French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), which along with Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH) and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC) are Dignity Health’s Central Coast hospitals, is pleased to share a special announcement that was made at the recently held French Hospital Medical Center Foundation annual Celebration of Caring Gala. Rick Stollmeyer, Co-Founder and CEO of MINDBODY, Inc. and Lori Stollmeyer Ryan, a former OB nursing supervisor at FHMC, are making a $1 million gift to support the “French – Well into the Future” Campaign which includes the expansion and remodel of the hospital’s Family Birthing Center. In recognition of their generosity, the new center will be named the Stollmeyer Family Birthing Center.
“French Hospital has special meaning to both of us,” Rick Stollmeyer said. “Our youngest daughter was born there, and, after being so impressed with the care, I encouraged Lori to get a job there. Because of her job at French, I was able to start MINDBODY in my garage. This makes the gift even more meaningful since it coincides with the mission and values of MINDBODY to improve the health and wellness of the world through technology and innovation.”Adds Ryan, “I worked at the hospital for 12 years and loved every moment. It was an honor to work with all the nurses and to be a part of making a difference in the lives of so many new families every day.”
Even though Stollmeyer and Ryan are no longer together and have remarried, this gift is special to their blended families and important to their new spouses, too.
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Construction is expected to start soon on the new Family Birthing Center. The center will be expanded to house additional private birthing rooms, a new family waiting area, upgraded nursing station with the latest technology, and a new c-section suite. The center opened 16 years ago and has not had a major upgrade since that time. The cost of the construction is estimated at $4 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. More than 575 babies are delivered at the hospital each year.
The Celebration of Caring Gala is French Hospital Foundation’s annual fundraiser and includes the presentation of the Louis Tedone, MD Humanitarian Award. This year, the award was given to local businessman and philanthropist, Jim Copeland. A special tribute was also held for Dr. Tedone to recognize his many years of devoted service to the children of San Luis Obispo County.
Almost $120,000 was raised at the event to support a new Baby Recognition Wall in the Family Birthing Center waiting area in honor of Dr. Tedone. Overall, the Gala raised more than $376,000 from ticket sales and auction revenue – a record amount for any event in the nine-year history of the Foundation.
For more information or to make a donation, please call the Foundation at 805.542.6496 or visit supportfrenchhospital.org
About French Hospital Medical Center
French Hospital Medical Center, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is rated one of the Top 100 Hospitals in the nation and one of the Top 50 Cardiac Hospitals in the nation by Thomson Reuters. The Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center provide the latest innovative cardiac and imaging technology on the Central Coast. The hospital’s current modernization and redesign project is an example of the commitment to meet the growing needs of the community with lifesaving advancements in medicine coupled with excellent, compassionate care. The hospital is home to the unique Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families. French is a Dignity Health member of the Central Coast which also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA. Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.