Winter 2024 TFHS Foundation News

During this bustling time of year, we pause to thank each of you for making the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation what it is – a cornerstone in our community. We have felt tremendous support from our donors throughout 2024, experiencing a level of generosity that will have lasting effects.

Our quarterly Foundation eNewsletters are written with two goals in mind: to share updates on the important healthcare advancements we are supporting, and to express gratitude to our community members for driving our remarkable fundraising successes. In this edition, you’ll learn about the Joseph Family Giving Circle and the exclusive perks offered to members. We are excited to share the wonderful news of being awarded funds by the Martis Camp Foundation. You’ll also read about the resounding success of our 2024 #GivingTuesday campaign, which supports our Oncology Support Services, and the prestigious award recently received by the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center. Additionally, we invite nominations for the Spirit of Giving award and share the history of this meaningful program. As always, we’re thrilled to introduce you to our newest physicians and highlight some of the memorable moments from our 75th Anniversary Celebration as we close out this milestone year.

We are filled with gratitude and excitement for the future. From cutting-edge diagnostic equipment to innovative health programs, every dollar raised directly impacts the well-being of our community. Please know how incredibly grateful we are this holiday season for your ongoing support. The Foundation team could not do what we do without you! Thank you for being a vital part of our journey, past and present.

Season’s greetings to you and your loved ones.

In gratitude,

Karli Epstein
Executive Director

The Joseph Family Giving Circle, established by the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation, honors the legacy of generosity that began with the donation of the land where Tahoe Forest Hospital now stands. By giving $1,000 or more in a calendar year, you can become part of this special group of supporters dedicated to advancing healthcare in our Tahoe Truckee community.

As a member, you’ll enjoy:

• Invitations to exclusive donor events
• Early access to ticket sales for foundation-hosted occasions
• Insider updates on exciting projects and initiatives
• Personalized stewardship reports and letters of appreciation

Together, we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our community. Join today and help us build a healthier tomorrow! Questions? Contact the TFHS Foundation at [email protected].

The TFHS Foundation is proud to be the recipient of a $60,000 grant recently awarded by the Martis Camp Foundation! These funds will support the purchase of a childbirth simulator toolkit for the Obstetrics department at Tahoe Forest Hospital, improving care for mothers and babies during obstetric medical emergencies.

In the past decade, over 200 rural hospitals in the U.S. have closed their labor and delivery services, leaving more than half of rural counties without access to hospital obstetric care. These “maternity care deserts” force pregnant women to travel long distances for services or face giving birth in unexpected situations.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Martis Camp Foundation and contributions from our Team Member Giving Program, we can now acquire the main component of the toolkit: VICTORIA S2200, a lifelike childbirth simulator mannequin with anatomically accurate features. This advanced tool will enable our team to practice collaborative obstetric emergency drills, to help improve quality of care provided for pregnant and postpartum women and their babies.

Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation is committed to reinvesting in the health and well-being of the communities we serve. Grants like this one from the Martis Camp Foundation, along with the unwavering support of our staff, allow us to enhance healthcare services for our growing population. We are profoundly grateful to the Martis Camp Foundation for their generous support, empowering us to make a meaningful impact on the lives of mothers and babies in our region.

#GivingTuesday celebrates the power of philanthropy. By supporting causes that are important to us, we transform our communities. This year, the TFHS Foundation raised over $60,000 for the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center’s Oncology Support Services. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, these vital services – fully funded by philanthropy – can continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of cancer patients. The Cancer Center offers a variety of supportive care programs – all at no cost to the patient or their caregiver. 100% of every donation designated to Oncology Support Services goes toward a whole-person approach to cancer care, providing services such as individual counseling, massage therapy, acupuncture, and biofeedback… to list just a few! Access to this integrated approach significantly improves quality of life for patients, their families, and caregivers.

We are fortunate to have state-of-the-art, comprehensive cancer care, right in our community. These services play a crucial role in improving health outcomes, and we are deeply grateful for your support in making a positive difference in our community’s health and well-being. Thank you for helping to make these services possible!

The Outpatient Oncology department at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center has received the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence award, marking a year of delivering outstanding care and consistently high patient satisfaction. This distinguished honor is reserved for healthcare organizations that rank in the 95th percentile or above for patient experience across the entire calendar year.

“This award underscores our deep commitment to both our team and the communities we care for,” said Louis Ward, the Interim CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System. “We are proud to receive this recognition that highlights our unwavering focus on setting ever-higher standards for exceptional care and service to the Truckee and North Tahoe community.”

Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 healthcare facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

The creation of the Spirit of Giving award was announced at the first Tahoe Forest Hospital Foundation’s Stakeholder Event in 2007. At the event, which honors community leaders and major donors, Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation presented Tom & Pam Hobday with the Spirit of Giving Award for their daily inspiration to the community and unequalled volunteer service to Tahoe Forest Health System. The physical award was formally unveiled and presented to the Hobdays in March 2008. This award, named for the Hobdays, will be given to individuals, families or organizations who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to the enhancement and enrichment of healthcare in our community. If you’d like to nominate an individual, organization, business or family please send your completed nomination form to Karli Epstein, at [email protected], no later than February 1st, 2025.

Tahoe Forest Health System is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Emily Bevan, to our esteemed medical team. Dr. Bevan is an experienced and board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to women’s health.

