September 04, 2009

Turlock, Emanuel Medical Center hosted its 29th annual Chairman's Dinner yesterday evening at the home of Jim and Carol Ahlem of Hilmar, CA to celebrate the community's spirit of giving to Emanuel Medical Center. A highlight from the evening' s events included a public announcement of a large anonymous financial gift.

"It is with tremendous gratitude that Emanuel Medical Center announces the generosity of an anonymous donor who has made a $400,000 gift to the Emanuel Cancer Endowment in memory of Bill and Elsie Ahlem," said Emanuel Medical Center's Chief Executive Officer John Sigsbury. "This gift recognizes the significant contribution of Bill and Elsie Ahlem to their community and the donor's appreciation of Emanuel Medical Center's central role within our region. This major gift was prompted by the Ahlem family's generous $1 million matching gift challenge."

Legacy Circle, Emanuel Medical Center's annual giving program, initiated a $4 million fundraising effort to establish the Emanuel Cancer Endowment in 2007. The endowment is a permanent fund that will generate a quarter of a million dollars annually for regional cancer services. This is the final year of a three-year campaign focused on community and employee fund-raising efforts.

Over the past two fundraising years, the community has donated $2 million for the endowment. These dollars, coupled with this year's announcement of a $1 million matching gift from the Ahlem family and now a $400,000 anonymous gift, brings the 2009 goal to $1.1 million. Over the next six weeks, Legacy Circle volunteers will work to raise the remaining dollars for the endowment.

"Supporting the Emanuel Cancer Endowment and fully funding it by the end of this campaign is a major accomplishment that will affect many individuals within our community," said Emanuel Medical Center Board Chair Jennifer Larson. "This will mark a turning point for so many patients and families as they will benefit from the dedication of the many volunteers and donors that have given of their time, talents, and resources to help make a difference."

The Emanuel Cancer Endowment will fund services such as: outreach and prevention, early detection, screenings, support groups, genetic risk assessment, counseling and testing, clinical research, and participation in national clinical trials.

For more information about Emanuel Medical Center, visit www.emanuelmedicalcenter.org. For more information about Legacy Circle, the Emanuel Cancer Endowment, or to make a donation please contact the Office of Development at (209) 664-5180.