International Bestselling Author Dean Koontz shares his Hoag Story
The Hoag Hospital Foundation honored nearly 200 philanthropists at its 24th annual Hoag Heritage Society Luncheon on February 6th at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach. The literary-themed event honored Hoag Benefactor, grateful patient and International Bestselling Author Dean Koontz.
During his remarks, Dean lauded Hoag Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit nurses and physicians who saved his life after he collapsed from a bleeding ulcer. With humor, he regaled the audience with stories of his and wife Gerda’s adventures. “Years later, because of Hoag and the doctors and nurses working there, I lost half my blood but not my life,” he said. “Hoag is not just a hospital. It is a treasure. Hoag is where the best and brightest save lives every day.”
To the delight of the crowd, Dean shared that he and Gerda named Hoag as a beneficiary of their estate. “When we give to Hoag, we are giving to our neighbors, our community and to future generations,” he said.
Heritage Society Donors Key to Hoag Promise Campaign Success
Flynn A. Andrizzi, Ph.D., president, Hoag Hospital Foundation shared that Planned Giving donors, those who include Hoag in their estate plans, account for a significant portion of the funds raised during the Hoag Promise
Flynn A. Andrizzi, Ph.D., president, Hoag Hospital Foundation shared that Planned Giving donors, those who include Hoag in their estate plans, account for a significant portion of the funds raised during the Hoag Promise Campaign. He cited Dr. Rudolph and Dorothy Baldoni, Hans and Laura Wang and the late Margaret Weimar as three examples of the many ways donors can use Planned Giving to support Hoag while also meeting their personal financial goals.
“Thanks to you, our generous community of donors, we came out of a record-breaking fundraising year which brought us to the $500,000,000 mark right at the end of the year,” he said. “Today, we stand at $518M on the way to our Campaign goal of $627M by the end of 2020.”
Executive Director of Gift Planning Julie Heggeness, JD, CSPG, TEP, acknowledged members of the Planned Giving Advisory Committee, a group of professionals who volunteer their service to assist the Foundation in educating community members interested in making planned gifts. She also thanked Heritage Society members for their generosity.
“We are excited to welcome many new members and I look forward to hearing all of your Hoag stories,” said Julie. “The best part of my job is learning about your connections to Hoag and how much it means to you and your families.”
The program also included a welcome message from Mark A. Hardtke, member of the Planned Giving Advisory Committee and a director of the Hoag Hospital Foundation Board, an update on the state of Hoag by Michael Ricks, Hoag executive vice president and chief operating officer, as well as an inspiring invocation by Rev. Don Oliver Ph.D., Chaplain Director of Pastoral Care at Hoag.
The Hoag Heritage Society is an extraordinary group of loyal donors who positively impact current and future generations by providing a gift to Hoag in their estate plans. For more information about the Hoag Heritage Society, please contact Julie Heggeness at (949) 764-7206 or Julie.Heggeness@hoag.org.
To view photos from this year's Hoag Heritage Society Luncheon, please click here.
About the Hoag Hospital Foundation
Thanks in large part to philanthropy, Hoag has become one of the nation’s finest health care systems and serves a diverse and growing population. Hoag Hospital Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hoag (a separate 501(c)(3) corporation), is an integral partner in Hoag’s vision to become a trusted and nationally recognized health care leader.
The Foundation launched Hoag Promise, Our Campaign to Lead, Innovate & Transform with a goal of $627 million by December 31, 2020, making it one of the largest campaigns to date in community-based health care. The Hoag Promise Campaign is comprehensive in the truest sense of the word. Every leader from every area is engaged. Every institute and center is touched. Every program is enhanced. The goal is to drive Hoag’s continued clinical leadership, innovative spirit and transformative potential. Please visit www.HoagPromise.org.
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