Hospital foundation names honorees
The Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation has selected Gerry Brinton and Lorrie Hohorst to receive its Pulse Award, than annual honor recognizing outstanding Sonoma Valley women who have made significant contributions to the community through their volunteerism, community involvement and philanthropy.
Brinton and Hohorst will be honored at the Foundation’s 10th annual Celebration of Women luncheon on Thursday, May 21, 11:30 a.m. at The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa. Proceeds from the event will benefit women’s health and wellness programs at Sonoma Valley Hospital, including Project Pink, which funds mammograms for uninsured women each May and October.
“We are delighted to recognize these women who so passionately and generously give of themselves for the betterment of our community”, said Selma Blanusa, executive director of the Hospital Foundation. “Sonoma is so lucky to have them.”
Gerry Brinton and her husband, Bill, bought their home in Glen Ellen in 1984. Gerry, having been raised in Dubuque, Iowa, really wanted their two young sons to experience the freedom of hot summer weather and all it brings. The couple has lived here full time since 2001 when they sold their fresh juice business and began their Charles Creek Vineyard adventure. Gerry, educated at Duke and Harvard Business School, has had several careers: CPA, management consultant, property management, finance and administration of the Wiman Beverage Co, and similar duties with Charles Creek.
Brinton has contributed to her communities through Governing Board responsibilities with CPMC in San Francisco and Sutter Health, Sacramento, and several years on the Finance Committee of the Sonoma Valley Hospital. Education is another interest pursued through Board work at Drew School and Enterprise for San Francisco high school students, and as treasurer of Sonoma Plein Air Foundation in Sonoma. Her favorite job has been mother of their two sons, Charley and Bobby, who live in San Francisco.
Volunteering has been both vocation and avocation for Lorrie Hohorst. Lorrie, and her husband, Peter, moved to the Valley in 1987. Almost immediately, she went to work as manager of Volunteer Center of Sonoma County’s Sonoma Office, where she supported its volunteer referral service program by recruiting individuals and groups for local nonprofits and schools. To meet the growth of Valley nonprofits from 37 to over 100 she formed the NonProfit Network and the ED Roundtable to facilitate better cooperation and communication.
Other volunteer efforts have included service on the City and County Planning Commissions, the BERT (Business Education Round Table) that established “Leadership Sonoma Valley,” Sonoma County Master Gardeners, and Vintage House’s Vintage Sale. She has played key roles in all of the ballot measure campaigns for Sonoma Valley Hospital. A New Jersey transplant, Lorrie is a graduate of Massachusetts’ Wellesley College. She and Peter are the parents of two children.
The Hospital Foundation is grateful to the community for support of its programs and this event, notes Blanusa. “We are blessed to have Karen Collins, Donna Halow, and Maggie Haywood as our three incredible community leaders co-chair Celebration of Women 2015.”
To make a reservation or obtain more information about the event or the foundation, contact Svhfoundation.com or 935.5331.
