The Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation will once again sponsor the “Celebration of Women” luncheon on Friday, May 14 at 11:30 a.m. at the Sonoma Golf Club. This year’s Pulse Award honorees are Julie Atwood, Helen Fernandez and Rose Mary Schmidt.
The events featured speaker will be Sonoma’s newest physician, Suzannah Bozzone, M.D., who will talk about relaxation strategies for women. Presenting the honorees will be Tim Boeve, Fran Meininger and Karen Johnson.
Atwood’s Sonoma-based event planning business, Julie Atwood Events has enabled her to provide, pro bono, her expertise, consulting, and design skills to local nonprofits. Her efforts have helped to raise several million dollars for numerous organizations throughout the Valley. She has served on several boards, including Giant Steps Equine Therapeutic Center, the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance, Harvest Wine Auction and, currently, Valley of the Moon Childrens’ Foundation.
Longtime resident of Sonoma, Fernandez had a hand in establishing the Boys & Girls Clubs in Sonoma Valley, was president of Soroptimist International of Sonoma, president of the Boys & Girls Clubs, was a board member of The United Way, president of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, and a member of The Dream Builders Committee that raised $3.2 million to build the new Boys & Girls Clubs at Maxwell Park. She worked on the City of Sonoma Disaster Committee, the Sonoma Veterans Building Refurbishing Committee, and, in 1999, was given the honor of being Sonoma’s Alcalde. Currently Fernandez and a committee of nine volunteers are working on the “Skilled Nursing Makeover Project” at Sonoma Valley Hospital, which when completed will have a fresh new look and feel to create a nurturing and healing atmosphere for patients and their families.
Schmidt is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts. She also serves on the advisory board for Seeds of Learning, a Sonoma-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving educational opportunities in rural Latin America. Over the past four years, she has chaired and co-chaired the Heroes with Heart fundraiser at Cline Cellars. This had become the signature event for the Parent Hospital Association of Sonoma Developmental Center, raising money to support advocacy efforts and enhance projects for persons residing at Sonoma Developmental Center. Most recently, Schmidt was elected president of the newly formed Sebastiani Theatre Foundation.
Tickets to Celebration of Women are $100 and proceed will benefit health at Sonoma Valley Hospital, including the Carolyn J. Stone Center for Women’s Health and Wellness. The community is invited to honor and celebrate this year’s honorees – who will be recognized for their volunteerism, community involvement and philanthropy.
To make reservations, please call the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation executive director Mary Caletges at 935.5070 or e-mail caletgesm@svh.com. Sonoma Golf Club is located at 177 Arnold Drive, Sonoma.
