JCF Hospital Foundation

02/06/2026

Tomorrow, Friday, Feb 6, is Go Red for Women Day. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. It’s a third of our mothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, coworkers and more. It’s a third of the women we can’t bear to live without.

The American Heart Association encourages everyone to wear red, share knowledge, and donate to fund research, aiming to reduce risks, promote heart-healthy living, and support underrepresented populations.

For more information, go to https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/

02/04/2026

Steven Indendi recently joined the JCF Hospital Foundation board. With a master's degree in nursing education, Indendi is a seasoned and experienced registered nurse, working across a wide range of clinical settings, including skilled nursing, psychiatric care, and hospital emergency and intensive care units.

Indendi brings to the Foundation both frontline healthcare experience and proven leadership, including work leading teams through Joint Commission accreditation. The Joint Commission is an independent, non-profit organization that accredits and certifies over 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the U.S., such as hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. It is the premier health accrediting body, focusing on patient safety, quality of care, and infection control. In addition to his nursing career, Indendi has served his community as a volunteer with Mariposa County Fire.

“I have joined the Foundation board because I want to be a part of a great team with the mission to support the John C. Fremont Healthcare District,” Indendi says. “We have an incredible District that is vital to this community and all of the visitors who pass through. I want to support the District so it can continue for years to come.”

“Not only does Steve bring experience from a number of clinical settings and geographic locations as a member of the John C. Fremont Healthcare District team,” said Heather Bernikoff, Hospital Foundation President, “his addition continues to strengthen the Foundation’s ties to District staff, a key demographic the Foundation serves.”

“His knowledge of various departments will help the Foundation serve this constituency and add value as we build a capital campaign in support of the new hospital,” continued Bernikoff.

JCF Hospital Foundation is seeking additional members to broaden our scope of expertise. If you have experience in finance, legal, graphic design, major gifts, events, or fundraising, and are passionate about the need for healthcare in Mariposa County, please contact the Foundation at admin@jcfhospitalfoundation.org, (209) 966-1166, or speak with any team member about joining. You will find more info at the Foundation’s website: jcfhospitalfoundation.org.

The JCF Hospital Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the rural communities of the John C. Fremont Healthcare District to maximize health through partnership and philanthropy. The Foundation’s philanthropic partnerships with the Healthcare District and the communities it serves span over 40 years.

To stay up to date with the Foundation’s latest news, follow on Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up for the Foundation's quarterly newsletter: https://forms.gle/hzSQn5RnHzneDJC66

If you would like to financially support the Healthcare District through the Foundation, you can do so by sending a check to JCFHF, PO Box 1093, Mariposa, CA 95338, or through the online fundraising site at secure.qgiv.com/for/jcfhospitalfoundation. Donations are tax-deductible.

02/04/2026

February 2 is World Cancer Day. One in three men and women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. You can help reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices like eating right, staying active, and not smoking. It's also important to follow recommended screening guidelines, which can help detect certain cancers early.

Go to https://www.cancer.org/ for more information and resources.

02/03/2026

Thanks so much to Alison Tudor for facilitating the JCF Hospital Foundation's recent strategic planning retreat. She is such a pro! With her help, we got through a big agenda and ended the day feeling energized and excited for the year ahead. Here's to working together with the John C. Fremont Healthcare District and the community to maximize health goals.

02/03/2026

Thanks very much to the Mariposa Gazette for the coverage in its 1/29 edition. The JCF Hospital Foundation is thrilled to have Zulema Valdez join our board. We also offer thanks to Saralynn Nusbaum and Anna Meijas for their service.

The Hospital Foundation is seeking additional members to broaden its scope of expertise. If you have experience in finance, legal, graphic design, major gifts, events, or fundraising, and are passionate about the need for healthcare in Mariposa County, contact the Foundation at admin@jcfhospitalfoundation.org, (209) 966-1166, or speak with any team member about joining. You will find more info at the Foundation’s website: jcfhospitalfoundation.org.

The JCF Hospital Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the rural communities of the John C. Fremont Healthcare District to maximize health through partnership and philanthropy. The Foundation’s philanthropic partnerships with the Healthcare District and the communities it serves span over 40 years.

