The Saint Francis Foundation’s 26th annual Hob Nob Gala fundraiser, held virtually on December 12, raised more than $300,000 that will go toward the community grant program and other vital hospital services. The event theme, “Unmasking the Future,” was a nod to the courage and innovation of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital during a challenging pandemic year.
The Hob Nob Gala featured a VIP and sponsor pre-event cocktail meetup and a program of inspiring guests and lively entertainment. The live broadcast included inspiring messages from several patients, a special message from California Governor Gavin Newsom, and a testimonial by author Toni Newman. Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist and songwriter Carla Helmbrecht performed for the audience. The event also included a presentation of the 2020 Bella Farrow Award to Dr. Kathleen Jordan, M.D.
Event goers from 268 households, who showed up on their screens in everything from formal wear to pajamas, enjoyed a dinner catered by Betty Zlatchin personally delivered to their homes. Local auctioneer Greg Quiroga raised additional funds via a lively auction, including a private jet to Amangiri Resort in Utah that sold for $17,000, easily the most expensive bid of the evening.
Since 1905, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital has been an anchor for the San Francisco community, offering unmatched healthcare to vulnerable population and never turning away anyone in need of help. In April 2020, Saint Francis established and still maintains the City’s designated COVID-19 unit that provides essential care and significant economic lifelines to healthcare workers.
The hospital opened its Gender Institute in 2016 to meet the physical and mental health needs of San Francisco’s transgender population with compassionate, high-quality, and affordable services. Saint Francis has provided more gender confirmation procedures than any other hospital in the U.S.
Saint Francis also houses the Women’s Health Center, which provides comprehensive care to help thousands of women of all ages find answers, diagnoses, treatment and, ultimately, relief from pain and suffering. Additionally, Saint Francis’ Bothin Burn Center, the largest burn center in the Northwest, provides treatment for approximately 500 seriously burned patients – 70 percent of which are children and elderly – from their first acute trauma to their return home.
Hob Nob Gala sponsors included Genentech, Hathaway Dinwiddie, Allen Matkins, Academy of Art University and First Republic Bank.
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Donna Berry Glass is a freelance writer in Marin County who writes mostly about family and kid-oriented topics. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family exploring the natural beauty of Marin, snuggling with her Cavalier King Charles spaniel while reading a good book or whipping up something delicious in her space-challenged kitchen. Donna is a supporter of the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to seniors and disabled individuals.