Saint John’s Health Center Foundation had something of a homecoming August 24th with the opening of its new office space at 2221 Santa Monica Boulevard.
The Foundation, which helps inspire community support for both Providence Saint John’s Health Center and the John Wayne Cancer Institute, had moved to off-campus quarters after the Northridge earthquake. “The new building brings the Foundation home again,” said Foundation board chair Donna L. Schweers. “It puts us just steps from the two institutions we work hard to support, and makes the people we work with immediately and easily accessible.”
The new space, remodeled to the Foundation’s specifications, includes parking, offices, a reception area and state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities within conference room space ample enough to accommodate more than 100 active trustees.
The official opening event drew a substantial turnout that included Foundation president and CEO Robert O. Klein, John Wayne Cancer Foundation president Catherine Brown, Thomas C. Geiser, Saint John’s Health Center board chair, and many trustees, physicians, researchers and administrative team members from both the Health Center and the Institute. Three major support groups—the Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer Studies (ABCs), the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary and the Irene Dunne Guild all had members in attendance as well.
After a welcome by Schweers, Sister Maureen Craig, SCL, Foundation chaplain, gave the invocation. Following a blessing of the front door by Father Patrick Comerford, the ribbon was cut by Klein, Schweers and John M. Robertson, MD (former Foundation chair).
“This new space extends our ability to garner the resources that will enable us to achieve new heights in patient care, foster a new generation of cancer research and leadership, and enable bold investments in community care for the underserved,” said Klein after the ceremony.
Those interested in learning more about the many ways they can help create better health care for their community are invited to contact the Foundation at 310-829-8424.