The Promise of a New Year
Well, the year 2020 was one for the history book—and that’s exactly where it can stay. Like all of you, the Louie Foundation is looking forward to turning the page and making a fresh start in 2021. As we prepare to celebrate our 10th anniversary, we’re excited and we hope you are too.
COVID-19 proved to be the ultimate disruptor in 2020, denying all of us many cherished events, traditions and ceremonies while imposing stiff challenges to teachers and students, business owners, their employees and customers as well.
You’ll be happy to know the Louie Team didn’t just take a knee while weathering the storm. We took advantage of the hiatus and studied our past performance and brainstormed ways to refocus our vision that top-quality cancer prevention, diagnostic and treatment services should be available to patients in the North State without the burden of having to travel to Sacramento, San Francisco or beyond.
Thanks to the vision and generosity of our partners, the Louie Foundation has a lot to be proud of. Here’s a sample:
- Made a significant contribution allowing Mercy Medical Center to acquire a da Vinci robotic surgical machine and a da Vinci training simulator to help surgeons get the most from this amazing equipment. (Previously, patients had to travel to San Francisco, Sacramento or Southern California for da Vinci procedures.)
- Contributed towards Mercy’s acquisition of a bronchoscope, a device that uses fiber-optic technology to aid in the detection of lung cancer in its earliest stages.
- Helped Mercy invest in a digital morphology system that gives health care professionals a faster and more efficient way to analyze cells and detect malignancies.
- Contributed to the complete remodel of the waiting room in the inpatient section of the Emmerson Oncology Unit at Mercy Medical Center. New flooring, paint, furniture, wainscoting, artwork and a flat-screen TV transformed a dreary waiting room into an inviting and comfortable environment for cancer patients and their loved ones.
- A five-year, $200,000 commitment for the purchase of a pair of linear endoscopic ultrasound scopes that allow physicians to detect irregularities in the pancreas and perform biopsies without the need for a more invasive operation.
- Partnered with Mercy hospitals in Mount Shasta and Red Bluff to provide 3D mammography services, making valuable preventive care available in both of those communities without the need for extensive travel.
- The Foundation has made multiple contributions to Wings of Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides transportation to the Bay Area for north state children diagnosed with various types of cancer.
There’s plenty to look forward to this year, including our signature event, the Louie Shootout, which will take place Saturday, Sept. 11, at Gold Hills Golf Club. Be sure to also mark your calendars for Friday, Sept. 10, when the Foundation celebrates its sponsors with a hosted reception at the Gold Hills clubhouse.
