April 5, 2024

At the end of January, the Board of Directors of the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation announced that our organization experienced a cash flow deficit, which forced us to temporarily suspend some of the Foundation’s functions and implement cost-cutting measures. Unfortunately, this also required us to make a difficult decision – lay off our hardworking staff. In the aftermath of the announcements, we have promised to keep you, our community, informed on the progress we are making and, on our plans to continue the work that MCHF has done for many years.

A financial analysis showed that while we were and still are experiencing a cash flow deficit, the Foundation remains financially sound due to its asset holdings. We are in the process of selling some of these assets to generate operating cash. We also are expecting to receive payment in the next 6-8 weeks of a USDA grant that was awarded last year in the amount of $199,000.

Since our announcement, two important questions that the community has been asking are:

1. How does this affect the healthcare scholarship program?
2. What will happen with Winesong this year?

First, we remain committed to our very successful scholarship program, and we continue to meet our obligations to students, paying out over $70,000 in scholarships and awards this year already. We are taking this opportunity to review the program and make a few minor restructuring amendments before resuming accepting applications for new scholarships.

Our hallmark fundraising event, Winesong, remains a cherished celebration of our community’s commitment to healthcare on the coast. The Board realizes that last year’s efforts to try something new did not meet expectations from our community, our vendors, nor ourselves. It also contributed to the financial status we found ourselves in at the end of the year. This September, Winesong will be a smaller event. The Board made the decision that this year should be a transition year to get back on track and back to our roots. Next year, we are looking forward to being back at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens for our 40th Anniversary of Winesong. As for this year, we’re excited to announce that Winesong will be held at Little River Inn, affectionately dubbed Winesong South, due to their generous support throughout the years. This will enable us to regroup and focus while simultaneously planning for a larger, traditional Winesong in 2025. Tickets will be available soon and we invite you to take part in this transitional year.

The Board wishes to express our regret for this unfortunate situation. We are immensely grateful for the support and understanding that have been overwhelmingly received from our community. We remain committed to our mission to help meet the healthcare needs of our coastal community now and well into the future.

Sincerely,

Terry Ramos, President

On behalf of the Board of Directors Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or (707) 961-4688.

Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

January 29, 2024

The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation) has a history of over 40 years serving the Mendocino Coast community by raising funds to meet local healthcare needs. Most recently, that has involved offering scholarships to young people who are pursuing careers in nursing and other health professions. During our long history, we have worked hard to be transparent with the community we serve.

MCHFoundation came out of the pandemic in relatively good shape financially, which was a win since many of our fundraisers had to be canceled or held virtually. In 2023, we were excited to return to in-person events and held a four-day Winesong fundraiser to celebrate. Unfortunately, we experienced significant, unexpected cost overruns along with lower-than-predicted pledges. We also have experienced delays in being reimbursed for a large grant, and this significant funding has yet to be received. These factors, along with other unexpected expenses associated with the needed renovation of our office building, have put our organization in a cash flow deficit. As a result, the MCHF Board of Directors has decided to reduce our staff. This saddens us greatly, as our staff have done a wonderful job, and we are taking this opportunity to thank each of them publicly for their service.

We remain committed to this community and to fundraising to fill local healthcare needs. We plan to maintain and continue the scholarship program which has been very successful and has awarded dozens of scholarships to local students since it began four years ago. We remain committed to honoring the scholarships awarded to date. We also plan to continue to hold many of our regular fundraisers.

We will continue to keep you, our community and our donors, informed as to our progress. We intend to learn from this situation and grow from the experience. We are working hard to maintain your continued trust and support.

For more information, contact Terry Ramos, President, at [email protected].

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or (707) 961-4688.

Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

October 1, 2023

Fort Bragg, CA—October 2, 2023—The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation is proud to announce the 2023 Charlene McAllister Excellence in Nursing Award, Mark Bellm, Director of Nursing of Sherwood Oaks Post Acute Care. Excellence in Nursing Honorable Mentions were also awarded to Melissa Hosier RN, Mendocino Coast Clinics; Kei Velazquez CNM, Mendocino Coast Clinics; Jennifer Salyer RN, Mendocino Coast Clinics; Dolores Taubold CNA, Adventist Health Mendocino Coast; Brittany Dilley RN, Adventist Health Mendocino Coast; Ariane Casey RN, Adventist Health Mendocino Coast, and Rebecca Yaffe RN, Adventist Health Mendocino Coast.

