Connie Glenn-Wemple

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Connie is a breast cancer survivor who credits the care teams at Mission Hope Cancer Center and Marian Regional Medical Center for saving her life.

Connie shares, "Mission Hope Cancer Center and Marian Regional Medical Center are important to me because all people should have access to the dedicated medical care and the "TLC" provided by the expert staff. My experience began with meeting with my breast surgeon Dr. Monica Rocco. She laid out the roadmap for my journey clearly and concisely. The standard of care was beyond compare."

Connie's cancer journey is now complete thanks to the humankindness shown by her caregivers at Mission Hope Cancer Center and Marian Regional Medical Center.

When deciding to make a planned gift to the Marian Foundation in support of Marian Cancer Care at Mission Hope Cancer Center, Connie reflected on how her investment in community health care would be an opportunity to impact others' lives in a meaningful way.

"It's inspiring to be able to do this," concludes Connie. "This special gift allows me to be part of an important legacy - a family!"

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Establishing a Legacy of Love Through a Charitable Annuity

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The late Joe and Jean Olivera lived a life of hard work, integrity, and charity in service to God, family, and country. As a result, they spent their lives building a legacy of love for each other, their family, and the charitable works of organizations like Marian Regional Medical Center.

It is this spirit of concern for others and the desire to build for the future health care needs of Marian patients and families that prompted the Oliveras to establish a charitable gift annuity to benefit Marian. They chose to fund the annuity with a generous cash contribution that generated a guaranteed rate of return in the form of monthly, quarterly or annual payments that continued throughout their lifetime. Depending upon the age of the annuitants, the contributor is often guaranteed a rate of return that exceeds more typical fixed instruments like Certificates of Deposit, bond funds or savings accounts. The annuity also provides a significant charitable tax deduction, and the satisfaction of knowing that in the future, the remnant of the annuity will benefit the patients and families of Marian.

Anyone who ever had contact with the Oliveras know that they are known for their charitable giving and service to the community. In fact, a visitor to the main lobby of the new hospital will find Joe and Jean's name mentioned on every donor acknowledgement plaque displayed as testament to a lifetime of their generosity. Joe's history of service to the Sisters of Saint Francis and their work at Marian spans many decades, starting with his tenure on the Marian Regional Medical Center Board of Directors. He was instrumental in the expansion of the campus to meet the needs of a growing community. He also served as a member and a Chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees. He continued to serve on the Foundation Board as an honorary member until his passing.

The Olivera family's legacy of love, kindness, and thoughtful stewardship will live on to benefit future generations of Marian patients and families.

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Planned Giving — A Legacy of Caring

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Dante E. Tognazzi, Jr., was a man characterized by service and faith. His kindness and generosity of spirit were recognizable as soon as you met him. A second generation native-Santa Marian, Dante had a long history not only with the community but with Marian and the Sisters of Saint Francis. A long-time volunteer at Marian Regional Medical Center, Dante was committed to bringing the best to Santa Maria.

Dante saw the growth of this community from a small town to a community of over 100,000 people, and witnessed the growth of healthcare in Santa Maria.

Dante decided to make his legacy gift to Marian even before the plans to expand the existing hospital had been finalized. "He chose to give through a planned gift to support the needs of future Marian patients and families and to honor the founding congregation of Sisters," said Stephanie Grogan, Vice President Philanthropy. "I recall him saying that his affection for Marian grew so naturally and that through his legacy gift he'd rest knowing he supported excellent service, the best doctors, and the finest care for the people of Santa Maria."

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A local philanthropic pioneer and the heart of Santa Maria Valley charitable giving

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When it comes to charitable giving throughout the Santa Maria Valley, there is no name better recognized than that of Sue J. Sword.

As the Co-Trustee of the Marian Mullin Hancock Charitable Trust, it is Sue who has continued Captain Allan and Marian Hancock's local philanthropic leadership. In addition to furthering the Hancock's tradition of charitable giving, Sue has also built her own legacy of philanthropy and volunteerism - all in order to boldly shape a better world.

Over the years, Sue has helped establish Santa Maria's philanthropy scene and has remained at the forefront of local altruistic giving efforts since moving to Santa Maria in 1945. It was nearly 70 years ago when Sue decided to make Santa Maria her home.

She describes her move from Texas to Santa Maria as a simple one and recalls, "I moved to Santa Maria to be closer to my sister who at the time was a nurse at the hospital, then known as Sisters' Hospital. I came to Santa Maria and fell in love with the community so I stayed and made it my home."

