal advocate of breastfeeding throughout her

25-year nursing career at St. Francis Medical Center,

and Sylvia is active with a number community-based,

breastfeeding organizations.

“Babies Come First is more than just breastfeeding.

It is about providing parents and babies with support so

they can properly bond with each other and build strong

health habits early in life,” said Sylvia Bavarsad.

“St. Francis Medical Center will ‘speak the same

language’ to our parents and counsel them on the

best options for feeding. All parents, unless medically

contraindicated, will hear that breast milk is the most

complete form of nutrition for infants, with a range

of benefits for infants’ health, growth, immunity and

development.”

Clinical studies have demonstrated the numerous

benefits to breastfeeding including:

and infection early in life as compared to formula-fed

children;

number of diseases later in life, including juvenile

diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and cancer

before the age of 15; and

osteoporosis later in life, are able to lose weight

gained during pregnancy more easily and have a

lower risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.

initiative has developed and implemented hospital-wide breastfeeding policies and

breastfeeding training and the creation to support breastfeeding has become one more way for SFMC to help new mothers give their children the best possible start in life. By 2014, St. Francis Medical Center anticipates becoming a “Baby-Friendly USA” hospital — a prestigious

mothers and children in our community.

About Welcome Baby!In 2013, St. Francis Medical Center Foundation was awarded $2.7 million

5 LA for SFMC’s Welcome Baby Initiative, a multifaceted approach that providing primary health prevention,

services for maternity patients and their newborns at St. Francis Medical Center.

personalized, in-home prenatal and post-partum visits, in addition to a bedside

assessment at the hospital. The visits begin in early pregnancy and continue

Available at no cost to all St. Francis maternity patients, the Welcome Baby continuum of care includes breastfeeding support, home assessment, nutrition and health education for mother and her partner, discussion of baby milestones, referrals to community resources, and in-home clinical visits by a registered nurse, among other services.

enhance the parent-child relationship and the health, safety and security of the

to access support services when needed,”

First 5 LA. “By providing intervention services immediately before and after

to the baby’s health and safety.”

Leading the charge is Celeste Goff-Veerkamp, Director

of the Welcome Baby Initiative at St. Francis Medical

Center. Celeste oversees a team of outreach specialists,

parent coaches and hospital liaisons. Prior to her work

at St. Francis Medical Center, Celeste was the Vice

President of Marketing for Mellon 1st Business Bank.

Celeste brings an extensive background in marketing

and public relations to her oversight of the successful

implementation of St. Francis Medical Center’s Welcome

Baby Initiative.

“We are excited about our Welcome Baby Initiative,

as it will strengthen St. Francis’ relationships with our

families through innovative, home-based health care,”

said Celeste. “In particular, families will receive much-

needed and convenient access to a Registered Nurse

(RN) within 72 hours of discharge from our Family

Life Center. The RNs will conduct a Well Baby Exam,

conduct case management to ensure families keep

their medical appointments and provide both health and

social service referrals to partner agencies in order to

provide holistic, mother-child centered care.”

Meet Celeste Goff-Veerkamp Meet Celeste Goff-Veerkamp Director of the Welcome Baby Initiative Director of the Welcome Baby Initiative

Fewer than half of infants in Los Angeles County are breastfed by their mothers at 6 months of age, despite CDC

recommendations to breastfeed for the first 9 months to one year of birth.

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On May 10, 2013, the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation held its 2nd Annual Women’s Luncheon and Fashion Show entitled “Grace at the Helm” at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach. “Grace at the Helm” raised nearly $50,000

Initiatives. Donations will provide 3D mammograms — the latest and most promising early breast cancer detection test available — free-of-charge to women unable to pay for the test.

“Grace at the Helm” built upon the Mission of the Daughters of Charity’s

luncheon sought to raise awareness of the health and wellness challenges facing women and girls in Southeast Los Angeles.

Keaveney, President and CEO of St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara, emphasized the importance of providing pathways for women to grow personally and professionally and to utilize their talents to the fullest so as to not only enrich their own lives, but the lives of others.

health challenge and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women of all races in the United States. Although deaths have declined over the past two decades — largely due to advances in treatment and early detection — breast cancer remains the second leading cause of death among women. Among Latina women, data from the CDC indicates that breast cancer is the number one diagnosed type of cancer. African-American women are

any other ethnic group, and they are 40

than Caucasian women who are more

One of the main reasons cited by the CDC for this disparity is that African-American women have fewer social and economic resources than other women, which limits access to early screening, diagnosis and treatment options.

