Last Saturday night's black-tie gala at Louis M. Martini Winery did a lot more than dazzle with gowns and cabernet. Roughly 200 Napa Valley residents, business leaders and philanthropists turned out and helped raise more than $5 million to bankroll a community-owned Rapid Care & Primary Care Center for St. Helena. Organizers said the money will go toward purchasing and outfitting the new clinic and creating easier pathways to local primary care.
What’s Being Built
The St. Helena Hospital Foundation will own and operate the Rapid Care & Primary Care Center, which organizers say will be located at 807 St. Helena Highway S and provide 12-hour, seven-days-a-week access to non-emergency and primary care, according to the Napa Valley Register. Foundation and hospital leaders described the clinic as a place to treat minor injuries, handle prescription refills and connect patients with ongoing primary-care relationships.
Gala Highlights And Major Gifts
The sold-out evening at Louis M. Martini featured a live auction of 14 lots, including luxury escapes to Bora Bora and Lanai and a private Tacori vault shopping experience. Organizers said Lauren Dickson and her husband, Roger, underwrote all event costs so every dollar raised would go to buying and outfitting the new clinic. A $1 million matching gift from the Roger J. Trinchero Family Foundation helped push the total past $5 million, as reported by the Napa Valley Register. Dr. Steven Herber, president of Adventist Health St. Helena, called the project one of the most significant community-health investments the region has seen in recent memory.
What’s Next And How To Help
Fundraising is still underway, and supporters can give through shhfoundation.org or by emailing [email protected]. The St. Helena Hospital Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3), per the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, and officials say Adventist Health St. Helena will work with local leaders to move the project from the fundraising phase to opening the doors in the months ahead. For more on the evening itself, including the full program, see the event listing on NapaValley.com.