Not long after arriving in Santa Maria, Sue married her husband of nearly 50 years, Erl Julian Sword, and began working for the Hancock enterprises. For more than 50 years, Sue was a devoted employee, faithful financial advisor and dear friend to the Hancocks. Marian Hancock quickly recognized Sue's intelligence and high level of professionalism, which led to Sue's eventual rise to the position of President of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. Even to this day, Sue holds the distinction of serving as the only female president of a short line railroad west of the Mississippi. Although Marian noticed many professional qualities in Sue, she also valued Sue's giving heart and their shared love of philanthropy.

As a local leader of philanthropic giving, Sue has established a record of exceptional generosity and charitable responsibility. By serving on countless community boards and with an endless list of philanthropic achievements and honors, it is evident that Sue has committed her life to investing in positive community change and expansion. She has long supported just about every civic and nonprofit organization in the greater Santa Maria Valley from Marian Regional Medical Center to the Santa Maria Valley Boys and Girls Club, to the YMCA, Allan Hancock College and every large and small organization in between.

Sue served on the Marian Hospital Community Board and also served as one of the founding members of the Marian Foundation Board. Since the Marian Foundation Board's inception in 1982, she has also served faithfully over the years by participating in the board finance and policy committees. To this day, Sue continues to serve as an Honorary Marian Foundation Board Member and devotedly attends Foundation board meetings and events.

"There is no denying that Sue is an exceptional woman, an innovative philanthropist and committed community leader," explains Georganne Ferini, a close friend of Sue's and fellow community advocate. "Due to her involvement and support of Marian Regional Medical Center and countless other causes, she has become a key player in the many successes of and improvements in our community. Sue is a woman who will go the extra mile to honor her commitments and her work is evident of her selfless passion to help others."

The importance of building a foundation for future giving

Despite Sue's lifetime of philanthropic service, she's far from done. In 1993, Sue became a founding member of the Marian Foundation's Legacy Society by including Marian Regional Medical Center in her estate planning as the Sue J. Sword Heart Center Endowment Fund. She has dedicated her planned endowment gift to the Marian Heart Center due to her great admiration and respect for her longtime cardiologist, Dr. Ram K. Setty.

Through the Marian Legacy Society, the Foundation expresses gratitude to those, like Sue, who have included Marian in their estate planning. Furthermore, Sue has long been a supporter of the Foundation's need to establish and maintain an endowment to ensure a revenue stream for the future needs of the medical center. In fact, it was her visionary leadership and wisdom that played a significant role in the creation of the Foundation's operating policies to steward growth of endowment funds. Her generosity has provided significant support to every major capital endeavor throughout the Foundation's history. Most recently, Sue supported the Cornerstone Campaign to build the new hospital and in tribute to her generosity the colonnade outside the hospital main entrance is named in her honor.

When asked about her motivation for building her own legacy of giving and why she felt compelled to identify the Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation as a deferred gift beneficiary, Sue offers, "The hospital is close to my heart. Marian Regional Medical Center stands for our community and the care they provide touches everyone. It's very fulfilling knowing that the work they do and the contributions made will further advance care and benefit the future people of Santa Maria."

A gift unlike any other

Although Sue and Marian Hancock both shared a love of charitable giving, they also shared a love of music - especially an admiration for baby grand pianos.

Sue is quite familiar with making donations to the hospital and other charitable organizations, but for this particular donation she knew it would take more than writing a check. She eagerly conducted research on baby grand pianos and then shared her idea of this special gift with hospital leaders.

"I wanted to provide a gift for the new hospital that everyone would enjoy. One day I thought that's it - a baby grand piano for the hospital's front lobby," explains Sue. "Music is powerful. I wanted to provide a gift that provided soothing and comforting relief to patients and those visiting the hospital."

Now patients, their families and hospital staff take great listening pleasure in the peaceful and relaxing sounds of the newly donated baby grand piano. This beautiful and pristine piano plays classical melodies four times a day and fittingly stands just outside the chapel doors on the first floor of the new hospital as the shining star of the "Sue Sword Colonnade."

When asked what she believes Marian Hancock would say to see her work and the present Marian Regional Medical Center, Sue tenderly smiles and adds, "She would be very, very pleased and would probably say 'My Susie is keeping things going.' She would be truly elated to know that I was carrying things forward. As for Marian Regional Medical Center, she had a specific vision for the hospital and community health care. Seeing the new hospital today and knowing all the services the medical center offers our community, I know she would feel as if all her dreams came true."

Sue goes on to modestly explain that it is her mission and sincerest hope to foster philanthropy for the greater good of the community. She believes in the same philosophy as Marian Hancock, that charitable giving builds and strengthens a community.

