Standing with the new Hamilton T-1 ventilator are JCF Hospital Foundation board president Heather Bernikoff, major donors Glenn and Kathy Sutherland, healthcare district respiratory therapists Savannah Dent and Anna Duaro and foundation fundraising committee chair Beth Tomsick. The old ventilator is shown in comparison.
The John C. Fremont Hospital Foundation has been busy lately, with donations to the hospital, scholarships and more.
Vending machine issue
The foundation gave its tanks to R. Hambleton Electric and Pump for their donation of time and materials to repair the hospital’s vending machine. Some buttons weren’t functioning, causing selected items not to fall.
The vending machine is located in the hospital cafeteria and is frequently used. It is especially vital during nights and weekends when the cafeteria is closed, as it often serves as the only place for night shift staff, weekend staff and visitors to get snacks or drinks.
Supporting staff and visitors is a top priority for the foundation, officials said. Since 2023, the foundation has managed the vending machine program, with board member Mari Bullis volunteering her time to purchase and stock snacks and beverages, focusing on stocking items requested by users and keeping prices low.
JCF Hospital Foundation Executive Administrator Miranda Wass presents Jody Wheeler with her $1,000 scholarship.
The priority is not making money, but rather, providing a service.
Wheeler receives scholarship
The JCF Hospital Foundation recently awarded Jody Wheeler a $1,000 scholarship as she works to complete her bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) at National University, Fresno.
Wheeler is currently a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) at John C. Fremont Hospital’s Ewing Wing. The Ewing Wing is a top-rated, 24-bed skilled nursing facility, providing 24-hour nursing, long-term care and rehab services in a homelike environment.
Wheeler is learning a great deal through her studies to become a BSN. This new knowledge allows her to better serve Ewing Wing residents and the community.
“The level of teamwork at the Ewing Wing is outstanding,” said Wheeler. “Everyone collaborates to provide the best care possible. I look forward to seeing our residents every day.”
“I have been an LVN for 21 years,” Wheeler continued. “I want to be able to do more for our community and our residents. Earning a BSN will help me achieve this. We have the best patients here in Mariposa at the Ewing Wing and I want to increase my skills to serve them even better.”
Pictured are Cindy Cassidy, RN; Victoria Crane, CNA; and Kim Hopman, imaging assistant at the vending machine.
The JCF Hospital Foundation offers training scholarships to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and work quality of district staff and community health workers to provide the most exemplary service to people either served by the John C. Fremont Healthcare District or residing within the district.
The foundation has reached the maximum amount of training scholarships allowed in its fiscal 2025-2026 budget. The program will reopen in July 2026.
“Congratulations to Jody Wheeler and all of the incredible awardees for this fiscal year,” said Heather Bernikoff, JCF Hospital Foundation President
Additional healthcare district winners this fiscal year include Savannah Dent, a respiratory therapist who is working towards a four-year bachelor of science in Respiratory Therapy degree and Rose Brochini, a registered nurse, who is in a bridge program to receive a bachelor of science in Nursing degree.
Rob Fox
“While we are making investments in healthcare district medical staff, they are making investments into their community by advancing their skills,” said Bernikoff. “That’s a win for everyone.”
Successful ventilator funding
Last year, the John C. Fremont Healthcare District requested a $25,000 modern Hamilton T-1 ventilator from the foundation to replace old, outdated equipment in order to provide the best possible care to the community and, through the foundation’s fundraising campaign, the community delivered.
The foundation conducted an extensive, successful fundraising campaign last fall, resulting in the presentation of a check to the healthcare district in December. The district received the life-saving equipment and put it into service on March 21.
“We appreciate this extraordinary, quick turn-around,” said District CEO Stacey Kuzak. “We are grateful for the support of the Hospital Foundation and the community of Mariposa. Collaboration and partnership are key to our success as a district, and this is a great example.”
“This will save lives,” said Savannah Dent, a respiratory therapist for the district. “For many years, the top complaints patients have when visiting the Emergency Department involve respiratory health. A state-of-the-art ventilator is a crucial piece of equipment.”