Showcasing at the Women’s Luncheon was a volunteer-driven fashion show where St. Francis Medical Center associates served as runway models. Among the models were SFMC Foundation Trustees

Francis, and Dr. Maxine Anderson, trauma

runway dazzling the audience with their

2nd Annual Women’s Luncheon and Fashion Show

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Gilda Gonzalez, Director of the Healthy Communities Initiative, making a gift to

St. Francis women’s health initiatives.

Conner McMains, SFMC Foundation intern and Fashion Show model stated,

of all those people, but I reminded myself it was for a good cause. The show was such a memorable experience.”

“With everyone frantically changing

was hectic; yet everyone who appeared on the runway appeared cool, calm and

added Conner. “Everyone involved with the show said that they had fun at the event, and are proud to have supported the Women’s Health Initiatives at St. Francis Medical Center.”

After the show, models and guests

a national movement demonstrating

cancer. To watch St. Francis Medical

please visit our YouTube Page at http://bit.ly/17ScRVM.

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Mrs. Elsie Singh Dr. Maxine Anderson

Models lead Women’s Luncheon

and Fashion attendees in the

Pink Gloves Dance

This past spring St. Francis Medical Center’s auditorium was transformed into a boutique where local young men and women in need could “shop” for formal and professional attire suitable for prom, graduation and job interviews. The St. Francis Medical Center Foundation collected more than 500 new and gently-worn dresses and suits generously donated by the local community, associates and businesses.

With two initial distribution dates, the Foundation provided formal and professional attire to 150 young women and 15 young men. Many of the young adults who participated were emancipated minors, foster children or youth whose families had fallen on hard times. Regardless of personal circumstances, every participant received apparel to help

from prom to the interview room.

The experience was enhanced by our team of “Fairy Godparents,” who served

from station to station, and helping them select the perfect dress, shoes, accessories

men to get them into the perfect suit, tie and shoes. Time and time again, a young woman, sure that there would be no dress suitable for her, would emerge from the dressing room radiating beauty and

Additionally, all participants were able to

etiquette coach Claudia Marroquin, and learned the do’s and don’ts of interacting in formal or professional environments.

discussed.

The Foundation is in the process of creating a permanent Prom Project Boutique on the main Medical Center campus. If you have gently-used business

volunteer with the Prom Project, please contact the SFMC Foundation at (310) 900-7330. Your support will help change the lives of Southeast Los Angeles youth, one suit or dress at a time.

Prom Project 2013

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Fairy Godmother Celeste helping a young lady from Lynwood.

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Our volunteer Fairy Godparent Committee included:

Maria Davila

Denman

McMains

Steinberger

Prom Project Business Partners

The Prom Project received amazing support from the community and local businesses. The SFMC Foundation would

made the Prom Project an amazing success:

Attire For Men A new addition to The Prom Project this year was clothing for men that could be used for prom, graduation, or employment interviews.

Many of these young men had never owned a suit and were thrilled to be a part of this project.

Dub Drees helping a young man knot a tie.

Conner McMains helping to style a young man.

Gerald T. Kozai donating professional attire from his personal wardrobe.

Fairy Godmothers help the young ladies select accessories to match their dresses.

lung cancer in August 2011, the news sent ripples of devastation throughout his family. The patriarch of a large,

eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren rely on him for advice, guidance and emotional support.

of our family. He is an extraordinary man who would express his love and

always taste the love in his meals,” said Dr. Toni Chavis-Greene, a pediatrician in Compton. “Growing up, our door was always open to our friends and anyone needing a helping hand or someone to listen to them.”

family, he had to be strong even in the face of a terrifying diagnosis. As a World War

II veteran of the Montford Point Marines

Americans to serve in the armed forces – and a recipient of the Congressional Medal

in front of the other and carry on in the

variety of specialists across L.A. County. In spite of their diligence, however, Mr.

to St. Francis Medical Center due to reactions to his chemotherapy. The care he received at the hospital was a turning

compassionate, attentive service round the

decided it was time for her father to come home to St. Francis Medical Center.