"I want to inspire others to also support our organizations. But it's about more than giving," states Sue. "It's about getting involved. Taking an interest in community organizations and volunteering. This is not only beneficial for fellow community members, it is also truly gratifying. I have seen so many changes over the years and have enjoyed every moment of it. There is no better feeling than to be involved in your community and to make a difference in the lives of others."

On behalf of Marian Regional Medical Center and the community at large, the Marian Foundation would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Sue for her legacy of service and generosity. Her unwavering belief in the medical center's work is genuine and from the heart. Sue's friendship and support of Marian Regional Medical Center is a special gift which will be forever treasured.

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Santa Maria Valley's Very Own Angel

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Marian Mullin Hancock was an intelligent and caring woman who exemplified greatness in all its manifestations to tremendous benefit of our community. Like Mrs. Hancock, her husband, Captain George Allan Hancock, was no ordinary man, and together the two provided leadership and philanthropic energies which profoundly influenced Marian Regional Medical Center and the Santa Maria Valley.

Mrs. Hancock had a specific vision for community health care due to her great respect and gratitude to the Sisters of Saint Francis' mission of wellness, health and healing.

Sister Marilyn Ingram, OSF, was a friend of Mrs. Hancock's and a longtime administrator of Marian Hospital and its predecessor Our Lady of Perpetual Help Hospital, affectionately called Sisters' Hospital by community members. Sister Marilyn recounts, "She was a very good friend to me, the sisters and the hospital. She and her husband built the first X-ray Department at the original Sisters' Hospital and when the community had grown beyond the capacity for the original building, I immediately called upon Marian Hancock to help."

The very same day Mrs. Hancock was made aware of the Sisters' need, she invited Sister Marilyn into her Cadillac and the two drove around Santa Maria looking for potential property for the site of a new hospital. When Sister Marilyn saw the property which is now home to the current Marian Regional Medical Center, she said to Mrs. Hancock, "I'd like some of that." Mrs. Hancock replied, "You'll get it."

As the story goes, Mrs. Hancock posed a very important question to her husband, Captain George Allan Hancock, while out on a Sunday drive. She explained the Sisters' need for a larger hospital to serve the community and that a parcel of land on Church Street would make a desirable location. When Captain Hancock turned to his wife and asked who owned the property, she replied, "Why, you do."

What was once a 10-acre tomato field belonging to the Hancocks was soon deeded to the Sisters of Saint Francis and Marian Regional Medical Center was established. After her husband's passing, Mrs. Hancock assumed the role as manager of her husband's many enterprises, and like her husband, she had the true heart of a philanthropist, particularly when it came to community health care.

Personal friend, business associate and financial advisor Sue Sword says, "She never met a stranger or enemy in her life, everybody loved her. Her faith was very important to her, and she was often seen at services at Sisters' Hospital Chapel. It was there that she struck up a friendship with the Catholic sisters and priests who ministered at the hospital and she continued to give generously to the hospital over the years, playing a significant role in the history of the hospital."

It was the early 1990s when the medical center embarked on a project to build a new Heart Center. Mrs. Hancock once again stepped in and took the lead as honorary chair of the heart fund drive. Since 1994, the Marian Mullin Hancock Charitable Trust has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to the health care ministry of Marian Regional Medical Center and it is Mrs. Hancock's trust that provided $3.25 million to Marian Regional Medical Center's Cornerstone Campaign to build a new hospital for the growing community.

Mrs. Hancock's philanthropic legacy has left a tremendous impact on the people of the Santa Maria Valley and each and every day her exceptional generosity is still making a positive difference in the lives of Marian Regional Medical Center patients and families.

Sue adds, "She was always giving. She would often comment, 'Some people have so very little and I have been blessed with so very much."' She felt it was her duty to see that peoples' needs were met. I always considered Marian Hancock Santa Maria's very own angel."

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The Souza Family Endowment Leaves a Gift to Last Lifetimes

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The late Irving and Dadi Souza, longtime friends and dedicated supporters of Marian, bequeathed a substantial $3.6 million to the Marian Foundation - the single largest bequest ever received by the Foundation.

The Souzas generous bequest created the Souza Family Endowment which has supported and will continue to support construction of new building projects and the acquisition of the latest in state-of-the-art medical technologies.

Not only did the Souzas support many of Marian Regional Medical Center's largest projects, but Irving was an integral Marian Foundation Board member for many years. Irving, along with his loving wife, Dadi,were innovators in gifts made to the hospital, giving of their leadership, time and resources to support the medical center. The Souza's relationship with Marian Regional Medical Center began in 1992 when Irving joined the Marian Foundation Board. Irving served in many different capacities for his allotted six years of service and even presided as Marian Foundation President in 1996.

