What WOULDN'T I do to raise $10,000?

Let me start by answering the most common questions I've gotten about this caper over the last 48 hours:

1. Yes, I was sober. Mostly.

2. No, it wasn't pre-planned, other than the thought crossed my mind a couple hours earlier. David DuMont's amazing band provided unplanned appropriate music though, which made it seemed rehearsed. It wasn't.

3. Yes, I left my good shoes on, but remembered to take my blackberry out of my pocket.

Here's how it reads in today's Mercury News:

Pizarro: VMC Foundation Executive Director Chris Wilder takes a giant leap for charity

By Sal Pizarro

spizarro@mercurynews.com

Posted: 09/19/2011 03:51:42 PM PDT

Updated: 09/19/2011 09:29:04 PM PDT

Chris Wilder will do anything for a good cause.

The executive director of the Valley Medical Center Foundation raised $10,000 for the foundation in a single bound Saturday, leaping into a swimming pool while wearing a tuxedo.

The momentous jump took place during the VMC Foundation's Soiree Under the Stars at Greg Pinn's Saratoga estate. Wilder has built quite a reputation for going to great lengths to get people to bid during auctions, whether it's for the VMC Foundation, San Jose Jazz or the Healthy Kids program.

So it shouldn't be surprising that during the live auction Saturday, he volunteered to take the plunge from a deck about eight feet above the pool for 10 grand. Several people quickly pledged money toward the total, and in he went.

On Sunday, with his tux still drying out on the deck of his house, Wilder conceded he was a little nervous. "It was eight feet, plus another six feet up to my eyes," said the towering Wilder.

Towering??? Please, Sal!

Anyway, thanks to all who pledged big bucks for me to do this, and for Greg's daughter who brought me a towel...which I didn't use. I just danced instead, which seemed to work!

If you can't see this video at work, email it to your private account...it's pretty fun.

Summer starts here. June 4 - get ready to party!

For most of the northern hemisphere, summer starts on the twenty-first of June.

However, this year, for a select few, summer will come early.

This year, the season of barbecues and baseball, of suntans and lemonade, of long days and warm nights, will begin on June 4 on a rooftop in Silicon Valley...

We invite you to "Swing Into Summer," a fundraiser for the VMC Foundation, presented by Lexus Stevens Creek and American Medical Response. It just may be our best party yet.

Dance to the big band sounds of the 18-piece "Full Spectrum Jazz".

Savor the delectable cuisine of Parsley Sage Rosemary &Thyme.

Taste local artisan wines from 8 local winemakers.

Enjoy gift bags and prizes that include music, gift cards to local restaurants and attractions...this is just about worth the price of admission by itself, seriously. Thanks to Armadillo Willy's for sponsoring these great gifts.

And that's not all. One lucky couple will win airfare for two to Hawaii courtesy of Peak Travel Group, just for showing up! It might be you (I promise it won't be me, sadly).

Saturday, June 4th 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Rooftop of Lexus Stevens Creek 3333 Stevens Creeks Blvd., San Jose

Tickets are a bargain at $100.00. Click here to purchase or call 408-885-5299.

Join me for a good laugh for a good cause...

Nobody enjoys a good laugh more than I do...but sometimes when I attempt humor, friends tell me I should leave the comedy to the professionals.

Okay, fine.

We've hired comedy star Dat Phan, who won NBC's "Last Comic Standing" competition, has appeared on Leno and "Family Guy", and who also cares about our community. That's why he's agreed to headline our fund-raising evening on Tuesday, February 1, at the San Jose Improv.

The night will benefit the Ira Greene PACE Clinic, which is Valley Medical Center's HIV/AIDS treatment and education clinic. They provide state of the art and compassionate care, and deserve our support...and what better way to help than enjoying a fun evening out in downtown San Jose!

Tickets are only $45, and can be found here. I'll be there, and I hope you will be too.

The Great Turning Wheels Bike Build!

Saturday saw the 6th Annual "Wow, I can't believe how BIG this is" event at the San Jose Convention Center...the Turning Wheels Bike Build!

You, dear avid reader of this blog, know how amazing Turning Wheels is...from the money they raise through the Death Ride, to the dedicated volunteers who make it all happen - and it all comes together in mid-December where thousands of bikes are built for underprivileged kids who might not otherwise get anything for the holidays...let alone a new bike.