The Excellence in Nursing awardees demonstrate expertise in their professional practice, work to positively impact patient outcomes and experience, foster respect among their peers, and embody nursing ethics in their work.

MCHFoundation is proud to recognize Mark Bellm for his compassion and extraordinary care to his residents and coworkers at Sherwood Oaks Post Acute Care. Mark has been instrumental in creating a new Electronic Health Records system, implementing COVID-19 safety measures, and ensuring the comfort and safety of the residents at Sherwood Oaks. Business Manager Denise Vicars insists, “We need to show Mark just how much he makes a difference. I respect him as a nurse, this human, this man I get to call my coworker. He has chosen a life of health care, and he does it with respect and heart. His compassion is an opportunity to see health care in the right light and with love”.

The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation plans to award the Charlene McAllister Excellence in Nursing Award and Honorable Mentions during a series of ceremonies held at each participating facility. The namesake of the Annual Excellence in Nursing Award is MCHFoundation Vice President and lifelong nurse, Charlene McAllister. Charlene worked as a nurse for over 40 years, moving to the Mendocino coast in 1982 to work as Director of Nursing Services at the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Charlene has been involved with the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation, formerly the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, since 1987. She remains an active volunteer with a rich history of contributions to health and wellness. MCHFoundation is pleased to recognize Charlene’s many years of service, and dedication to the Foundation’s mission, through this award.

The Charlene McAllister Award is a project of the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation All In for Nursing Initiative to support the recruitment and retention of skilled nurses on the Mendocino coast. The All In for Nursing Initiative provides critical funds to support our community’s current and future healthcare providers. The All In for Nursing Initiative includes a scholarship campaign that provides funds for the continued education of working coastal nurses, college students working toward their nursing degree, and high school students considering a healthcare career. The All In for Nursing Initiative includes a component to work directly with our health and wellness partners to address the immediate needs of the local nursing community.

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or (707) 961-4688.

Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

August 1, 2023

FORT BRAGG, CA — Mendocino and Lake County residents now have a unique opportunity to pursue a world-class nursing education, thanks to a new collaboration between Pacific Union College (PUC), Adventist Health Mendocino Coast, and the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation).

PUC has reserved 18 seats in their incoming RN class specifically for local applicants, with no lottery system. Qualified employees from Adventist Health Mendocino Coast will be considered first for the openings, with any remaining slots opened to interested candidates from the Mendocino and Lake County regions. The board approved, hybrid nursing program is ideal for working adults looking to advance their career without sacrificing their current job or income.

Through its innovative RN Student Support Fund, MCHFoundation aims to offer generous financial assistance to each of the 18 accepted students to help offset the cost of travel, books, childcare, and other education-related expenses. To date, the fund has helped six nursing students afford to complete their degree—four of whom remained on the coast to begin their career after graduation.

“There is a critical need for these funds, especially for students from Mendocino and Lake County,” says Mary Kate McKenna, CFRE, Executive Director of MCHFoundation. “Tuition for nursing school is extremely costly, and when you factor in expenses like gas for the drive to campus and childcare during class time, it can be enough to make talented, qualified students reconsider.”

The cost to support the cohort of 18 students throughout the entirety of their program, which begins this September, is $650,000—or $50,000 per semester. MCHFoundation is seeking philanthropic partners to invest in this important collaboration and innovative solution to the nursing shortage on the Mendocino Coast. The goal is to secure the funding by August, so that students can receive the exciting news about their scholarship in acceptance letters.

The RN Student Support Fund is one component of MCHFoundation’s broader All In For Nurses initiative—which increases access to education, eliminates financial barriers, and recognizes the hard work and dedication of our local healthcare heroes.

“This collaboration is the first of its kind in the country, and an opportunity for our neighbors to step up for the men and women who are keeping our beloved coastal communities healthy and thriving,” says Mary Kate. “Years ago, when Mendocino College needed funding to complete its Physiology Lab—the space that would support a mandatory nursing pre-requisite course—our MCHFoundation donors helped to close the gap and make it happen. I am hopeful that together, we can do it again today for these 18 deserving future nurses.”

