2006 was an incredible year for philanthropy.

National publications hailed the fact that the nation’s second wealthiest individual, Warren Buffet, decided to bequeath the bulk of his $40 billion estate to the nation’s wealthiest individual, Bill Gates and his Gates Foundation. Mr. Buffet first made provisions for his family, but observed that his financial success would best be stewarded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

 
Americans provided record-setting charitable gifts to hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, making 2006 the most charitable year in history. Many have referred to this as the advent of the “Golden Age of Philanthropy” with wealthy individuals making generous gifts to worthy non-profits. The phrase “Golden Age” harkens back to the dawn of the 20th century, when Andrew Carnegie, Andrew Mellon, and John D. Rockefeller created foundations to support charitable causes.

2006 at Little Company of Mary was also a record-breaking year with more than $12 million in gifts to our Foundation. Gifts from our donors — individuals, foundations, corporations, physicians, nurses, employees, volunteers, community members — propelled our $50 million Legacy Campaign over the top.

Gifts and pledges totaling $52,821,000 represent the most successful fundraising effort of the Little Company of Mary Community Health Foundation. Very few community hospitals have succeeded in raising such a significant sum of money.

Our success is tied to Little Company of Mary’s long-standing commitment to meeting the health needs of the community. Our hospitals in San Pedro and Torrance have the latest technology. We invested in nursing through the George W. and Virginia Schneider Institute for Nursing and the San Pedro Institute for Nursing. We have substantially increased our endowment, which provides a critical financial anchor for the future.

The Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Charitable Foundation, Inc. was our largest donor to the Legacy Campaign. Through their generosity, we established the Vasek Polak Cardiovascular Institute and are poised to open our new Vasek Polak Health Clinic in Hawthorne.

Many other gifts — large and small — have enabled the Foundation to sustain our Collaborative for Alternatives to Violence and Abuse, our Partners for Healthy Kids mobile pediatric van, our Women and Children’s Clinic in Harbor City. We take seriously the commitment to have a preference “for the poor and vulnerable” and have been fortunate in securing funds for our many charitable care programs.

An incredible cadre of volunteers provided outstanding leadership during the Campaign. Campaign Chair Sr. Carol Pacini, L.C.M., worked closely with her colleague Sr. Terrence Landini, L.C.M. These two dynamic religious leaders lead by example. The Sisters of Little Company of Mary provided gifts, and their generosity inspired others to give.

Honorary Campaign Chair Bill DeMucci, Major Gifts Chair Marie Crimi Roser, our dedicated Foundation Board of Trustees, and our committed staff all contributed to the team effort. Leadership and inspiration from retired chief executive Blair Contratto was incredibly important in making the case for support within our organization and with our friends in the community.

Finally, we were successful because of you!

Nearly 10,000 donors made gifts. Two are quite significant. Jean Vachon received compassionate care while a patient in our San Pedro Hospital. Sadly, she died in 2006, but left a bequest to the hospital in excess of $4 million. An anonymous woman made her largest charitable gift — a gift of $1000 in appreciation for the Sisters of Little Company who took her in decades ago when she was penniless and provided her with a loving environment as she delivered a healthy, baby boy.

Thank you, Jean Vachon. Thank you, our anonymous Mom. And thank you to our team of community friends and volunteers, physicians, nurses and foundation staff members. It was a “golden year” at the Little Company of Mary Community Health Foundation.

Please accept my profound thanks.

 
Joseph M. Zanetta, J.D.
President, Little Company of Mary Community Health Foundation
September 1, 2007