Read San Francisco Chronicle's article on Wishes for Wellness 2009.

See more great photos from the event.

Fundraising for Critical Needs

On November 18, 2009, CPMC Foundation hosted the Wishes for Wellness 2009 dinner dance at the historic Bimbo’s 365 Club in North Beach. The event welcomed 300 guests and raised nearly half a million dollars towards a wish list of California Pacific Medical Center’s 2009 Annual Funding Priorities, including Bayview Child Health Center, BrainLAB cranial navigation system and bed warmers for newborn babies.

The idea of the Wishes for Wellness event started back in 2001, when Carol Bonnie and Sharmin Bock decided to organize a fundraising lunch to show their appreciation for California Pacific and to address the additional funding needs of doctors. The women discovered that physicians had a wish list of equipment and resources that they felt would allow them to continue offering the best patient care possible.

“The idea came about after talking with my obstetrician, Dr. Laurie Green,” remembers Carol Bonnie, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Wishes. “She identified some items that seemed very important and I wanted to help.” With the help of Sharmin Bock, who was also a CPMC patient, the two asked their CPMC doctors to create a “wish list” of essential equipment, services and programs that they wanted to see funded.

Today, Wishes for Wellness is still going strong and has expanded its reach thanks to the exceptional dedication of this year’s Wishes Co-Chairs and Foundation Trustees, Carol Bonnie, Sharmin Bock, Sloan Barnett, Chris Lenzo and Laura Pfaff.

This year’s honorees also played a major role in the success of the event: Dr. Nadine J. Burke, pediatrician and Medical Director of the Bayview Child Health Center and strong advocate for reducing pediatric health disparities; Neurosurgeon Dr. Charles S. Cobbs, an expert in brain cancer treatment and research; and Cardiologist Dr. Lester B. Jacobson, whose 34-year career has led to countless grateful patients.

Highlights from the evening included welcomes by Carol Bonnie and Sharmin Bock, as well as introductions by Dr. Warren Browner, CEO of CPMC, grateful patient Shelby Notkin, District Attorney Kamala D. Harris and closing remarks from Foundation President Mark Kimbell.

CPMC Foundation would like to extend its gratitude to the 2009 Co-Chairs for their unwavering commitment to this outstanding fundraiser, this year's Honorary Committee, and the generous donors who make everything possible. Their gifts of time, support and resources make a world of difference to the thousands of patients we serve every year.