Thirty-five years ago, El Camino Health Foundation officially opened its doors. In 1982, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jack Melchor realized the hospital would need to harness the philanthropic support of the community in order to ensure its future success and address the financial challenges of declining reimbursements, more acutely ill patients, shorter hospital stays, and fewer conditions requiring treatment in an inpatient setting.
"It was really my grandmother, Norma Melchor, who was so involved with the hospital ever since its founding that drove my grandfather to start the Foundation," says Lane Melchor, currently chair of the El Camino Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. "And I think he did it because he wanted to help the community, help the hospital, and guarantee that the hospital would provide the best care possible to its patients."
Norma and Jack Melchor and Deedee and Burton McMurty each donated $1 million and provided the initial seed money to launch the Foundation on its way. The Foundation's kickoff event was breakfast for several hundred community leaders at Hyatt Rickey’s in Palo Alto. David Packard served as the event chair and announced his own gift to match that of the Melchors and the McMurtrys. Betty and Gordon Moore were also among the early major supporters.
Since that time, generous gifts from thousands of community members, employees, physicians, and philanthropic organizations have contributed to the development of the hospital's innovative programs, purchase of state-of-the-art technology, capital improvements, and superlative nursing care. These donations have directly supported:
- Cancer Center
- Chinese Health Initiative
- Healing Arts Program
- Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Norma Melchor Heart & Vascular Institute
- Nursing excellence through education, research and innovation
- Pamela and Edward Taft Center for Clinical Research
- Robotic-Assisted Surgery Program
- South Asian Heart Center
- Spiritual care services
- Women’s health services
and so much more...
On the occasion of this anniversary milestone, we reflect back with gratitude on 35 years of generous donations that help El Camino Hospital provide world-class health care to patients, and we look forward to another 35 years (at least) of serving our hospital and our community. Thank you for your support!
