May 11, 2006

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Spring Break 2006, a food and wine fundraiser for free community clinics in the Greater Sacramento area that serve the medically uninsured and underinsured, raised $110,000 April 1 at UC Davis Medical Center.

The event featured a wide collection of restaurants and wineries, music by Jazz Nuances, a fashion show by Serendipity Boutique, Savvy Shoppe, and Street Savvy, information booths staffed by the recipient clinics, and silent and live auctions. The event was enjoyed by more than 300 guests, including Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, Sacramento City Councilman Rob Fong, and outgoing UC Davis Health System CEO Bob Chason. The event exceeded its fundraising goal of $100,000 for the second year in a row.

Spring Break supported the following clinics: Clinica Tepati; CommuniCare Health Centers; CSERF's SPIRIT Project; Folsom Family Clinic; Imani Clinic; Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic; MAAP, Inc., Sacramento Community Health Center; MercyClinic Loaves & Fishes; MercyClinic North Highlands; MercyClinic Norwood; Paul Hom Asian Clinic; and the White Rock Family Clinic.

Corporate sponsors included the UC Davis Health System, Kaiser Permanente, and Mercy (all Co-Title Sponsors); Kaneski Associates (Platinum Sponsor); Genentech (Silver Sponsor); and Wells Fargo (Bronze Sponsor).

Our donor restaurants and wineries were Café Rolle; Fosco's Fine Italian Market; Gold Rush Grille; Kraemer Wines; Kendall Jackson; Mah Jongs at The Park; Marriott's Catering; Masons at The Park; Mikuni; Michael-David; Nicholson Ranch; Pedroncelli Winery; R.H.Phillips; Salexis Wines; Seavy Vineyard; Serene Cellars; Spoto Winery; Spoto Wines; Tapa the World and Kashbah Lounge; Whitehall Lane; and Ted Young.

Auction donors were Arlene Burton, MD; Bill McGowan; Cache Creek Casino Resort; California Family Fitness; Frances Tennant; George Meyers, MD; Golfland Sunsplash; Jelly Belly Company; Jim Gray, NAI BT Commercial; John Owings, MD; Kent Jolly, MD; Kevin Stokke, MD; Maloof Sports & Entertainment; The Melting Pot; Mimi's Café; Olive Garden; Paragary's Restaurant Group; The Park; Pedroncelli Winery; Peter Yellowlees, MBBS, MD; Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society; Sacramento Zoo; Serendipity Boutique; Six Flags Marine World; Sugar Bowl; Steltzner Winery; The Sterling Hotel; Thomas Nesbitt, MD, MPH; Whitehall Lane; Whole Foods; William Abalona; and World of Good Tastes.

The Spring Break planning team was comprised of Beth Abad; Bill Abalona; Angelina Burek; Bob Chason, CEO, UCDMC; John Chuck, MD, The Permanente Medical Group; Lesli Chuck; Patti Crotzer, Special Events Coordinator, UCDHS; Amy Jouan, Coordinator, Student Run Clinics, UC Davis School of Medicine; Robert Fong, Ryan & Fong, Sacramento City Council Member; Bill Gilbert, MD, Sutter Health; Kelly Kaneski, Kaneski Associates; Steve Kaneski, Kaneski Associates; Kathleen Kelly, Director of Special Events, UCDHS; Scott Lannoo; Kathy McDonald; Kathleen McKenna, Director of Public Affairs, Kaiser Permanente; Thomas Nesbitt, MD, Associate Dean, UCD School of Medicine; Craig Senders, MD, UCDMC; Carol Serre, Mercy/CHW; Mark Sheffield, MD, The Permanente Medical Group; Lisa Sietsema, Public Affairs, Kaiser Permanente; and Kevin Stokke, MD Woodland Clinic.

The volunteer crew featured Midge Aldinger, Riza Arciaga, Stephen Bagon, Maria Baker, Lynda Bradley, Brandon Burek, Joe Burek, Angela Carrasco, Dawn Casteel, Dan Crotzer, Patti Crotzer, Matt Hawkins, Mike Hughes, Tami Oppedahl, Lori Ann Pardau, Sharon Polis, Denise Ramirez, Erin Roberts, Lisa Roberts, Barbara Rowe, Cristina Rowe, George Rowe, Jennifer Rowe-Malfatti, Shannon Shafer, Sigma Mu Delta Pre-Med Fraternity, Julie Teixeira, Kristine Wallach.

Signage was donated by Ellis & Ellis, flowers by East Lawn Florists, and graphics by Bashore Designs.

The event was organized by Serotonin Surge Charities, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that raises money for scholarship funds, breast cancer research, and medical clinics. For more information about Serotonin Surge Charities, contact John Chuck at (530) 757-4114 or john.chuck@kp.org.