Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05091995 - X.3 X.,3 7o: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator m _ lm` Contra Mark Finucane, Health Services Director Costa '.r-ro... � DATE: May 9, 1995 County SUBJECT: Merrithew Construction Celebration SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: 1. ACCEPT the recommendation from the Health Services Director that a portion of the proceeds from the day of the May 21, 1995, Merrithew Memorial Hospital Construction Celebration reception be donated to one of the charitable organizations established to aid the victims of the Oklahoma City federal office building bombing. 2. DIRECT the Health Services Director to send the attached press release to the media in Contra Costa County and throughout the Greater Bay Area announcing the decision of the Board of Supervisors to use the opportunity of the May 21 event to demonstrate support for and provide hope to the people of Oklahoma City. 3. DIRECT the County Administrator, in coordination with the Board of Directors of the Healthy Community Foundation of Contra Costa and members of the Board of Supervisors, to contact major corporations in Contra Costa County to request their support in pledging contributions to match the funds raised at the May 21, 1995, event. 4. REQUEST a follow-up report from the Health Services Director on May 16, 1995, with a recommendation regarding the charitable fund to which proceeds from the May 21 event should be donated. 5. REQUEST a report from the County Administrator and the Board of Directors of the Healthy Community Foundation of Contra Costa on May 16, 1995, regarding the status of the corporate- match efforts. N p CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: xx YES SIGNATURE: I RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON May 9 , 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X The above item was brought to the attention of the Board members after the agenda was posted, and the board unanimously agreed on the need to take action. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that recommendations 1, 2 , and 3 are APPROVED and that recommendations 4 and 5 are to be considered by the Board at a subquent Boardi,-of Supervisors ' meeting. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact Person: Mark Finucane,370-5007 CC: Health Services Administration ATTESTED May 9 , 1995 County Administrator PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND C UNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY , DEPUTY l • 2 c BACKGROUND: On April 19, 1995, a 2,000 pound bomb exploded in the Alfred P. Murrah federal office building in Oklahoma City. The destructive blast killed scores and wounded hundreds of federal workers, children and other innocent victims. The explosion sent shockwaves throughout the nation as crews began to sift through the horrors of the vicious and senseless attack. The threatening challenge to our collective sense of security has been profoundly felt by all Americans. The Health Services Department is scheduled to host a ceremony on Sunday, May 21, 1995, at 1 p.m. in celebration of the construction of the County's new Merrithew Memorial Hospital. A reception and fund raising effort, sponsored by the Healthy Community Foundation of Contra Costa and the Merrithew Education Fund, is scheduled to immediately follow in the Redwood Grove on the hospital property. At the same time that Contra Costa County has the good fortune to celebrate the construction of a new and vitally-needed public service facility, it is impossible to overlook the tragic irony of the brutal attack on the equally vital federal office building in Oklahoma City. In light of this recent tragedy, the organizers of the hospital celebration & reception have recommended using the occasion of the May 21 fundraising event to reach out in support of the people.of Oklahoma City as they work to recover from this traumatic ordeal. In the past few years, Californians have come to know more than their fair share of disaster as fire, floods, riots and earthquakes have ravaged our state and devastated the lives of millions. In our times of greatest need, we have been fortunate to receive the generous and warmhearted support of millions of people from across the state and nation who have reached out to help us. At a time when Contra Costa County is celebrating the construction of a new hospital which will.help to build and strengthen its comprehensive health system available to all Contra Costans, it seems appropriate to return the favor and lend our support to our friends in Oklahoma. In a gesture of goodwill, it is recommended that a portion of the proceeds collected at the May 21 event will go to benefit one of the charitable organizations established to aid the victims of the Oklahoma tragedy. In addition, it is recommended that a special collection center be set up on the hospital grounds on the day of the event to allow the general public, regardless of whether or not they plan to attend the reception, to make donations in support of the bombing victims. It is our hope that individuals and organizations throughout the community will come out on the day of the event to show their compassion and support for the people of Oklahoma City and to public employees everywhere. Contributions made by check on the day of May 21, 1995, should be made payable to the Healthy Community Fund (federal tax ID#6070996), which will in turn make a donation to the selected charitable organization aiding Oklahoma City victims. The telephone number for the Healthy Community Foundation is (510) 274-3966. Written inquiries/contributions may be sent to the Healthy Community Foundation, 20 Allen Street, Martinez, CA, 94553. FISCAL IMPACT: No County funds involved. i FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark Finucane May 9, 1995 (510) 370-5007 or Karen Butler (510) 370-5055 Contra Costa County Aims to Assist Oklahoma City Bombing Victims MARTINEZ, CA -- Area leaders are using the May 21 groundbreaking for Merrithew Memorial Hospital to not only celebrate a new beginning in Contra Costa County, but also to assist members of another community -- the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy. The Healthy Community Foundation of Contra Costa County is being established to help support the county's local health care programs, however the County Board of Supervisors has decided that attendees at the organization's inaugural function will have the opportunity to make a donation to help Oklahoma City. Commenting on behalf of the Board, Health Services Director Mark Finucane said today that the launch of the new foundation provides an excellent opportunity to assist the families of the estimated 200 people who were killed in the horrendous April 19 explosion at the Alfred P. Murrah federal office building. The Health Services Department (HSD) is hosting the Merrithew groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate building a 144-bed partial replacement facility for the century-old county hospital. The new Healthy Community Foundation and the Merrithew Education Fund are sponsoring the reception and fundraising effort immediately following. "We are celebrating the construction of a new hospital and the development of a new foundation dedicated to strengthening all parts of the county's health care system," said Finucane. "It seems appropriate that the first gesture of the new Healthy Community Foundation will be to reach out to aid the victims of the Oklahoma City tragedy." Funds raised at the event will be delivered to an organization in Oklahoma City -- to be determined by the Board of Supervisors -- that is assisting the bomb victims. Those attending the May 21 reception can write a check to the Oklahoma City fund at the same time that they purchase reception tickets. Regardless of whether they plan to attend the Merrithew groundbreaking and reception, members of the general public will also be able to donate at a special collection center on the hospital grounds on May 21. Additionally, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has directed the County Administrator to work with directors of the Healthy Community Foundation to create a matching-fund program among the area's corporations. "California has received tremendous support from outside the state after its fire, floods,riots and earthquakes,"said County Administrator Phil Batchelor. "The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has a strong tradition of reaching out to those in need,whether it's close to home or far outside the borders of Contra Costa. Now is the time for us to return the favor and lend our support to our friends in Oklahoma."