S.D. Hospital Chain Opens Drive to Raise $100 Million

Scripps Memorial Hospital chain has launched an ambitious campaign to raise $100 million during the next few years to finance building projects and establish a special endowment.

The fund-raising effort is the largest campaign of its type ever attempted by a community hospital in the United States, officials with the La Jolla-based hospital group said.

“It’s really going to be used for a whole variety of things, from construction to maintaining our old programs,” said Diane Yohe, a Scripps spokeswoman. “This will help us maintain the level of quality medical care we’ve historically provided to the community. Hospitals are struggling right now. They depend on outside help like this to keep programs going.”

Donations Start Drive

A not-for-profit chain, Scripps operates acute-care community hospitals in La Jolla, Encinitas and Chula Vista. Officials say it is one of San Diego County’s largest health care networks, and consistently ranks among the top five community hospitals in the nation.

To kick off the drive, which began Tuesday, five San Diego-area families and three philanthropic foundations pledged more than $17 million. Among those chipping in funds were former San Diego Chargers owner Gene Klein and his wife, Joyce, who contributed $5 million, and the late newspaper magnate James Scripps, who made a commitment of $3 million from his estate.

Scripps officials say they have set a target of $50 million for capital improvements and new construction projects and another $50 million for an endowment. No deadline has been established, but officials hope the goal can be met within a couple of years.

Money in the endowment will go for research, special projects, new equipment and health care for indigents. In addition, it will help finance the chain’s health information centers in La Jolla, Encinitas and Chula Vista.

Hospital for Carlsbad

Capital funding will be used to buy new diagnostic and treatment equipment and underwrite construction of new buildings, including an $8.8-million community education and conference center at the La Jolla site. The money will also go to help build a medical office complex and 114-bed hospital in Carlsbad.

Aside from contributions from Scripps and the Kleins, the chain received more than $3.5 million from the estate of the late Jules and Hazel Schaetzel, $3 million from the estate of the late Alfred J. Ball, and a $1.5-million contribution from longtime La Jolla resident Ruth Shepherd, widow of architect Thomas L. Shepherd.

A $500,000 grant was made by the James S. Copley Foundation. The late local newspaper czar served on the hospital board for several years. The Kresge Foundation of Michigan donated a $300,000 grant. A foundation set up in the name of Ellen Browning Scripps, the founder of the Scripps hospital chain, contributed $200,000.