April 25, 2011--The Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation has announced its 2011 slate of officers for its all-volunteer board of directors.

Trudy Emeterio, president of Schwartz Oil Company and a long-time Henry Mayo volunteer, will serve as Board Chair. Officers include Linda Hafizi as immediate past chair; Robert E. Benjamin as chair-elect and treasurer; Rose Chegwin as secretary; Gregory Amsler as vice chair/development; Marlee Lauffer as vice chair/hospital board liaison; Mitzi Like, vice chair/major gifts; and, Chris Luechtefeld, vice chair at large.

“This is a great group of business people lending their talents to a good cause. It‘s kind of like a business, you want it to be the best,” Emeterio said. “We all have that desire to make Henry Mayo the best. How we do it is by reaching out to our community for their philanthropic support.”

The Foundation is responsible for raising funds to benefit patient care services at Henry Mayo. According to Foundation president Diana Vose, a primary goal of raising $3 million for the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has been established by the board of directors. To date, $2.3 million has been raised for the endeavor.

“The board serves as ambassadors for Henry Mayo and participate in its growth through philanthropy for the health of our community,” Vose said. “These are professionals and leaders in the community. Their leadership provides immense value in opening new doors to share the good news about Henry Mayo’s plans for state-of-the-art healthcare services that benefit the Santa Clarita Valley community and beyond.”

The 2011 Foundation board lineup also includes three doctors, including Charanjit Saroa, MD, David Henry, MD, and Chase Unruh, DC.

Emeterio, a Santa Clarita Valley resident for more than 35 years, has frequented the hospital countless times as a mother and grandmother.

“Most folks living in Santa Clarita have received or will one day need to receive healthcare services at Henry Mayo, and it will most likely begin in the emergency department,” she said. “My daughter experienced a mishap at school, and was taken to the emergency room. I think if you’re a parent, one day you, too, will need Henry Mayo.”

As board chair, Emeterio is excited about Henry Mayo’s future and what the planned services, such as the NICU and new patient tower, will mean to the Santa Clarita Valley.

“Everything that transpires with the Foundation board is for the health of the community,” Emeterio said. “I want your family and mine to have the best of the best.”

For more information on the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation, please call (661) 200-1200.