“Dad was going to specialists really far away and his condition was not improving,” she said. “I wanted him to be in a familiar environment where he would

It was important to me that St. Francis was concerned with health outcomes and quality of service.”

that he called home for decades, Mr.

his cancer—with the care, support and vigilance of his St. Francis medical team.

was stabilized and started to improve. Mr.

with helping him see another Christmas surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His condition

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Team Johnson: Dr. Daljit K. Soni, Grant Johnson and Susan Saca, Radiation Therapist

Coming home to

St. Francis

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Grant Johnson surrounded by his four daughters and his son on his 88th birthday.

Grant Johnson surrounded by multiple generations of his family on his 88th birthday.

has improved enough that, once again,

and is frequently found socializing with his friends at the Dollarhide Senior Center

meals for his family. “I have been able to

Vegas twice in the past year because I feel

well enough to engage in normal activities again.”

Angeles branch of the Montford Point Marines, raising money to improve the lives of other veterans and their families.

team, Radiation Oncologist Dr. Daljit K. Soni and Radiation Therapist Susan Saca for his health. “These women provide me with amazing medical attention. If it was not for Dr. Soni, Susan and St. Francis

home…” at St. Francis.

On September 29, 2012, the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation held its signature gala event- Charity Ball. Over 500 guests attended Charity Ball held at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena. The gala was themed “Compassionate Voices” and celebrated the lives of St. Vincent De Paul, Mother Theresa and Gandhi. The evening

was fun, festive and memorable as one of our best galas to date.

Special individuals exemplifying the spirit and values of the Daughters of Charity were recognized during the program. Dr.

and grandchildren, was honored with the Vincentian Spirit Award- the highest honor the Daughters of Charity and St. Francis Medical Center bestow upon a

is that the honoree is selected by his or her colleagues at the Medical Center.

cardiothoracic vascular surgeon and has practiced at St. Francis Medical Center since 1978. His fellow physicians, with input from SFMC associates, nominated

physician in the halls and operating rooms

with his commitment to the Mission of the Daughters of Charity.

Surrounded by friends and family, Dr. Maxine Anderson accepted the Heart of St. Francis Award with an enthusiastic acceptance speech. The Heart of St. Francis is awarded to a dedicated donor

bringing needed resources to the hospital. This top honor recognizes a commitment to serve our community and to support the Mission of the Daughters of Charity through their generous donation of time, talent and expertise.

Additionally, Charity Ball’s Fund-A-Need

Francis Medical Center’s Vincentian Fund. Total funds raised that evening, including event sponsorships and underwriting support, amounted to nearly $400,000.

generosity of our 2012 Title and Premier Sponsors. These donors have gone above and beyond in their amazing contributions which enabled the event to be a success.

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Charity BallH I G H L I G H T S

Dr. Jose Spiwak, 2012 Vincentian Spirit Honoree, with Gerald T. Kozai, Sr. Joyce Weller, D.C., and Dr. Anantjit Singh.

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Title Sponsors of $25,000

Anthony Ogundipe, M.D.

Premier Sponsors of $10,000

Charity Ball guests, including physicians, enjoying the silent auction and cocktail reception.

Dub and Barry Drees in traditional Indian attire.

Dr. and Mrs. Ashok Raheja, Dr. Manish Mehta, Dr. Gerald T. Kozai, Dr. and Mrs. Anantjit Singh enjoying the Charity Ball.

Drs. Almaas Shaikh, Maxine Anderson and Gracie-Ann Dinkins. Dr. Anderson (center) was the 2012 Heart of St. Francis Award recipient, which was presented to her that evening.

V I D A S A N AW E L L N E S S P R O G R A MW E L L N E S S P R O G R A M

When 74 year old Ana Maria Martinez came to the U.S. from El Salvador to care for her sick daughter, she felt isolated. As someone used to being physically active back home, she was unaccustomed to the sedentary lifestyle of the U.S. The combination of social isolation and a lack of exercise threatened to undermine Ana Maria’s physical and mental health. Then her priest at St. Emydius Church in Lynwood made an announcement during Mass about a community

St. Francis Medical Center’s Healthy Community Initiatives (HCI). Ana Maria jumped at the chance.

