An Occasion That’s for the Heart

The event: The TODOS Seasonal Soiree, benefiting the Heart Center at St. Joseph Hospital of Orange. TODOS, a philanthropic support group for the hospital, sponsored “Christmas Around the World” Dec. 7 at Disney’s new Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim.

Sounds of the season: The soft strains of Christmas carols--played by harpist Tomoko Sato--welcomed 115 guests and lent an air of festive elegance to the evening, which began with a reception and silent auction.

Guests sipped cocktails and shopped at auction tables, then moved into the Trillium Room to enjoy filet mignon and chocolate dessert.

“I love that it’s such a cozy, intimate setting,” said Janice Ramsay, who served as chairwoman of the 23rd annual event.

It’s a small world: Bob Fiorentino, chairman of the Heart Center campaign, attended with his wife, Phyllis. “This event is such a nice mix of sisters of St. Joseph, doctors, supporters and family; it always kicks off the season for us,” he said.

During dinner, children in the International Peace Choir sang in Gaelic, Italian, Chinese and Samoan.

Heart healthy: Since its founding in 1929 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the hospital has gained a stellar reputation for setting new standards in innovative patient care. Its Heart Center was the first in the country to institute separate cardiovascular intensive care and coronary care units. Last year, more than 500 open heart surgeries were performed on adults and children.

Quote: “It’s like coming home for me here,” said Jim Cora, who is on the hospital Board of Trustees and chairman/president of Disney International.

Cora underwent heart surgery at St. Joseph’s last year to implant a stent in one of his arteries. “The staff is so caring,” he said. “They really treated me like a family member.”

Glad tidings: The evening netted $18,000, which will be used toward the construction of a new cardiac catheterization laboratory and cardiovascular intensive care unit. TODOS has pledged to raise $200,000 for the Heart Center Capitol Campaign, which has raised $3 million of its goal of $3.5 million.

“The new lab will facilitate more patients,” said St. Joseph cardiologist Dr. Tyson Cobb. “We’ll be able to open up a cholesterol clogged artery in this lab and send the patient home the next day.”

For information: St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, (714) 771-8211.