Dr. Bevan joins us from Swedish Ob/Gyn Specialists in Issaquah, WA, where she has been providing exceptional care since 2016. Her extensive background includes a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where she was recognized for her clinical excellence and dedication to patient care. She earned her medical degree from The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and holds a Bachelor of Arts in French with minors in chemistry and dance from the University of Washington. She has been involved in various research projects, including publications in renowned medical journals, and has contributed to medical education through her role as an instructor and mentor.

We are grateful to have Dr. Bevan join us at Tahoe Forest. The office of Dr. Bevan is located at the Tahoe Forest Women’s Center on the 2nd floor of the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center at 10121 Pine Ave., Truckee, CA 96161. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bevan, please call (530) 582-6205.

You should have received our TFHS Foundation Annual Appeal in the mail. It is our goal, year over year, to continue building awareness focused on our mission of providing the best rural healthcare in the nation. By forging valued relationships with our community members, it is our hope to share more about the remarkable TFHS healthcare resources, available right here in our region!

If you would like to help guarantee access to local healthcare, please look for your TFHS Foundation Annual Appeal in your inboxes and mailboxes this month or donate here.

We know that during a health crisis, minutes matter. Thank you in advance for helping us safeguard our patient care services by giving a gift in support of TFHS!

As we approach the end of the year, there are a variety of ways for you to support the Tahoe Forest Health System, and every gift has a meaningful impact on the well-being of our Tahoe Truckee community. 100% of your gift goes directly toward projects and programs at the Health System that YOU care about. If you are interested in giving to the Foundation today, below are some of the ways in which you can do so:

• Gifts of cash: Gifts of cash, by check or credit card, are the most direct way to give to TFHSF. As a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, your gift is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

• Gifts of securities: Stock that has increased in value is one of the most popular assets used for charitable giving, once it has been held for a minimum of a year. Donating appreciated securities is a simple gift and can offer you a greater tax benefit than an equivalent in cash. Using appreciated securities entitles you to a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the donated asset, and you avoid paying the capital gains tax you would pay if you sold the appreciated securities.

• Gifts from a retirement plan: If you are required to take a minimum distribution from a retirement account, a Qualified Charitable Distribution can be made from an IRA at the TFHS Foundation. This will allow you to lower your gross income and possibly reduce your income or estate tax by transferring the additional taxable income to TFHSF.

• Gifts from a donor advised fund: A donor advised fund is like a charitable investment account and you are generally eligible to take an immediate tax deduction when you contribute assets to one. You can recommend grants to TFHS from this type of tax-free investment fund.

• Gifts from a matching gift program: Double your donation to TFHSF. Many employers sponsor matching gift programs that will match any charitable contribution made by their employees. Often, the match ratio is 1:1, so by taking advantage of such a program, you can effectively double the impact of your gift.

You can always reach out to the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation by emailing [email protected] or calling (530) 582-6277.

On November 1st, we gathered at the North Tahoe Event Center to commemorate 75 incredible years of delivering exceptional healthcare to our community. The evening was nothing short of magical, as guests indulged in an unforgettable night of Northern California wine and food expertly crafted by some of the best chefs from around the lake.

The sold-out 75th Anniversary Celebration was a true testament to the strength and generosity of our community. Thanks to your support, the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation raised nearly $200,000 to benefit the Area of Greatest Need Fund, ensuring that we can continue to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our region. We are so grateful to everyone who attended, our dedicated staff, and this amazing community for making this milestone event such a resounding success.

Here’s to the next 75 years of making a difference together!

We are always proud to share some of the positive recognition we receive from patients, honoring the compassionate care provided at Tahoe Forest Health System!

“I transitioned from another practice to Gene Upshaw and it’s been like upgrading from a Motel 6 to the Ritz. The staff is knowledgeable and caring. The Infusion room is so comfortable and stress free. Just do not have enough words to express how much better my infusion experiences have been.”

“Everyone at Tahoe Forest in Truckee is really good at taking care of people. The Surgeons, Doctors, PAs, Incredible Pre/Post op Nurses and all the other great employees really make going to the hospital or doctors really easy. 10 out of 10!”

“The visit to the urgent care could not have gone smoother. There was no wait to speak to someone about our son’s issue and we got care immediately. The explanation and information was thorough. Michael Booker was pleasant and helpful and great interacting with our three year old son. Nothing could have been better! Thank you!”

“I appreciate that sometimes I Care Orthopedic am taken back to the treatment room early- I drive an hour and a half to come to Tahoe Forest, and depending on road conditions and wildlife, I either arrive at least 15 minutes early or a few minutes late. The office is very understanding of my efforts and have been amazingly accommodating.”

“Abigail was great! I needed to establish a local doctor and was assigned her when I called. She spent a lot of time listening to my ‘list’ of concerns and questions and addressed each one with concern and advice. First experience at Tahoe Forest that was excellent!”

Learn more about the Foundation by following the Health System on social media! We post updates weekly.

Instagram Username: tahoeforesthealthsystem
Facebook Page: Tahoe Forest Health System
Twitter Account: TahoeForestHospital

Thank you for your interest in the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation. To learn more about the different ways you can support TFH through philanthropy, visit www.tfhd.com/giving/giving or contact Karli Epstein, Executive Director, at 530-582-4204 or [email protected].

If you are not on our electronic mailing list, sign up to receive our quarterly TFHS Foundation eNewsletter.