To make a gift to the RN Student Support Fund, or to learn more about how MCHFoundation is All In For Nurses, please reach out to Mary Tinder, Community Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or 707-961-4924.

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or 707-961-4688.

Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

June 1, 2023

FORT BRAGG, CA— Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation) is excited to announce six awardees of the third annual All In For Nurses INSPIRE Scholarships.

This unique scholarship addresses the caregiver shortage on the Mendocino Coast by supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals. Specifically, INSPIRE provides financial aid for coastal high school seniors pursuing college degrees dedicated to community health and wellness. The Scholarship Committee selects up to six students annually to receive $1,500 and up to two $20,000 INSPIRE+ awardees ($5,000 renewable installments over four years).

Thanks to the generosity of local donors, MCHFoundation has awarded $80,000 in scholarships to 16 students to date. In addition to pursuing careers in the field of health care, student awardees have expressed an explicit desire to return to the coast and apply their education to advance the wellness of our community.

To learn more about the INSPIRE Scholarship and other financial assistance provided to aspiring medical professionals by MCHFoundation’s All In For Nurses Initiative, please reach out to Mary Tinder, Community Engagement Manager, at [email protected] or 707-961-4924.

Located in Fort Bragg, California, Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation) provides a path for vital community investment through supporting the health and wellness of our Mendocino Coast communities.

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or 707-961-4688.

January 25, 2023

FORT BRAGG, CA — The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation) is partnering with the Fort Bragg Police Department and local psychologist, Dr. Kianna Zielesch, to implement Public Safety Mind Health, a new Trauma Counseling Program for all police department employees.

This program, funded by a grant from MCHFoundation, is a giant step forward in helping to eliminate the stigma around mental health, which is especially prevalent in the public safety profession. The funding will connect each police department staff member with Dr. Zielesch, who specializes in first responder trauma, for two private Mind Health Checkups per year—one every six months.

“The checkup just makes sure everything is going well and provides the opportunity for staff to see a therapist without requiring them to call, which can be difficult,” said Neil Cervenka, Fort Bragg Chief of Police. “A key component of this program is confidentiality as a way of defeating the stigma of mental health in my profession.”

The program is the first of its kind on the Mendocino Coast. The goal is to increase career longevity, and—most importantly—reduce police suicide. At the end of the year, participants will be asked to fill out a brief, anonymous survey, giving them an opportunity to reflect on the impact of their checkups.

MCHFoundation is proud to step up in support of this important initiative. “Our work revolves around the goal of creating a healthier Mendocino Coast, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than by taking care of the dedicated men and women keeping us safe,” said Mary Kate McKenna, CFRE, MCHFoundation Executive Director. “Our generous donors help make grants like this possible. It is their ongoing support of our Immediate Needs Fund that enables MCHFoundation to act quickly and offer resources where needed most.”

Employees will begin their Mind Health Checkups early this year. Should it be determined that a staff member requires additional sessions beyond the two that are covered, his or her insurance will take effect. If the pilot program proves successful, it could be rolled out on a broader scale for other city staff and public safety roles.

To learn more or discuss partnership opportunities, please reach out to Mary Kate McKenna, CFRE, Executive Director, at [email protected].

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or 707-961-4688.

Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

December 8, 2022

FORT BRAGG, CA — The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation) is pleased to announce a $150,000 charitable contribution from a local family foundation—with $50,000 directed to helping recruit and retain coastal caregivers through All In For Nurses, and $100,000 for advanced MRI technology.

MCHFoundation and its donors are committed to improving health care on the Mendocino Coast, and transformational major gifts are critical to help solve urgent, multi-faceted issues like the local nursing shortage. While annual donors help MCHFoundation respond to urgent community needs, major gift investments catalyze programs and resources that support the long-term success of coastal caregivers and students.

“MCHFoundation and our Board of Directors wants to extend our deepest gratitude to this local family foundation,” says Mary Kate McKenna, CFRE, Executive Director of MCHFoundation. “Gifts like these are not only transformative financially to the Mendocino Coast, but also a powerful invitation and inspiration to other supporters.”

