Sequoia Hospital Foundation Welcomes New President

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Jennifer Svihus has become the new president of the Sequoia Hospital Foundation, the board of directors announced over a week ago.

For three decades, the Sequoia Hospital Foundation has partnered with the community to secure the funds and resources necessary to support Sequoia Hospital’s life-changing and life-saving programs — and Svihus fulfills that role ideally.

The health care professional comes to the Sequoia Hospital Foundation with more than 30 years of nonprofit management experience in health care and higher education fundraising. She brings proven leadership and management experience to the foundation as well as a passion for supporting patients and their families often dealing with challenging moments in their lives.

“With her innate kindness and her breadth of nonprofit management and fundraising experience, Jennifer Svihus is uniquely positioned to further the mission of our organization in new and innovative ways,” said Joan Ulibarri, Sequoia Hospital Foundation’s board chair. “We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer and to partner with her as we continue our work to provide critical funding support to Sequoia Hospital.”

Most recently, Svihus was senior associate in the health care practice of Bentz Whaley Flessner based in Minneapolis.

Beyond working as a consultant, Svihus served as executive director for fundraising at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, as vice president of philanthropy for Sutter Health’s Valley Region and as associate vice chancellor for development at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Earlier in her career, Svihus worked with the University of California, San Diego Health Sciences and Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

“The Sequoia Hospital Foundation has a celebrated history of supporting the goals of Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital, and I am excited to build on that legacy,” Svihus said.