“The hospital had an old, very outdated Zoll ventilator,” said Anna Duaro, a respiratory therapist at the district. “It is like a brick cellphone from the 1980s that had an antenna to pull up to use. The Hamilton T-1 ventilator is like a smartphone. It is intuitive and has many more capabilities than what the hospital had. This new ventilator will help us provide the best possible care to our community.”
The cost of the ventilator was $25,000. Purchasing this was only made possible by the generosity of many people.
“With sincere appreciation, the foundation would like to recognize the individuals, families, businesses, and community supporters whose gifts helped fund this piece of vital equipment,” said Foundation Executive Administrator Miranda Wass, who was responsible for leading the campaign.
“Major supporters include Glenn and Kathy Sutherland and Rick Roesch. Large donors included Mariposa Chamber of Commerce, Steve and Rosemarie Smallcombe and Cathi Boze. The balance was filled by many community members who gave smaller gifts. With everyone pulling together, we created a powerful impact for patient care.”
“The foundation continues to work closely with the district to identify needed equipment for quality patient care and staff support,” continued Wass, “The Healthcare District has a long wish list we continue to work on. Our latest goal is to raise funds for five new IV pumps at a cost of $2,760 each.”
Intravenous (IV) pumps are medical devices that precisely deliver fluids such as nutrients, medications, or blood, directly into a patient’s bloodstream at controlled rates.
They are used frequently in the Emergency Department and for in-patient care. The new IV pumps will come with safety software that helps staff better control the dosing and delivery of medicine, all of which helps provide even higher quality care.
Fox joins board
The foundation has announced the appointment of Rob Fox to its board.
Fox brings decades of engineering, construction planning, project management and risk management experience that will support the foundation’s goal of collaborating with the John C. Fremont Healthcare District as it works to build a new hospital.
Fox holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, is a licensed California professional engineer and has more than 30 years of experience. Over the course of his career, Fox served in senior leadership roles leading large, complex, schedule-driven projects and multidisciplinary teams. His background includes engineering, procurement, construction planning, progress tracking, risk management and client coordination.
“Rob’s background in large-scale project planning, engineering leadership and risk management will be a tremendous asset as the foundation works with the district to understand where philanthropic opportunities are most beneficial,” said Bernikoff.
“I am intent on the new hospital build project being a success,” said Fox. “I look forward to attending meetings with the healthcare district’s public works manager Jim White and the healthcare district’s team to achieve our shared goal of building the best new hospital for our rural community. ”
Fox will join the foundation vice president, Mike Wichmann, as the primary build liaison, adding support and significant knowledge to this complex process.
“The JCF Hospital Foundation has been supporting the John C. Fremont Healthcare District since our inception in 1980,” said Bernikoff. “Our purpose has always been fundraising and philanthropy for the operation, maintenance and modernization of the district’s facilities, so that the greatest amount of hospital services may be extended to the greatest number of people. Being a part of the conversation around the new hospital build is crucial to this. We are thrilled to have Rob’s expertise as yet another asset we can offer to the healthcare district.”
The JCF Hospital Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the rural communities of the John C. Fremont Healthcare District to maximize health through partnership and philanthropy.
To stay up to date with the foundation’s latest news, follow @jcfhospitalfoundation on Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up for the Foundation’s quarterly newsletter: forms.gle/hzSQn5RnHzneDJC66
The hospital foundation continues to seek additional members to broaden its scope of expertise. If you have experience in finance, legal, graphic design, major gifts, events or fundraising, and are passionate about the need for healthcare in Mariposa County, contact the foundation at admin@jcfhospitalfoundation.org, (209) 966-1166, or speak with any team member about joining.
You will find more info at jcfhospitalfoundation.org
If you would like to financially support the healthcare district through the foundation, you can do so by sending a check to JCFHF, P.O. Box 1093, Mariposa, CA 95338, or through the online fundraising site at secure.qgiv.com/for/jcfhospitalfoundation
Donations are tax-deductible.
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