The program, Vida Sana--or Healthy Living in Spanish--includes a 12-week

free of charge to community members recruited from eight local faith-based organizations. Vida Sana addresses health from a holistic perspective-encouraging people to move more, eat smarter, get healthy and meditate. Vida Sana works through promotoras, or lay health educators, who speak the same language as the participants at each of the sites throughout South Central and Southeast Los Angeles County.

of local community-based organizations is that these institutions serve, for many, as a primary source of information and a safe haven for the public,” says Gilda Acosta, Director of the Healthy Community Initiatives. “St. Francis is committed to lifting up our community by supporting the healthy and full human development of all and we accomplish this at the grassroots level.”

A recent addition to the Vida Sana

curriculum is the implementation of the Patient Activation Measure instrument and curriculum, also known as PAM. Understanding that diverse communities have varying experiences navigating the U.S. healthcare system, PAM’s patient empowerment modules focus on building upon a patient’s knowledge of the intricacies of the U.S. healthcare industry and improving communication among physicians and patients. PAM seeks to guide patients to better care for themselves by having them take charge of their own health

“Thanks to the generous support from the WellPoint Foundation, part of Anthem Blue Cross, HCI is able to utilize PAM surveys to establish a baseline for how engaged each participant is in his or her own health. By using patient responses to the PAM questionnaire, promotoras are able to gain insight into how patients view their situation and whether or not they feel they have the ability to take steps in the right direction,” stated Gilda.

After the initial assessment, promotoras empower participants by working with them to develop an individualized action plan, which includes realistic actions and achievable goals so participants are accountable for their health outcomes. This includes a patient empowerment module focused understanding the health care system for optimal and appropriate utilization of medical resources.

“Too often, I would hear from folks that they went to the doctors and the doctors didn’t ‘do anything’ and when questioned if they asked the doctor for

they didn’t because they felt scared

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Ana Maria Martinez is a resident of Lynwood and has been an active member of the Vida Sana Program since October 2012.

Vida Sana PromotesCommunity Wellness

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is about developing communication

our participants,” says Gilda. “Only by enabling our patients to advocate on their own behalf will we be able to

overall.”

About Claudia AlcalaAbout Claudia Alcala

“I cannot remember exactly, but I believe

I wanted to help people,” says Claudia Alcala, promotora at St. Emydius Church in Lynwood. “I grew up in the nearby

to my community while training to be a Registered Nurse.”

Claudia is a nursing student at East Los Angeles College and started volunteering with Vida Sana based on her father’s recommendation. “My dad told me to go to the Volunteer Department at St. Francis and apply for a position. He heard that the Volunteer Department at St. Francis trained and placed people in areas they were interested in. Eventually, I was hired to serve as the Lynwood promotora.”

Through the charitable support of the Aetna Foundation, promotoras

Ana Maria, her daughter Carmen and her great-nieces going for a family hike to the Hollywood Sign in

continued on next page

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Association of America. This training

physiology, instructional techniques and injury prevention. Promotoras learn how to carefully evaluate program participants and build an individualized plan that includes diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Promotoras also serve as motivators and mentors who provide constant reinforcement that small lifestyle changes on a consistent basis add up to big improvements in overall health.

“I am motivated by the people I serve,” says Claudia. “When 74 year old Ana Maria Martinez started the Vida Sana program, I remember she was unable to

Maria did not allow this to stop her. She

Before Vida Sana, Ana Maria had issues managing her diabetes. Since joining Vida Sana, Ana Maria feels great, and routine medical examinations from her primary care physician demonstrate that she has learned to control her blood sugar levels through diet, exercise and medication.

“When my family started seeing the

Carmen, decided to join,” stated Ana Maria Martinez. “Since joining the

program, I have tried to incorporate physical activity into my new life here in the U.S. Recently, my daughter and I decided we should go for a climb with my 20 year old nieces and their children. Well, Carmen and I made it to the Hollywood sign, but my nieces didn’t. They were so impressed by Carmen and me that they decided to join Vida Sana too.”

Start line for the inaugural Vida Sana 5K/10K run/walk in February 2012.