This generous donation will help All In For Nurses provide diverse funding for scholarship awards, recurring financial support for students, appreciation events for existing caregivers, educational partnerships like the CNA Collaborative with Adventist Health Mendocino Coast and other organizations, and more. As this movement gains momentum, our community has successfully graduated 15 new nurses, enrolled more than 25 in CNA training, and provided financial support to countless aspiring caregivers and dedicated nurses.

The gift will also help address the significant need for an advanced MRI machine at Adventist Health Mendocino Coast. In recent years, donors have helped the hospital to invest in local imaging, including 3D mammography and new ultrasound machines.

To learn more about All In For Nurses, the Advanced Imaging Initiative or to discuss partnership possibilities through major and planned giving, please reach out to Mary Kate McKenna, CFRE, Executive Director, at [email protected].

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or 707-961-4688.

Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

October 19, 2022

FORT BRAGG, CA — The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation) is celebrating our community’s success, thanks to its resourceful new initiative to invest in federal funding for coastal health and wellness greatest needs. A total of $1,440,060 was awarded in USDA grant funding to benefit Comptche Volunteer Fire Department, Fort Bragg High School, Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center, Parents and Friends, Inc., The Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County, and Adventist Health Mendocino Coast. An additional $199,500 was awarded directly to MCHFoundation.

Last year, MCHFoundation learned of the USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program, which provides up to $500 million nationwide to community-based nonprofits that primarily serve rural areas. This time-sensitive opportunity specifically offered funding to expand and support COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and telehealth capacity—all substantial needs for organizations serving the Mendocino Coast.

Based on community listening sessions, MCHFoundation prepared to apply for nearly $1 million in funding on behalf of community organizations with important needs identified. However, further research revealed that independent grant applications from each nonprofit could yield substantially more USDA funding.

MCHFoundation quickly pivoted and stepped forward to craft grant narratives and budgets, and ultimately facilitated submissions that helped each of the following organizations secure funding:

• Comptche Volunteer Fire Department received a USDA Community Facilities Grant award of $49,900 to enhance critical infrastructure and equipment.
• Fort Bragg High School received an award of $51,800 to expand its Pay it Forward Food Pantry.
• Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center received an award of $140,960 for telehealth services, food distribution, and COVID-19 testing.
• Parents and Friends, Inc. received an award of $450,100 to expand COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for staff, as well as for community members with developmental disabilities.
• The Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County received an award of $25,000 to support COVID-19 treatment and testing for high-risk cancer patients.

MCHFoundation also connected Adventist Health Mendocino Coast with grant representatives and resources to help initiate their submission process. As a result, Adventist Health was awarded $722,300 to support staff wages and equipment needed to treat COVID-19 patients. The award will also help with the operation of a mobile health clinic that will improve access to care in underserved areas within the community.

Each recipient is required to invest more in its project than just what was funded by the USDA grant—through fundraising efforts, additional grant submissions, etc.—yielding an even greater impact on the communities being served.

This initiative provided MCHFoundation with a unique, powerful opportunity to strategically support health and wellness above and beyond the scope of its own annual grant awards.

“We learned that many of these organizations struggle to respond to federal funding opportunities due to immediacy of client needs and capacity challenges,” shared Mary Kate McKenna, CFRE, Executive Director of MCHFoundation. “We’re proud to expand our mission by offering staff time and expertise to our coastal nonprofit partners to enhance and support the essential care they deliver to our community.”

MCHFoundation donors gave $50,000 in gifts to cover the cost of staff hours required for the grant submission process—an incredible show of support for the team’s responsive solution to leverage staff time for a significant return on investment. The health and wellness partners were thrilled to have additional resources to help.

As well, MCHFoundation provided over $45,455 in matching funds for these grant submissions.

“We would not have been able to avail ourselves of this opportunity without MCHFoundation’s extreme assistance,” said Karen Oslund, Executive Director of The Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County.

With the grant award, CRC will be able to launch a telehealth program and purchase a vehicle to ensure transportation barriers don’t prevent cancer patients from receiving care. In addition, the funding will assist patients who do not have their own computer or internet to connect with their doctors via CRC technology.

The USDA grant award of $199,500 to MCHFoundation will be used to support salaries for staff distributing COVID-19 test kits, as well as for equipment and software needed to input community data more efficiently.

To support MCHFoundation, please make a gift online or call 707-961-4671.

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or 707-961-4688.

Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437