WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHD) announced Thursday that Watsonville-based berry company Driscoll’s will donate $1.75 million to help save Watsonville Community Hospital.
PVHD is currently fundraising in order to meet a July 1 deadline in order to purchase the hospital. In late May, they were still $16 million short, and called on local organizations and the community for help.
Drisocll’s representatives said 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,” Driscoll’s CEO Miles Reiter said in a press release. “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.”
More than 268 donors participated in the Driscoll’s challenge, 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 Watsonville Community Hospital ER Vitality 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.
This resulted in over $1,580,000 raised to date. When added to the $1,750,000 from Driscoll’s it will raise the total contributions 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 $1 million to a $10 donation that was mailed to PVHDP—and we are grateful for every single donation,” Jasmine Nájera, PVHDP board member said in a press release. “Thank you to everyone who stepped up and showed their commitment to saving Watsonville Community Hospital. 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.”For information, and to make a donation, visit pvhdp.org.
These is no mention here or on Driscolls web site that I can see of where to make donation that they will match.