Tri-City Hospital Foundation

The Conrad Prebys Foundation Grants $1 Million to meet a matching grant of $1.2 Million from the David C. Copley Foundation

By Jennifer Paroly, President of Tri-City Hospital Foundation

It is not something I have enjoyed, per se, but I have always felt asking for support for Tri-City Medical Center (TCMC) was as true a cause as any.

In 2020, the year before TCMC turned 60, we decided it was time to renovate the TCMC Emergency Department. We wanted to provide a state-of-the-art facility to match our state-of-the-art care. As we geared up to ask, we never dreamed we would be facing a global pandemic that would change society. We also did not know that not one, but two amazing organizations, would turn their hearts toward us. The David C. Copley Foundation offered a 2 to 1 matching grant up to $1.2 million to help us with our Emergency Department Redesign Project. In a normal world, raising $600K to meet that match would have been an exciting challenge. However, that was quickly put to a halt… AGAIN. As we shuttered all fundraising events and pivoted our efforts to support our community through this unmeasurably challenging time, the Conrad Prebys Foundation asked to hear more about our Emergency Department Remodel Project.

The Conrad Prebys Foundation’s Director of Grantmaking, Erin Decker shared with me when announcing their $1 million grant, “Thank you for your resilience as we continue to battle a global pandemic and for the tireless work you have done – pivoting programming to best serve your constituents and undertaking innovative fundraising approaches to sustain your organization. The path ahead is certainly not a smooth one, but it is organizations like Tri-City who will heal our community in the months and years to come. The Conrad Prebys Foundation is honored to be a part of your story as we move forward together.”

Kim Koch, Chief Operating Officer of the David C. Copley Foundation (previously the Helen K. and James S. Copley Foundation) shared, “The Foundation appreciates the value and importance of reliable medical care, looks for organizations that can make life better for the people they serve and feels Tri-City Hospital falls within this category. Tri-City Hospital is the people’s hospital and the services it provides to North County San Diego are vital” it was an outcome we had not imagined.

Hospital emergency departments play a significant role in the United States health care system, and now more than ever, emergency departments have become increasingly congested due to recent global events. Having support for the redesign of our Emergency Department will directly help the community in so many ways, as will its staff who continue to provide premium care to patients in need.

The compassion, generosity and commitment of our community partners serve as a shining example for all in our community. This overwhelming feeling of gratitude for organizations that provide stories with blissful conclusions feels like Giving Back at its finest.

For more information about the emergency department redesign and ways to give, please visit www.tricityhospitalfoundation.org.