Watch the Turning Wheels website for the soon-to-come complete run-down on this year's build (2400 bikes, the first-ever Great Trike Race, tons of money raised on the spot, etc. etc. etc.) But I wanted to tell you of this year's best innovation while honoring Sue Runsvold.

Yes - Sue is the Founder and Fearless Leader of Turning Wheels, who first came to me five years ago in a conversation that led to their organization joining the VMC Foundation. Since then, she's led a growing army of inspiring idealists who all have the same question on Bike Build Day: "Where's Sue? Anybody seen Sue?"

She's in constant demand, what with Channel 2 needing her for a live interview, or City Team needing a signature on something, or a donor presenting a Giant Cardboard Check...and if you've never been in the SJ Convention Center's South Hall, just imagine a cigar shaped circus tent the size of a city block.

So at any given time on Bike Build Day, there are a dozen people running around trying to find Sue Runsvold. And walkie-talkies don't work, because it's too loud and chaotic. Also, there are balloons and people and boxes and bikes everywhere. But this year, someone (I think it was Dave) got really smart. The ONLY yellow balloon in the whole place was tied to Sue's belt, on a 20-foot string!

To find Sue, just look up, and as far away as she could be, you could still see the bouncing yellow balloon. Parents, is this a great idea to keep tabs on your toddlers during the holiday shopping crunch or WHAT?

Thanks to EVERYONE, especially the Board of Turning Wheels, who never fail to achieve the impossible. Thanks to the Celeb's who competed in the Great Trike Race, except for those who beat me. Okay, everybody beat me...but that big shark in the photo up above? He totally cheated - riding a TWO-wheeler. I'm calling the league.

From coma to community...

The avid reader of this blog knows that Valley Medical Center contains the most awesomest* brain injury rehabilitation center on this planet and many others. You now have a chance to learn why...and learn so much more.

The VMC Foundation is proud to help present the 2011 Santa Clara Valley Brain Injury Conference on Feb. 24-26. Led by VMC's fabulous Rehab Research Center Team...and you might think this is just for clinical people with long titles after their names. Well, yes and no.

Lots of cutting edge medicine will be discussed, but we'll also hear from Tricia Meili, known nationally as "The Central Park Jogger" who was beaten and left for dead in 1989. Her story of survival is about more than recovery, and will inspire any and all conference attendees.

Plus, we're holding this event at the Dolce Hayes Mansion, a beautiful conference center - read more about this amazing three-day event that will educate and amaze. Please share this information with anyone you think would be interested - and that's likely a long list.

*I read this word last night in TIME Magazine. If they can use it, so can I.

October is EVENT month!

We're flapping our arms just as fast as we can here in VMC Foundationland, with more going on than at any other time of the year. Just two Saturdays ago was our annual Gala, a black tie affair that set the bar for all other parties to come. Thanks to Cindy and David Lazarus for opening their incredible home to us, and for all who made it such a success.

Oh, but there's so much more:

Tomorrow, 10/15, is the opening of a new medical thriller at the San Jose Repertory Theater, and each performance of "Secret Order" will also benefit the VMC Foundation. I'm always saying "I love the theater but never seem to go as often as I should". Here's our chance; get your tickets here!

This Saturday 10/17 is "Day on the Bay" in Alviso, a multicultural celebration presented by the VMC Foundation and Supervisor Dave Cortese...come on down for a day of family fun.

(Psst...you've probably gotten your voter guides by now too...remember: YES on A)

Since we all eat lunch and dinner, why not make it count? Assemblyman Jim Beall has arranged for California Pizza Kitchen and BJ's Restaurant to donate 20% of your check to the VMC Foundation - but here's the catch: You have to go on Wednesday, 10/27, and you have to bring the corresponding flyer with you, which you can get here. Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by supporting our Mammography Access Program!

The annual "Buddy Walk" takes place on Saturday, 10/23 at Lake Cunningham Park in San Jose. This is a great event produced by the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network and the VMC Foundation, raising awareness and community involvement for families with members who have Down Syndrome. This is a very inspiring day.

We are thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of Valley Health Center Milpitas on Saturday, 10/30, 10am-2pm. Come on down to 143 N. Main Street in Milpitas for a festival for the whole family, tours of the new clinic, health screenings, and fun. Call 408-299-5030 for more info. Thanks again to Supervisor Cortese for co-presenting this event.