Longtime Marian Foundation Board member Sue Sword recalls, "As soon as we got him initially involved with the Foundation Board, he was hooked and he fell in love with the cause."

Like many donors, the thread that tied the Souza family to Marian was a genuine belief in Marian's mission of health care established by the Sisters of Saint Francis and, to that end, the Souzas graciously provided personal, annual support year after year to ensure superior health care for the local community.

Marian Regional Medical Center is honored to be one of several institutions who have been touched by the generosity of the late Irving and Dadi Souza. Their legacy will reign on, making a profoundly positive impact on the bright future of Marian and the community.

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Volunteer Supports the Hearst Cancer Resource Center

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Rochele "Rocky" Ullum spent a lot of time at French Hospital while both her husband and her elderly parents sought treatment for medical issues. Rocky was inspired by the excellent medical care her family received, as well as the compassion of the volunteers, so she became a volunteer when she retired as a way to give back. When she revised her estate plan, she again thought of giving back to the hospital and decided to include a planned gift in the revision. It was a small change to make, but she knows it will make a big impact. Rocky chose for her bequest to support the Hearst Cancer Resource Center at French Hospital, a cause dear to her heart after losing a loved one to cancer.

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Marcie and John Lindvall Support Cardiac Care

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Marcie and John Lindvall are so dedicated to ensuring the future of the Copeland, Forbes and Rossi Cardiac Care Center that they established the Cardiac Care Endowment Fund. "We wanted to make sure that French Hospital remains at the top of its game", John Lindvall said. "When Marcie and I decided to give to French Hospital, we knew it would help countless individuals for years and years to come, creating a lasting legacy of caring for cardiac patients in our community. We hope people will continue to give from their hearts to help save a heart."

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Physician Family Provides for the Future of French Hospital

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French Hospital is where Dr. Ke-Ping Tsao started his surgical practice and where he feels he spent his best and most successful times as a community leader. Dr. Tsao and his wife Su feel they have been lucky to be part of such a great community and want their community to continue to be prosperous, confident, and healthy. "When we leave this life, what better way to help the community than to leave a planned gift. The people at French Hospital act so bravely, with such integrity, and with such concern for members of our community. As a place to leave a legacy, I cannot think of a better organization for that legacy to be sustained," says Dr. Tsao.

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Local Ranch Owners Designate a Portion of Their Ranch to Benefit French Hospital

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Stan and Barbara Clark decided to give back to French Hospital as a result of the care that Stan received when he unexpectedly had to be taken by ambulance to French Hospital. The Clarks were so appreciative of the exceptional care they received at French Hospital that they made an initial generous contribution to support the "French - Well Into the Future" campaign. As their relationship with the hospital continued to develop, the Clarks made the decision to establish a significant estate gift through their Charitable Remainder Trust, benefitting the patients of French Hospital for years to come.

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Jim Flanagan Supports Nursing Education

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As a retired professor of Animal Science, education has always been a passion of Jim's. He set up the James R. Flanagan Educational Advancement Endowment to support educational opportunities for nursing and other professional staff at French Hospital. His support also made possible the creation of the James R. Flanagan Simulation Learning Center which provides high tech manikins to simulate human medical conditions. "I know that providing health care educators with this cutting edge technology will provide state-of-the-art training that couldn't otherwise be conducted on the Central Coast," said Jim.

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Burke and Rena Dambly Leave a Lasting Legacy

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"As a patient at French Hospital, I always received outstanding treatment. Whether I started at the Admissions desk or in the Emergency Department, I was treated with respect, compassion and courtesy throughout my visit," said Burke Dambly. "I witnessed the dedication of the nurses, the physicians, and the obvious attention to detail from food service and environmental services staff. During my last visit to French, I knew I wanted to turn my appreciation for my health care into a legacy gift."

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Dedicated Hospital Volunteer Jeanne Hutchison Establishes Stroke Endowment

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Jeanne was a beloved member of the French Hospital family, starting her volunteer service in 2007 and volunteering until three days before she fell ill, passing on January 7, 2016. As a volunteer, she worked the floor and spent many hours delivering newspapers to hospital patients. She created a lasting impact on her community by establishing an endowment in support of the stroke program at Marian Legacy Society. The endowment supports new technology, staffing education, and community outreach/promotion. The fund also helps support the needs of stroke patients in the Emergency Department.

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