Staff of Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation
At Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation (SVMHF), we are proud to
employ a passionate team of development professionals, dedicated to assisting
the Board to raise funds, ensuring that SVMHS can continue providing exceptional
healthcare to our community.
Learn more about our staff below:
Linda Ford
CEO of the SVMH Foundation
Chief Philanthropic Officer for SVMHS
Ms. Ford brings over 30 years of hospital fundraising, philanthropy consulting
and entrepreneurial expertise to Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System.
Her specialty is start-ups and turnarounds for philanthropic organizations.
Ms. Ford developed and lead one of the largest fundraising campaigns in
Colorado history – the $200 million campaign to relocate the University
of Colorado Hospital to the former Fitzsimmons Army Base (now known as
the Anschutz Medical Campus). While there, the team successfully cultivated
a $25 million gift – the largest single gift in Colorado's history
at the time. She has also consulted for composer Phillip Glass, worked
for Natividad Foundation, Children's Hospital Colorado, and Centura
Health (formerly Sisters of Charities Providence Health Partners), both
in Denver, Colorado and Eisenhower Medical Center.
In the early 1990s, Ms. Ford accompanied the Project Open Heart team that
performed the first open heart surgery in Central Asia. She was also hosted
by the People’s Republic of China and the Beijing Medical Society,
where she was one of the first lecturers on the subject of philanthropy
in Beijing. Recently, Ms. Ford accompanied a medical team to Uganda that
performed fistula surgery for women in need.
Ms. Ford earned a BA from Syracuse University and an MA from University
of Northern Colorado, and is a Certified Executive Coach and a graduate
of the Disney Institute.
Sheri Dawes, CFRE
Development and Accounting Coordinator
Sheri joined the foundation in 1995, and has been maintaining financial,
statistical and donor data, supervising database management, planning
and preparing special events and researching and preparing grant applications
for 23 years. In 2013, she became a Certified Fund Raising Executive,
joining an elite group of fundraising professionals. Sheri is also Blackbaud
Certified in the Raiser’s Edge, is a graduate of Leadership Salinas
Valley and has served on numerous local boards. Having been born at Salinas
Valley Memorial Hospital and spending the first two months of her life
in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sheri knows what a difference the
health system makes in people’s lives. Through her work at the foundation,
she strives to bring families in the Salinas Valley the very best care.
Sheri can be reached at (831) 759-1823 or email at
sdawes@svmh.com.
Melissa Gross
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program Manager
Melissa is the third generation in her family to live in Salinas, and she
is raising a fourth. She has been with Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare
System since 2008 and became part of the Foundation’s staff in 2010.
She attended CSU Monterey Bay and graduated from Golden Gate University
with a BA in Management. She is passionate about her role in managing
the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) program, and the
program became especially meaningful after the birth of her youngest daughter,
who has special health needs and has used several of SVMHS' pediatric
and diagnostic services. Being involved with the CMNH program as both
a fundraiser and a mother has given Melissa a special appreciation for
the resources that the Foundation helps to provides for the local community.
Few things have been more rewarding to Melissa than helping to put smiles
on the faces of local children with illnesses or special needs, and knowing
her work is making a difference.
Melissa can be reached at (831) 755-0777 or email at
mgross@svmh.com.
Chelsea Storm-Larsen
Donor Relations Coordinator
Chelsea graduated from California State University, Monterey Bay with a
degree in Collaborative Health and Human Services and started her career
at a local nonprofit that helps women and children victims of domestic
violence before joining the Foundation in 2016. Chelsea is currently pursuing
a Master of Public Administration graduate degree with an emphasis in
Health Care Policy and Administration from California State University,
Dominguez Hills. Chelsea is also passionate about development and growth
opportunities for local fundraisers in Monterey County. She currently
on the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Board as National
Philanthropy Day Committee Chair and President-Elect She feels lucky to
work for an organization that is committed to improving community health
and delivering an excellent patient experience, and works hard to ensure
that donors see the impact of their giving.
Chelsea can be reached at (831) 759-3017 or email at
cstorm@svmh.com.
Jaime Shipman
Department Assistant
Jaime was born at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, graduated from North
Salinas High School, and attended Hartnell College. She has worked for
the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System for more than 30 years.
Beginning her career in the Pathology Department as a clerk, then worked
her way up to a CME Coordinator in the Medical Staff Services Department
before joining the Foundation staff in 2013. She works with the Board
of Governors, Foundation staff and donors. She coordinates meetings, supports
special events and works on projects to assist the foundation in its efforts
to support SVMHS and improve the health and well-being of the Salinas
community.
Jaime can be reached at (831) 759-1880 or email at
jshipman@svmh.com.