Napa Valley gala raises more than $5 million for new care center

A May 30 fundraiser at Louis M. Martini Winery drew 200 Napa Valley residents, business leaders and philanthropists and topped $5 million for a new Rapid Care & Primary Care Center in Upper Napa Valley. The project will give the region 12-hour, seven-days-a-week access to non-emergency and primary care and mark a first for the St. Helena Hospital Foundation, which will own and operate the facility.

Why it matters: - The new Rapid Care & Primary Care Center is meant to expand local access to non-emergency care and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits. - The center is designed to serve children, adults and seniors in the Upper Napa Valley. - The St. Helena Hospital Foundation will own and operate the facility, making it a permanent healthcare asset for the region.

What happened: - On May 30, about 200 Napa Valley residents, business leaders and philanthropists gathered at the historic Louis M. Martini Winery. - The gala raised more than $5 million for the Rapid Care & Primary Care Center. - The event benefited the St. Helena Hospital Foundation. - All event expenses were underwritten by Foundation Executive Board Member Lauren Dickson and her husband Roger, so all money raised goes to purchasing and outfitting the facility. - A surprise $1 million matching gift from the Roger J. Trinchero Family Foundation helped push the evening past the $5 million mark.

The details: - The new center will provide 12-hour, seven-days-a-week access to care. - The facility will offer both non-emergency and primary care for residents, employees and visitors. - Lauren Dickson, who served as Foundation Board Member and gala chair, framed the project as a community response to urgent care needs. - Dickson said access and proximity matter in moments like middle-of-the-night fevers, bicycle falls and breathing trouble. - Amanda Martin, president of the St. Helena Hospital Foundation, said broad community support helped catalyze the Trinchero Foundation gift. - Dr. Steven Herber, president of Adventist Health St. Helena, said the center will provide immediate access for minor injuries and prescription refills while creating a path to primary care close to home. - The Foundation said the project is intended to create reliable access to care for the Upper Napa Valley.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser shows how a local healthcare project can rally donors, volunteers and business leaders around a shared need. - The surprise matching gift likely helped intensify giving by creating momentum in the room. - The project also reflects a broader shift toward community-funded healthcare infrastructure, not just annual fundraising for programs and equipment. - The Foundation’s decision to own and operate the center suggests a long-term commitment beyond a one-night campaign.

What’s next: - The $5 million raised will go toward purchasing and outfitting the new facility. - The St. Helena Hospital Foundation will move forward with the Rapid Care & Primary Care Center as permanent infrastructure in Upper Napa Valley. - More information is available in the Foundation’s announcement.

The bottom line: - Napa Valley donors turned a gala into a major healthcare investment, and the region is now closer to getting easier access to everyday care close to home.