Zumba is one of the weekly Vida Sana exercise classes, happening in eight centers.

The St. Francis Medical Center Foundation is proud to announce its participation in the Ralphs and Food 4 Less Community Rewards Programs. The Foundation becomes eligible to receive up to 5 percent of a reward card member’s monthly grocery bill. This additional revenue will support the Holiday Toy Drive, the Prom Project, breast health services and more.

To participate in this program, you must register your Ralphs and/or Food 4 Less reward card(s) online. Once you are registered, please visit the Community Rewards website of the grocery store of your choice. Scroll down to Participant and select Enroll.

support our community programs. If you have any problems registering, please contact the Foundation.

Ralphs Rewards Card UsersRegister rewards card online athttp://www.ralphs.comFoundation Code: 93560

Food 4 Less Rewards Card UsersRegister rewards card online athttp://www.food4less.comFoundation Code: 93560

Ralphs and Food 4 Less Community Rewards

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PARTNER WITH ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION TORAISE FUNDS FOR OUR SWEET BEGINNINGS INITIATIVE!

Proceeds will fund improvements to our Family Life Center ensuring moms and babies have the best start possible.

Title Sponsor: $25,000 3 Premium, Stage-Front Tables of 10 Title sponsor on invita on and event materials Full-page feature ad (inside front or back cover) in program book

*Reserved for rst three Title Sponsorships received.Title sponsor signage at event including main stage Foursome at 2013 Golf Tournament

Premier Sponsor: $10,000 2 Premium Se Tables of 10 Premier sponsor on and event materials Full-page ad in program book Special sponsor signage at event including main stage Logo and link on hospital website event page

Prese Sponsor: $7,500 1 Preferred Se Table of 10

on and event materials Half-page ad in program book

Gold Sponsor: $5,000 1 Table of 10 Gold sponsor on invita on and event materials

Quarter-page ad in program book

Individual Ticket(s): $500 per person

PROGRAM BOOK ADS(Please Circle One)

Full-Pa Ad $1,000 (7.5”x10”)

Half- Ad $750 (7.5”x4.75” horizontal)

Quarter-Pa e Ad $500 (3.5x4.75”)

Ad Deadline & Artwork Submission: The program book will be printed in 8.5”x11” format. Ads are full color and artwork must be

in a high- PDF (300 DPI) electronic e no later than October 4, 2013.

CONTACT GRACE MENDEZ FOR FURTHER DETAILS:(310) 900-7331 / gracemendez@dochs.org

MISSI NFOCUSSt. Francis Medical Center Foundation

Fun(d) Dates to RememberHow Will the Affordable CareAct (Obamacare) Impact YourSmall Business?Wednesday, September 25, 2013

starting at 7:30amProgram from 8:00am to 9:30am St. Francis Medical Center Auditorium

Natalie Orta from the Small BusinessAdministration and Marcia Davalosfrom the Small Business Majority for a

health care changes and how these

This event is organized at St. FrancisMedical Center in collaboration with

Rendon, Covered California, the SmallBusiness Administration and the GreaterLynwood and South Gate Chambers ofCommerce.

For additional details and to RSVP,please contact Congresswoman

hahn.house.gov/reservation.

Charity Ball 2013Saturday, November 2, 2013

Dinner and Awards starting at 7pmMillennium Biltmore Hotel506 S. Grand Ave.Los Angeles, CA 90071

theme, you can expect glamorous eracostumes, big band entertainment, diningand dancing as well as silent and liveauctions. Proceeds will support St. FrancisMedical Center’s Sweet BeginningsInitiative and fund improvements to ourFamily Life Center ensuring that momsand babies have the best start possible.

For ticket and sponsorshipinformation, please contact

or gracemendez@dochs.org.

Holiday Toy and Food DriveNov. 12 to Dec. 25, 2013St. Francis Medical Center Foundation

Medical Plaza Building, 4th Floor,Suite 404

To help spread the holiday cheer, the St.Francis Medical Center Family activelydistributes toys and food to familiesin need. Recipients include families

and Pediatrics Departments, the Health

Counseling Center, Footprints Program,our Community Clinics, Casa DeEsperanza, and Southeast Los Angelescommunity residents.

For further details, please contact

or michellethomas@dochs.org.