Foundations report $31 million raised since 2019; fund MRI, surgery upgrades and obstetrics simulator

The Tahoe Forest Health System foundations reported an active fundraising year and multiple donations that hospital leaders said are designed to shore up services and training across the system.

Carly (foundation staff), presenting the Foundations update at the board meeting, said the two 501(c)(3) foundations have raised $31 million in joint net revenue between FY 2019 and FY 2025 so far. “Between FY ’19 and FY ’25, between the two foundations, we’ve raised $31,000,000 in joint net revenue,” she said.

Carly outlined recent major gifts and projects: a $1 million stock gift to the cancer center from a grateful patient; a planned gift in which a home sale generated $1.2 million for “area of greatest need”; a $500,000 contribution for a 3T MRI; a $3.8 million Helmsley Charitable Trust grant toward a $7 million diagnostic imaging project at Incline Village that enabled reinstating local endoscopy and colonoscopy services; and a $150,000 high‑fidelity obstetrics simulation mannequin (named “Victoria”) funded in part by employee giving and a matched contribution from the Martis Camp Foundation.

Carly said the mannequin will be used for multidisciplinary drills with emergency medical services, emergency department staff and obstetrics teams to prepare for hemorrhage, breech and other obstetric emergencies. “Victoria and her baby, Tori…she can hemorrhage, breech delivery, c section deliveries,” she said.

The foundations also described a transformational $7.8 million gift from the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation to support an Incline surgery enhancement project and a prior $3.8 million Helmsley gift for Incline imaging. Carly said the Incline surgery project is a $10 million campaign; foundations aim to raise the remaining $2.2 million.

Carly said the foundations are expanding planned‑giving efforts and team‑member giving; she reported 275 team‑member donors and said a “give $5 per pay period” target would generate materially more internal support for patient programs. She described a patient emergency assistance program and discretionary fund for small requests under $5,000 to purchase items like infant warmers or repair essential equipment.

Why it matters: foundation dollars fund capital and training that hospital leaders expect will help retain services locally, improve clinical capability and support recruitment. Donor‑funded simulation and imaging equipment were presented as investments to reduce patient travel and enhance emergency preparedness.