William “Rick” Cronk, former president of Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and his wife Janet, have pledged $1 million to the John Muir Health Foundation’s Capital Campaign, according to Campaign officials. The Capital Campaign, entitled “Breaking New Ground Right Here,” supports John Muir’s state-of-the-art building expansion projects in Walnut Creek and Concord.
In making their gift, the couple chose to recognize two John Muir Health physicians by naming two medical-surgical wings of the new patient care tower in Walnut Creek in honor of cardiologist Sally Davis, M.D., and hospitalist Peter Rowe, M.D.
“Access to quality healthcare is one of the most important aspects of people’s lives, and we are fortunate to have such an incredible medical resource right here in our own community,” said Rick Cronk. “John Muir is a world class hospital and people should support it. Making a gift to the Capital Campaign is a great opportunity to show our appreciation.”
According to the Lafayette couple, Drs. Sally Davis and Peter Rowe have been instrumental in providing care to family members over the last 15 years. The Cronks said that it is John Muir’s tradition of quality and compassionate care that prompted them to donate $1 million towards the hospital renovation and expansion projects.
“You get thanked by patients in different ways, but this Campaign gift is almost overwhelming–it’s one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Dr. Davis. “Dr. Rowe and I accept this honor on behalf of the entire John Muir medical staff because all our colleagues at John Muir Health are committed to compassionate, high quality care every day.”
“Philanthropy supports our most urgent needs, and right now it’s building for the health of our community,” said Milt Smith, president of the Foundation. “We are grateful for Janet and Rick’s significant contribution and hope it will inspire others to do the same.”
According to Janet Cronk, the couple believes strongly that the expansion under way at John Muir’s medical centers in Walnut Creek and Concord will enable John Muir to continue attracting the very best doctors that the hospital is known for today. They also hope that their gift will motivate other grateful patients to make Campaign gifts in honor of John Muir physicians and nurses.
“John Muir Health needs to grow for the benefit of this community, and people need to get involved,” said Janet. “As a patient, I’m grateful for John Muir’s extraordinary medical care and as a local resident, I value its convenient location and the enhancement it makes to the quality of life in our community,” added Rick.
In addition to their support for the John Muir Health Foundation, Rick and Janet are actively involved with the University of California, Berkeley Foundation. Rick is also a prominent leader in Scouting: he just finished a two-year term as national president of the Boy Scouts of America and is chairman of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement which has 28 million members.
For more information about how to honor physicians or nurses through a Capital Campaign gift, or to make a donation in honor or memory of a family member or loved one, please contact the John Muir Health Foundation at 925-947-4449 or e-mail: [email protected]
About John Muir Health Foundation
John Muir Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1979 to support the nonprofit John Muir Health organization, which serves communities in Contra Costa County, parts of Solano County and Marin County. Locally governed John Muir Health is a leader in high quality patient care that continues to help make possible a number of “firsts” in the region, including the first Oncology Center in Northern California to offer breakthrough technology in the diagnosis of lung and esophageal cancer, the first Novalis stereotactic radio surgery system in Northern California, the first Level III neonatal intensive care nursery in Contra Costa County, and the first and only designated Trauma Center for Contra Costa County.
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