To stay up to date with the Foundation’s latest news, follow on Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up for the Foundation's quarterly newsletter: https://forms.gle/hzSQn5RnHzneDJC66

02/02/2026

Today is Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day🖐

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term, progressive, and disabling autoimmune disease. It causes inflammation, swelling, and pain in and around the joints and other body organs. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) usually affects the hands and feet first, but it can occur in any joint.

Most people think of arthritis as an “old person’s” disease. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Arthritis can affect people of all ages and is the number one cause of disability in the United States and Canada. While there are over 100 kinds of arthritis, the goal of Rheumatoid Arthritis Day on February 2 is to bring greater recognition of this chronic autoimmune condition that effects about 1% of the population and rising.

Go to https://www.aiarthritis.org/ra-day for more information.

01/30/2026

📣 Update on Yesterday’s Meeting Access Issues
We sincerely apologize to everyone who had trouble accessing yesterday’s New Hospital Strategic Planning meeting through the agenda link. We know how important these meetings are, and we’re truly sorry for the frustration this caused.

We’ve identified the issue and taken steps to address it. While technical glitches can still happen, we’re committed to monitoring things closely and responding quickly if problems arise.

Transparency and community participation—especially around our New Hospital Project—are incredibly important to us. Thank you for your patience, your feedback, and your continued involvement.

If you were affected or have questions, please reach out. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.

👉 Optional: Comment below with service lines you’d love to see in the future, or services you feel our growing community currently travels out of town for. Your input helps guide our planning.

01/30/2026

I was recently appointed as one of the liaisons to John C. Fremont Healthcare District, and today I attended a publicly noticed and well-advertised strategic planning meeting focused on community-identified healthcare needs and the future use of existing facilities that will be vacated as the new hospital comes online.

I know many in our community have been eager for more visible conversation around these topics, so I appreciated how open and engaging today’s meeting was. For context, the site plan for the new hospital has already been submitted to the County Planning Department and is currently under review, allowing this meeting to focus more specifically on services and how existing spaces might best serve community needs moving forward.

The discussion was guided by the design team from Cunningham Group Architecture, who then opened the floor for input. Community members, hospital employees, board members, and partners all had the opportunity to speak to real needs and service gaps.

The conversation centered on potential uses such as optometry, pediatrics, dialysis, rotational specialty care, a pharmacy, additional SNF beds, and other services that reflect the realities of rural healthcare and priorities voiced by the community.

What stood out most was the quality of the dialogue. There was meaningful engagement between the board, the hospital team, and the community, with a clear emphasis on listening and collaboration. Stacy, the new CEO (pictured above), was present, approachable, and clearly committed to continuing these conversations in a transparent and constructive way.

There will be additional meetings like this, and I’m hopeful they will continue in the same spirit. It was encouraging to see community needs so directly centered in the planning process, and I’m grateful to be part of work that supports the future of rural healthcare in our county.

01/28/2026

This Thursday January 29th @ 2:00 pm

JCFHD has called a Special Board meeting to discuss the Master Plan & Strategic Plan for the new and existing hospital campus in order to develop a vision for the future.
Join the Board to hear from Architects and the Project Manager during this public board meeting
1/29/26 from 2-4pm either in person or online using the link below for Microsoft Teams.
👇Link to Join at 2:00 pm Thursday January 29th

https://tinyurl.com/3t8yz926

Meeting ID: 265 173 547 280 46
Passcode: ht6cA37N

-Rose Fluharty, JCFHD Board Director

01/28/2026

Thanks to the Sierra Sun Times for the coverage. Zulema Valdez is a wonderful addition to our JCF Hospital Foundation board. Click the link to read more.

John C. Fremont Hospital Foundation Welcomes New Board Member Zulema Valdez (Click the Link)
https://www.goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/74957-john-c-fremont-hospital-foundation-welcomes-new-board-member-zulema-valdez

01/28/2026

February 6th is Wear Red and Give Day!

In 10 days, will you join us in fighting cardiovascular disease by wearing red in on honor of the hearts of the women you love?

Last year, 50,000 supporters wore red. We can do even more this year when we stand up against heart disease and stroke.

When you wear red and donate, you can power lifesaving research, CPR education, and community programs that protect hearts across the nation.

👉 And today, your donation will be 3X matched: spr.ly/6008N4ma0