Generous Support Shown at Comedy Night for New Cancer Center
The Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation annual fundraiser "O'Comedy Night" helped to bring the total funds for its new cancer center much closer to the $1.5 million needed to complete the project. Last December, the Foundation accepted three monetary gifts of $250,000 for a total of $750,000 to kick off the Cancer Center fundraising campaign. Just prior to "O'Comedy Night" on March 15, 2008, additional donations brought the total to one million dollars. During the Comedy event, it was announced that honorary AGCH Foundation Board member Jeanne Arnold and her husband Ed Arnold, of Shell Beach, will match every dollar donated to the AGCH Coastal Cancer Care and Diagnostic Center with a 50-cent match up to $200,000. With the Arnolds' generosity and net proceeds of funds from "O'Comedy Night," the AGCH Foundation raised an additional $171,000 to bring the total to $1.171 million of the $1.5 million needed to complete the project.
"On behalf of the entire Foundation Board, I want to thank the community, our very generous restaurants, wineries, vendors and volunteers," said Montisa Phelan Lopez, AGCH Foundation Executive Director. "The amount of support shown to the hospital at Comedy Night was amazing and made this event even more magical than we ever could have imagined."
The Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Coastal Cancer Care and Diagnostic Center, championed by local physicians, is scheduled to open on June 1, 2008. It will feature the latest in diagnostic technology including digital mammography with stereo-tactic biopsy, MRI and PET/CT scanning. It will also provide ancillary services such as nutritional education, spiritual and other social support.
To learn more about the AGCH Coastal Cancer Care and Diagnostic Center and how you can donate, please contact Montisa Phelan Lopez, AGCH Foundation Executive Director, at (805) 994-5421.
