Mission and Milestones

The mission of the Sequoia Hospital Foundation is to develop and secure funding for the benefit of Sequoia Hospital.

For nearly forty years, the Sequoia Hospital Foundation has partnered with our community to support and enhance Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital’s life-changing and life-saving programs. Foundation support has touched every one of the hospital's patient care departments and in so doing has impacted the care every one of Sequoia's patients receive each day.

Last year more than 1,000 donors gave generously to support our mission and we are pleased that every donation raised locally stays local and 100% of every gift is used to benefit the donors' area of choice.

Recent gifts have supported essential equipment for Sequoia's award-winning Heart and Vascular Institute, caregiver response and resiliency programs for our physicians and staff, scholarships to train the next generation of nurses, cutting-edge technology for cancer diagnosis and treatment, support for our family-favorite Birth Center, emergency medicine and so much more. 

Currently the foundation is raising funds for new dual source CT imaging equipment and enhancements to the Sequoia Hospital Breast and Diagnostic Center.

Sequoia's history

The history of Sequoia Hospital and the Sequoia Hospital Foundation stretches back to 1938 when a group of nine women, led by "Dove" Beeger, appealed to the City Council of Redwood City for a hospital to serve the residents of Southern San Mateo County. Delayed by World War Two, their vision became a reality in October of 1950.

Photograph of Sequoia Hospital's exterior in 1950

1950

Sequoia Hospital opens as the first district hospital in the state of California.

Photograph of the first heart surgery at Sequoia Hospital.

1957

The first cardiac surgery is performed at Sequoia.

Photograph of the unveiling of the first Sequoia Hospital Foundation donor wall.

1982

Sequoia Hospital Foundation is incorporated.

Four golfers at an early Sequoia Hospital Foundation tournament

1984

The first Sequoia Hospital Foundation golf tournament is held.

Cover image from the program of Bob Hope's concert benefiting Sequoia Hospital Foundation.

1985

Actor and comedian Bob Hope performs at a fundraiser for the Sequoia Hospital Foundation at San Carlos' Circle Star theater.

Photograph of the front of the Sequoia Hospital Guest House.

1990

Sequoia Hospital Foundation's Board of Directors purchases the Sequoia Guest House, adjacent to the hospital's entrance.

Catholic Healthcare West logo.

1996

Sequoia Hospital affiliates with Catholic Healthcare West (CHW).

Photograph of Dr. William Kennett.

2005

Sequoia Hospital Foundation awards the first $12,500 Dr. William Kennett Memorial Nursing Scholarship.

Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital logo.

2008

CHW (now Dignity Health) assumes ownership of Sequoia Hospital.

Photograph of a surgeon at the controls of the da Vinci Surgical robot.

2008

The first robotic surgery is performed at Sequoia. (The da Vinci Surgical Robotics system was purchased with funding from Sequoia Hospital Foundation.)

Photo graph of Sequoia Hospital.

2014

The new Sequoia Hospital patient pavilion opens (with funding from Sequoia Hospital Foundation's first-ever multi-million dollar capital campaign).

1950 Sequoia Society logo.

2018

Sequoia Hospital Foundation launches the 1950 Sequoia Society with 53 founding members to honor individuals who have included the Foundation in their estate planning.

Photograph of Gloria Kennett with oversized check for $1 million.

2018

Sequoia Hospital Foundation's Kennett Nursing Scholarship program awards its $1 millionth in scholarship funding.

Hearts of the Hospital logo.

2019

Sequoia Hospital Foundation launches the Hearts of the Hospital women’s fundraising group.

CommonSpirit Health logo.

2019

Dignity Health becomes CommonSpirit Health following its alignment with Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI).

Logo for the Sequoia Hospital Foundation golf tournament.

2019

Sequoia Hospital Foundation's annual golf tournament is renamed in memory of Foundation board member Steve San Filippo.

Photograph of Gloria Kennett with the 2020 scholarship recipients.

2020

Sequoia Hospital Foundation's Kennett Nursing Scholarship program awards its 106th scholarship, having raised nearly $2 million since its launch in 2005.

Giving pictogram depicting two hands gripping eachother.

2020

Sequoia Hospital Foundation receives a $10 million gift, the largest in Foundation history.