Glendale Adventist Medical Center Foundation

THE ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO SOLICIT AND MANAGE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE. EXPENDITURE OF DONOR FUNDS ARE MADE PRIMARILY TO, OR ON BEHALF OF ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE.

THE ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE FOUNDATION PROVIDES A FUNDRAISING FUNCTION TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE AND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE FUNDS ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL BASED ON THE GRANTORS AND DONORS INTENT. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES ARE PAID FOR BY ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE AND ACCOUNTED FOR AS A DEPARTMENT OF THE HOSPITAL IN ITS SUPPORT OF THE FOUNDATION. THE FOLLOWING STORY ILLUSTRATES HOW ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WHY OUR FOUNDATION HAS SUCH A PASSION FOR RAISING FUNDS TO CONTINUE IMPROVING THE CARE WE CAN PROVIDE:IMAGINE WAITING AT A BUS STOP, EXPERIENCING A SHOOTING PAIN IN YOUR NECK AND SUDDENLY LOSING ALL FEELING IN YOUR LEGS. THATS WHAT HAPPENED TO KENNY WILLIAMS WHO HAD SUFFERED REPEATED HEAD TRAUMA OVER THE YEARS FROM BEING BEATEN AND ROBBED, WHILE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE ON THE STREETS.WITH HIS HEAD CRADLED BY A FELLOW BUS RIDER UNTIL PICKED UP BY EMTS, KENNY WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITALS IN HUNTINGTON PARK AND GARDENA BEFORE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ONLY POSSIBLE TREATMENT FOR HIS COMPRESSED SPINAL COLLAPSE WAS TO ENLIST THE HELP OF THE EXCEPTIONAL NEUROSURGEONS AT ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE. RECEIVING THE LEVEL OF CARE AND CONCERN AT ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE WAS BEYOND ANYTHING KENNY HAD EXPERIENCED IN HIS DIFFICULT LIFE. FROM HIS TOM CRUISE SUPERSTAR NURSE TO THE EXPERTISE OF BOARD-CERTIFIED NEUROSURGEON, DR. YASER BADR, AND NEUROLOGY SPECIALIST, DR. LANCE LEE, THEIR CALMING ASSURANCES HELPED KENNY TO IMMEDIATELY FEEL SAFE, HEARD, AND IN GOOD HANDS.KENNY GREW UP IN AN ALTADENA FOSTER HOME FROM THE AGE OF THREE. HE GRADUATED FROM JOHN MUIR HIGH SCHOOL WITH PROSPECTS OF BEING DRAFTED BY A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM, ONLY TO SUFFER AN INJURY TO HIS PITCHING ARM. THIS PHYSICAL DISAPPOINTMENT AND A CONSTANT SEARCHING FOR THE BIOLOGICAL PARENTS HE NEVER KNEW THREW HIM INTO A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF GANG LIFE, CRACK COCAINE ADDICTION, AND LIVING ON THE STREETS.EVERY DAY, ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALE PROVIDES WORLD-CLASS SERVICES TO SO MANY WHO COME THROUGH OUR DOORS, INCLUDING THE DISADVANTAGED AND UNHOUSED. THE STRUGGLES OF THE UNHOUSED ARE HARD TO COMPREHEND FOR MOST AND YET DEEPLY TRAUMATIZING FOR SO MANY. TENDING TO KENNYS IMMEDIATE HEALTH CRISIS WAS CLEAR, AND THE STAFF AT ADVENTIST HEALTH GLENDALES CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & RECOVERY (THE CENTER) KNEW THERE WAS A LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR HIM.ONCE KENNYS PHYSICAL HEALTH IMPROVED, THE CENTERS TEAM LED BY DIRECTOR LAZARO MENA, EVALUATED AND TENDED TO HIS MENTAL HEALTH, WHILE PARTNERING WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCIES TO UTILIZE THEIR RESOURCES TO GET THE HELP KENNY NEEDED. HE IS CURRENTLY IN PHYSICAL THERAPY TO STRENGTHEN HIS LEGS AND MOVED INTO HIS OWN APARTMENT. BECAUSE OF THIS TEAMWORK, KENNY AND OTHERS ARE BECOMING WHOLE AGAIN.COMPASSIONATE, HIGH-QUALITY PATIENT CARE; LIFE-SAVING AND LIFE-PRESERVING MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SERVICES; ADVANCED TREATMENTS IN A COMMUNITY-BASED HOSPITAL; ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY SERVICES-THESE ARE THE REASONS WE ARE IN THE GLENDALE COMMUNITY.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORK THAT WE DO, VISIT US AT WWW.ADVENTISTHEALTH.ORG/GLENDALE/PAGES/OUR-FOUNDATION.ASPX