History

A Century of Caring: Building on the Legacy

The Healthcare Foundation for Orange County ("HFOC") is the successor to the United Western Medical Centers and its affiliates (together "UWMC"). Originally begun in 1902 as the first hospital in what is now Santa Ana, UWMC grew to three hospitals offering a wide variety of services to communities in Central Orange County. These are:

Western Medical Center Hospital & Regional Trauma Center/Santa Ana
Western Medical Center Hospital/Anaheim
Bartlett Skilled Nursing Facility, Santa Ana

UWMC's assets were acquired in December, 1996 by a subsidiary of OrNda Healthcare (now Tenet). The California Attorney General has accepted the Foundation as successor to UWMC's philanthropic legacy as the oldest hospital system in Orange County. As a result, proceeds of the sale in excess of UWMC's debts and other obligations must be transferred to the Foundation, which has a charitable mission to continue the heritage of caring for the health needs of residents of Orange County. The Foundation had over $20 million at the close of its first full year of operation, making it one of the larger foundations in Orange County.

In the years since the Foundation accepted the proceeds of the UWMC sale it has helped shape local health philanthropy by:

Investing in innovative programs which have the potential to make a difference for the health of those they serve.
Bringing several foundations together, to create the Health Funders partnership of Orange County, working together on ambitious efforts to improve the health of County residents. The Partnership's first initiative, A Systems Approach to Diabetes, offered local providers over $2 million over a three-year-period.
Creating GrantPartners.net, a website to make the philanthropy "marketplace" more efficient, matching donors and grant-seekers, based on shared interests. The Foundation will make its smaller grants through this Website, as will some other members of the Partnership in the year ahead.
Providing responsible stewardship for bequests and grants from other Foundations, targeting local health concerns.

Gifts and Bequests

Families and individuals who are aware of the Foundation's commitment to the health of Orange County residents have created charitable trusts, which name the Foundation as a beneficiary, and have included the Foundation in their estate planning process. Together, they have committed nearly $4 million to the stewardship of the Foundation.

If you would like to create a donor-advised fund dedicated to health, or to leave a legacy for health in Orange County, please contact the Foundation's Chief Executive Officer, Doris J. Flander by using the Contact Us form. We would be pleased to work with you, to assist you in your health philanthropy. We can provide you with information regarding local organizations which share your commitment to health and provide oversight for grant-making activity consistent with your vision. If you choose to create a donor-advised fund, we can assure these funds are invested in a diversified manner consistent with your long-term giving goals.

The operating philosophy and role of the Foundation may be summarized as follows:

Governing Philosophy

The Healthcare Foundation for Orange County is an independent philanthropic organization. It pursues its mission through strategic grantmaking based upon careful analysis of community needs and through working with community-based organizations. The Foundation is committed to being well informed about Orange County's health care needs, and it will coordinate with other organizations to leverage its financial and human capital where possible.

Foundation Role

The Foundation will pursue its goals primarily through independent and collaborative grantmaking activities. It will also offer training and technical assistance to improve the health of local residents and the effectiveness of organizations which serve them. It will provide leadership in the community by coordinating and leveraging its resources with other funders and organizations in Orange County.