Dignity Health | hello Healthy | Winter 2018-2019

HelloHealthy | Winter 2018–2019 3 Caring for a sick child takes a big toll on families. A local entrepreneur hopes to ease the burden for parents staying at the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House by providing them with some of the comforts of home. “When you’ve rushed your child to the emergency room, all you have are the clothes on your back,” says Scarlett Sabin, Director of the Ronald McDonald House in Bakersfield. “This gift allows us to provide families with comfort and care when they need it most.” A chance to give back Michael Sloan, Vice President of Human Resources for Dignity Health Central California, and his business partner donated 5,000 Trek Fresh dental hygiene kits to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. That includes the Bakersfield location, situated on the east side of Dignity Health – Memorial Hospital. The house serves as a home away from home for the families of pediatric and NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) patients and offers them a way to stay together in proximity to the hospital. “We wanted families to have one less thing to worry about,” Sloan says. “Everyone needs a toothbrush, and we are happy to provide it.” Trek Fresh is a compact, all-inclusive hygiene kit similar in concept to a Swiss army knife. It includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss in a convenient package. “My brother-in-law is a dentist and an avid outdoorsman,” Sloan says. “He was struggling to find a convenient way to brush his teeth while he was on hiking trips. We got to talking and decided to create a dental hygiene kit where everything is in one place.” When Sloan and his brother-in-law became entrepreneurs, they decided they wanted to give back. Trek Fresh adopted a philanthropic business model. For every hygiene kit purchased, another is donated to charity. “Working at Memorial Hospital and seeing the families who come to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, I can’t even imagine what they are going through,” Sloan says. “To be able to give back to the community where we live is paramount for us.” “This is part of the culture at Dignity Health,” Sabin says. “It means so much that upper management looks for ways to strengthen the relationship with the Ronald McDonald House and to support the families.” We hope you enjoy this issue of HelloHealthy . Comments about the publication can be directed to the Marketing and Communications Department: DIGNITY HEALTH – Mercy and Memorial Hospitals P.O. Box 119, Bakersfield, CA 93302 | 661.327.4647, ext. 4434 HelloHealthy is published by Dignity Health – Mercy and Memorial Hospitals to provide general health information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2018 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Marketing and Communications Department Robin Mangarin-Scott—Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Communications–Central California Michelle Willow—Director of External Communications–Central California Cody Brutlag—Marketing Manager–Central California Jessica Neeley—Communications Specialist–Central California Fabiana Rienzo—Communications Specialist–Central California Michelle Oliver—Marketing Manager–Central California Pictured are Scarlett Sabin, Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House Director, and Michael Sloan, Vice President of Human Resources for Dignity Health Central California. Sharing a smile Donated dental kits help families of sick kids For every hygiene kit purchased, another is donated to charity.