$1.75M Donated In An Effort To 'Save Watsonville Community Hospital'

News release from The Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project:

WATSONVILLE, CA — The Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project announced today that Watsonville-based berry company Driscoll’s will donate $1.75 million to save Watsonville Community Hospital. According to the company, it was the community’s strong fundraising response to their matching pledge challenge that made the difference.

“We donated to save Watsonville Community Hospital because our community’s health matters,” said Miles Reiter, Driscoll’s CEO. “Driscoll’s would like to thank everyone that donated to help keep Watsonville Community Hospital open. Our goal was to jump start our community fundraising efforts. Because of the community’s response to our pledge, we are pleased to donate $1.75 million that will accompany the community donations.”

Many generous donors responded to Driscoll’s fundraising challenge which resulted in over $1,580,000 raised to date, which when added to the $1,750,000 from Driscoll’s brings the total contributions raised to $3.33 million. Community donations are still welcomed and will continue being accepted throughout the ongoing acquisition process.

“We had donations at all levels, from one million dollars to a ten-dollar donation that was mailed to PVHDP – and we are grateful for every single donation. Thank you to everyone who stepped up and showed their commitment to saving Watsonville Community Hospital,” said Jasmine Nájera, Pajaro Valley Healthcare District board member. “This is the momentum we need to carry through over the next two months to raise the money needed – and we are well on our way.”

Over 268 donors participated in the Driscoll’s challenge to date, with the largest donation coming from Blue Shield of California at $1,000,000, as well as significant donations coming from the community: $100,000 from Dobler and Sons, $55,000 from the Watsonville Community Hospital Medical Staff, $50,000 from Rowland and Pat Rebele, $50,000 from the Watsonsville Community Hospital ER Vituity Providers, $50,000 from the Chinese Community of Watsonville and $50,000 from the Robert and Carol Simpkins Family Fund. In addition, Connie and Tom Wilson joined Sue H. Wilson and Family to donate $30,000.

Interested community members can still donate through PVHDP’s website at PVHDP.org.

This news release was produced by The Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project. The views expressed here are the author’s own.