Showing support for the heart of the community — Picnic raises more than $470,000

By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor

 

“At the heart of this community is this hospital.”

With those words, Suzanne Martin Krainock opened the Fund a Need reverse auction at this year’s Le Grand Picnic.

The need being funded this year is a new X-ray machine for Mountains Community Hospital. The current machine is more than 20 years old and has reached the end of its service life.

Before she opened the reverse auction at $25,000, Krainock asked if anyone was willing to go above and beyond. A paddle went up with a bid of $30,000. That was followed by an anonymous bid of $60,000 and a second one for $60,000. That bidder noted that “it’s time – we need to do this.”

The auction continued with multiple bids at $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, $1,000, $500, $250 and $150. Another anonymous donor had pledged $20,000 if matched by the $2,500 donors – which it was.

A preliminary tally of the Fund a Need showed that the donors had more than met the $220,000 cost of the X-ray machine.

The seven live auction items – private dinner for 10 at Monte de Oro winery, equity membership at Lake Arrowhead Country Club, a weeklong stay on Maui, diamond arrowhead earrings, a dream vacation for two, a lobster feast and golf at the Bighorn Golf Club – yielded more than $36,000 for MCH.

At press time numbers were not available for the more than 100 silent auction items. DJ Clay kept reminding the picnic guests how much bidding time they had left. Items ranged from gift certificates for car service to dining experiences, vacation getaways to Angels tickets, golf packages to symphony and theater tickets.

While the guests checked on their silent auction bids, they also helped themselves to the picnic buffet, provided by nine purveyors: Monte de Oro, Lakefront Tap Room, UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge, Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, Papagayos, Lake Arrowhead Country Club, Wicked Sausage, Lake Arrowhead Brewing Co. and Remixed.

In addition to both alcoholic and nonalcoholic libations, there was penne pasta with meatballs, Italian salad, fruit and cheese cups and a wide selection of desserts.

As the guests enjoyed their “picnic,” they were entertained by the Surf City Skates, a skating group out of Huntington Beach. In keeping with this year’s theme – Stayin’ Alive – they danced to disco tunes.

After Robbin Nordsten, the mistress of ceremonies, stressed the importance of knowing CPR and sharing that “Stayin’ Alive” is the perfect beat to which to perform the lifesaving procedure, she introduced a video created by Tracey Ellert in which MCH staff members tried to come up with an alternate song to “Stayin’ Alive.”

The video ended with hospital CEO Mark Turner – dressed in white – declaring that “it’s not CPR without the Bee Gees.” Surrounded by hospital staff, he did his best disco dance to “Stayin’ Alive.”

Nordsten then introduced Turner, who assumed “the pose” on the stage. “Stayin’ Alive is all about MCH – our future,” he said. He updated the picnic guests on the proposed construction at the hospital. They are making progress on the mandated seismic updates, which should be accomplished prior to the 2030 deadline. Plans have been approved for a new parking area, which will open up space for a new acute care wing.

After noting they do not have details yet on the impact of federal funding cuts, Turner introduced Gerry Hinkley, president of the hospital’s board of directors. Hinkley answered the question of whether MCH will be forced to close: “Absolutely not!” he said.

“We are a community resource that will continue forever. We count on you to support us – this hospital is important to this community,” Hinkley said.

The award for the “grooviest” table went to the highest bidder – $700. Those guests then each donned a blue wig, part of their prize.

Bringing tears to the eyes of many of the guests was a video of patient Alicia Rush, who told the story of how the staff at MCH saved her life last year. As folks wiped their eyes, Nordsten brought Rush to the stage and then reunited her with one of her nurses, Maria del Carmen Robinson. “I represent all the nurses and staff,” Robinson said, recognizing everyone who was there that night.

The evening ended with folks taking chances on winning a $3,000 gold bar, donated by Neale and Patricia Perkins.

“This is one of my favorite events,” said Supervisor Dawn Rowe, who was enjoying the cool mountain air and the festive atmosphere at Le Grand Picnic.