Native Sons of the Golden West (NSGW) Annual Appreciate Brunch

On October 15th the Foundation hosted donor group, Native Sons of the Golden West (NSGW) for an annual appreciation brunch, plaque dedication and check presentation. The Native Sons of the Golden West is a fraternal order of native Californians, founded in 1875, dedicated to the ideals of friendship, loyalty and charity and to the preservation of California’s history. The NSGW Charitable Foundation currently donates over $250,000 annually to three California hospitals that treat children with cleft palate.

The Saint John’s Health Center Cleft Palate Program has been supported by the NSGW for over 55 years and we are the only hospital in Southern California that is supported by their group. They are the longest giving annual donor to Saint John’s. Their generous commitment year after year has allowed us to support highly needed equipment; Janet K. Salomonson, MD Speech Scholarship Program; and an annual Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies Symposium, an educational event attended by clinicians, the community, and families of children with cleft palate and craniofacial anomalies.

The day began with a special mass in the Sister Marie Madeline Chapel, followed by a plaque dedication ceremony honoring the incredible generosity of the Native Sons, and the work of Saint John’s and our Cleft Palate Program. The dedication of the historic NSGW plaque will long be remembered and is the perfect complement to the Gloria and Jimmy Stewart Rose Garden, where beautiful roses bloom to the daily enjoyment of our visitors and patients. The plaque was dedicated by Native Sons of the Golden West past Grand Presidents Joe Castillo, Jeffrey Schmidt, Ron Bronco and current Grand President George Adams and Chairman of the Charitable Foundation, Paul Lapachet – as a historic California landmark.

During the brunch, our guests heard program updates from Medical Director of the Cleft Palate Program, Dr. Danelle Fisher, Senior Speech Pathologist, Julia Hobbs, and three incredible families receiving services from the Cleft Palate Program. To culminate the day, Saint John’s Health Center Foundation was presented with a donation of $65,000, which will be used to continue the vital work of our Cleft Palate team.

For more information on the Cleft Palate Program, please visit: https://www.providence.org/locations/socal/saint-johns-health-center/cleft-palate-center