The Healthcare Foundation’s Celebrate Our Future Gala
The Comstock Family and Comstock Development have long supported the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, an organization dedicated to raising funds in support of underserved and vulnerable community members to eliminate health inequities in northern Sonoma County. Their three main areas of focus are: healthcare access, mental health and early childhood development. The organization’s belief that every person — regardless of age, income, race, ethnicity, immigration or health status- deserves access to quality health and mental healthcare has never been so important in the wake of the global pandemic we are all experiencing together
On August 28, they celebrated their 20th anniversary with their gala, “Celebrate our Future” where themes for the evening were “collaboration” and “health equity.” Guests listened to the musical talents of acts such as Jive Samba and Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble while sipping on wine donated by eight local wineries. Our friends at Mill District were generous enough to host them on their property
Approximately 200 people attended and they were able to raise an incredible $480,000 via sponsorships, their “Fund-a-Need” event and live and online auctions throughout the night.
Speakers included Board Chair Scott Hafner, Executive Director Kim Bender and Mental Health Talent Pipeline Participant Daisey Cardenas. Daisey is one of 15 bilingual, bicultural students in the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at USF Santa Rosa, that the HCF supports with full tuition scholarships.
Daisey Cardenas delivers a powerful speech
Daisy was inspired to pursue this career when she learned that people in need were waiting from six month to a year for a mental health provider who speaks Spanish. "Mental health can't wait." Daisy decided to pursue her MFT at USF Santa Rosa because of the strength of the program, but when she looked at the tuition and her budget, it was cost prohibitive. Shortly thereafter, she received a call from the USF Program Coordinator telling her about the Healthcare Foundation Mental Health Talent Pipeline scholarships. Upon receiving a scholarship, she was able to enroll in the graduate program, making her the first person in her immediate and extended family not only to graduate from high school and get her bachelor's degree, but now to get her Master's degree.
Daisy said she cannot describe the relief that she feels every time she meets a new client, "when they see that I look like them, I speak their language, and understand what they are going through."
In line with the HCF’s commitment to public health, every single person who attended, whether guest, staff person, caterer and performer, submitted proof of vaccination prior to the gala (which was the Healthcare Foundation’s first in-person event since 2019.) HCF also strongly encouraged everyone coming to take a rapid test the day before the event to add another layer of protection. Knowing that 100% of the people at the outdoor event were vaccinated helped create a more relaxed environment for the celebration. As one guest said, "This is the safest event I've attended in eighteen months."
Thank you, Healthcare Foundation, for all that you do to amplify the message that “together, we can make Sonoma County an even better place to live, work, play- for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, age, income, health or immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, preferred language, ability or an other identity".”