Sonoma Valley Hospital Lands $1M from Weill Foundation for New ER Wing

Sonoma Valley Hospital officials said Thursday that they've received a $1 million gift from the Weill Family Foundation, a major boost that nearly completes the fundraising campaign to pay for the hospital's new $46 million emergency room and surgery center, which is set to be unveiled at a Nov. 16 celebration.

Sanford “Sandy” Weill, a well-known banker, financier and philanthropist and the former CEO of Citibank, and his wife Joan, have owned a home in Sonoma since 2010.

“Joan and I love Sonoma and want to show our commitment to this great community, which has welcomed us so warmly,” Sandy Weill said in a statement. “We believe having a good local hospital is essential and we want to help Sonoma create a modern Emergency Center that will be an asset for the entire Sonoma Valley.”

Gary Nelson, co-chair of the hospital’s Capital Campaign for Emergency Care, said the donation brings the hospital's fundraising campaign to $10.4 million of its $11 million goal. The bulk of the 12,243-square-foot wing was paid for by a $35-million general obligation bond voters passed in 2008.

"We are now counting on the community to take us over the top in the weeks ahead and help us reach our $11 million goal," Nelson said.

The hospital is set to show off the new wing to the community on November 16 with an open house and barbecue with live music. The new Emergency Center is scheduled to begin receiving patients by mid-December.