Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1470104
10 | Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center Honoring Our Heroes Providence St. Mary Foundation's 30th annual gala highlights caregivers. N early 200 supporters of Providence St. Mary Medical Center gathered in March to salute a group that truly deserves recognition: the hospital's staff of dedicated caregivers. The 30th annual Providence St. Mary Medical Center Foundation Gala, dubbed "Honoring Our Heroes," raised more than $288,000 from many generous donations. The funds will directly support the departments in which the hospital's caregivers work. From the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to the Environmental Services (EVS) Department, the funds raised throughout the night allowed the Apple Valley hospital to purchase equipment critical to hospital operations, such as a transporter, two isolette cribs, a carpet extractor and a closed-circuit television (CCTV) server. Providence St. Mary chief philanthropy officer John Kozyra, who served as the gala's emcee, says the equipment will enhance caregivers' ability to care for patients. "Our caregivers are the backbone of Providence St. Mary Medical Center, and COVID-19 has only proven that fact," Kozyra says. "In the face of the worst pandemic of our lifetime, they rose—and continue to rise—to the occasion to ensure our patients receive the best possible care. During the planning of this historic gala, I never second- guessed who we were going to put in the spotlight. It was always going to be our caregivers. We can't thank them enough for the noble and tireless work they do." The evening event, held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Victorville, included an "Honoring Our Heroes" video, which highlighted EVS, Materials Management and Security—departments that are vital to Providence St. Mary 's operation. A NIGHT OF AWARDS AND ENTERTAINMENT Beyond caregivers, Roy and Diane Clennan received the Spirit Award, which was accepted by their son, Rob, who challenged the community to match the family 's $60,000 gift. He then told the 190 guests in attendance the story of how his grandmother 's life had been saved at Providence St. Mary even though she could not afford to pay for her surgery. Meanwhile, Joseph and Rosanne Smith received the inaugural Legacy Award for their many years of unwavering dedication and support. The gala's entertainment included a performance by country music singer and High Desert resident Brennley Brown, who was born at Providence St. Mary. Brown recently gained national fame by earning a sixth-place finish on The Voice in 2017, in addition to competing on America's Got Talent a year earlier. Providence St. Mary chief executive Randall Castillo and chief medical officer Dr. Charlie Abraham thanked the community, caregivers and physicians for their support and hard work—especially over the past two years amid the pandemic. Five trips were auctioned during the event, including a helicopter flight over Las Vegas, a week in San Juan Capistrano and an exclusive "Mexican Casa" for 10 on the Mexican Riviera. Providence St. Mary Medical Center thanks everyone who donated their hard-earned money during the gala, the award winners and the foundation board for their support. "This community 's generosity continuously allows our caregivers to deliver quality care," Kozyra says. "We couldn't do our important work without them." Visit supportstmaryav.org to learn more about the Providence St. Mary Medical Center Foundation.