Community Memorial Health System Celebrates Donors to the BECAUSE Campaign

Community Memorial Health System Celebrates Donors to the BECAUSE Campaign

Over a decade ago, Community Memorial Health System, the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation, and the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation embarked on one of the most ambitious Capital Campaigns ever attempted in Ventura County: The “BECAUSE Campaign” to raise $25 million philanthropic dollars to help build a new Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura and a new Continuing Care Center at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. We looked to our community — our businesses, our foundations, our individuals — to make this dream a reality. Thanks to our overwhelming support in the community and from several early key donors, Community Memorial Hospital opened the doors to the new Ocean Tower in December 2018, and the new Continuing Care Center in Ojai is expected to open later this year.

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation and Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation would like to highlight and celebrate some of the donors that helped complete the dream of two brand new, state-of-the-art medical facilities right here in Ventura County.

When Glen and Karen Farr moved to Ventura County in the 1970s, they knew they were going to be staying for the long haul. They bought a house, raised their children, and loved becoming part of the Ventura community. Glen spent over 7 years serving on the CMHS Board of Trustees, where he learned the importance of having excellent local healthcare available in our community. When CMHS invited the Farrs to be a part of the next generation of healthcare in Ventura County, they knew they would support the building projects.

“It’s so important to have a state-of-the-art medical facility right here in our own backyard,” said Glen. “We really are fortunate to have this new hospital, the doctors, nurses, and new technology – right at our fingertips.”

Glen and Karen Farr are one of the earliest Ventura community couples to support the building of a new Community Memorial Hospital. Their gift is recognized in the 1st Floor Waiting Room in the new Ocean Tower.

During his time on the CMHS Board of Trustees, Glen also learned the importance of attracting young physicians to the area to live and work here. When Glen recently suffered a sporting injury to his Achilles heel, he was able to rely on the excellent medical staff and receive prompt and exceptional care right here at CMH.

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation and Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation thank Glen and Karen Farr for their support of the CMH building project, its vision and the future of healthcare in Ventura County.

Eileen (and Ed) Gaiser

When Ed Gaiser was a college student in San Luis Obispo in the 1950s, he played honky-tonk piano in bars for pizza, beer, and rent money. After graduating, he met his wife Eileen and started an electronic manufacturing company in LA County. Unfortunately, at that time, the industry had a high employee turn-over rate, and they struggled to keep their employees for long periods of time. When they later moved their company to Ventura County in 1980, they were finally able to find and settle into a community where their employees stayed with their company – many of them over 20 years – and became a family.

Eileen Gaiser named the Music Area on the first Floor of the new Ocean Tower in memory of her beloved husband, Ed Gaiser. Today, hundreds of patients, visitors, and guests enjoy the soothing melodies of a player piano as they enter the Ocean Tower.

CMHS invited Ed and Eileen to partner with them to support the building of the new Ocean Tower early on, and when Ed passed away before he could see the opening of the new hospital, Eileen knew exactly where she wanted her gift recognized. She named the Music Area on the first Floor of the new Ocean Tower in memory of her beloved husband, Ed Gaiser. Today, hundreds of patients, visitors, and guests enjoy the soothing melodies of a player piano as they enter the Ocean Tower. Eileen hopes that this area brings some comfort to all who visit.

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation and Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation are grateful to Eileen Gaiser for her significant contributions to the BECAUSE Capital Campaign, her on-going support of the Foundation, and for celebrating the memory of her beloved husband, Ed Gaiser, whose piano now plays on in the New Ocean Tower.

Dr. Doug and Caryn Woodburn

Dr. Doug Woodburn and his wife Caryn have an enduring history with CMHS, and share a long legacy of service. Not only has Dr. Woodburn worked for CMH for decades and cared for thousands of patients, he also has served as CMH’s Chief of Staff, and received the CMHF Cephas Bard Award for Physician of the Year in 2019. In fact, it seems to be a family affair – his father (Dr. James Woodburn, II) and brother (Dr. Jim Woodburn, III) were also honored and the three generations of Woodburn’s have worked for CMHS for a combined total of 108 years!

In addition, four generations of this Woodburn family have been born at CMH: Caryn and her mother were born at Foster Memorial; two of Dr. Doug and Caryn’s three children were born in the old Mountain Tower; and earlier in February, their granddaughter was welcomed into the world in the new Ocean Tower.

Dr. Doug and Caryn have spent much of their lives and careers involved with and supporting CMH, and were one of the first wave of supporters of the building projects. Dr. Doug and Caryn’s gift to the new CMH is recognized at the Spiritual Care Office on the first floor of the Ocean Tower.

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation and Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation celebrate and honor Dr. Doug and Caryn Woodburn for their life-long support of healthcare in Ventura County, Community Memorial Hospital, and its vision for the future.

If you are interested in leaving a legacy or Naming Opportunities in the new Ocean Tower or the new Continuing Care Center at Ojai Valley Community Hospital, please contact the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation at 805-948-2884 or visit www.cmhfventura.org or the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation at 805-948-2317 or visit ovchfoundation.org. The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation is a 501(c)(3), tax ID #95-3847251. The Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation is a 501(c)(3), tax ID #20-1982135.