And for you golfers, there MIGHT be a spot or two left in the Turning Wheels Golf Tournament, sponsored and led by Strikeforce! At the exclusive San Jose Country Club, this event happens 10/25...but I'd call soon to get in: 408-391-6720.

Whew. There's probably more...and as always, you can contact us at vmcfoundation@hhs.sccgov.org for more info on ANY of these great events. See you soon!

How is a winery like a hospital?

If you’re not a wine lover, this post may not be for you…but you never know until you read it...

Last weekend I stopped in to my favorite winery, Burrell School Vineyards (that's them, in the old red school house). My wife and I have been members of their wine club for years, and I appreciate their “futures” tastings.

For you non-wine-nerds, “futures” are young wines that aren’t quite ready to drink or even release, that the winery will sell you at a discount for you to pick up months later…and cool wineries like Burrell School will let you taste from the barrel to get an idea how the wine is shaping up.

I was with just one other couple, and the wine maker/owner Dave Moulton, who answered a question the other couple had of him: Why do some wineries produce better wines than others?

“If a winery gets too big, it’s hard to take an individual approach to every barrel, every bottle”, Dave explained. “Here? It’s just me. No one else.” Pointing to the racks of barrels behind him, Dave said “I know every patient here.”

“Dave, did you say ‘patient’? Are you comparing your winery to a hospital?” I asked.

“In a manner of speaking, yes”, he said. “I monitor the health of each barrel, make sure the ‘patients’ are comfortable, quiet, and at the right temperature. I monitor their vital signs all day, every day.”

He went on. “Just like a hostpital, we are meticulous about cleanliness and infection control, and if infection does happen, and we catch it right away, we can cure it. And, none of my patients gets discharged until they are healthy enough, and if I’ve done my job, each bottle will stay healthy for years, even decades to come.”

Sounds like Valley Medical Center to me! That’s why it should be no surprise that, for the fourth year running, Burrell School is the wine sponsor of the VMC Foundation’s annual Gala. If you are attending “Luxury by the Lake”, you will be enjoying the result of Dave’s (and of his wife Ann, and their great team) efforts.

If you’re not yet attending our gala on October 2, there may be just a few tickets left available…for more info, call Judy at the VMC Foundation: 408-885-5205.

And, if you’re up on Summit Road in Los Gatos this weekend, stop by Burrell School and taste for yourself. If you love wine, you’ll be glad you did.

VMC's first-ever Car Show (with just one car)...

Join Valley Medical Center on Tuesday for our first-ever Car Show!

Yes, I know it's only one car, but it's a historic one: The first-ever automobile designed and built from the ground up for the disabled community.

Naturally, the car, called the MV-1, is attracting attention nationwide...and naturally, it will be visiting your public hospital's Spinal Cord Injury Unit--since ours is one of the best in the nation.

Come see this unique and inspiring vehicle and meet the designers:

Tuesday, July 20, 12 noon through 3pm (come any time)
Valley Medical Center's "Rehab Parking Lot"
751 S. Bascom Ave, in front of the Rehab Center (facing Bascom, between Renova Drive and Enborg Lane)

Mingle with VIP's, elected officials and VMC's patients and former patients for whom this car could be a real game-changer. See you there!

Three events up and coming...come one, come all!

Allow me to fill your summer/fall social calendar with some worthwhile events. Each is unlike the other, but all have one thing in common: They promote and support Valley Medical Center. Get ready to mark your calendars, friends…

1. VMC’s Rehab BBQ, Thursday July 29, 11:30 to 1pm. Taking place on the “Rehab Lawn”, 751 S. Bascom Ave. in San Jose, this event benefits VMC’s Therapeutic Recreation Program. Enjoy great food, drawings, prizes, and live rock n’ roll provided by the Idol Hands Band (your humble writer plays bass guitar). All this for just a $5 donation? Amazing!

2. National Health Reform Law: Implications for Silicon Valley
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Mayer Theater, Santa Clara University.
9:00-11:00 am (free to the public)
rsvp: nicolek@healthtrust.org

Speakers will address topics including implications for our safety net, coverage, children’s health, seniors, public health and the health care workforce.

Confirmed Speakers include:
Congressman Mike Honda
Sarah Muller, Director of Health Care Policy, Working Partnerships
Chris Wilder, Executive Director, VMC Foundation
Kathleen King, Executive Director, Santa Clara Family Health Plan
Lisa Shugarman, Director of Policy, The SCAN Foundation
Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, Public Health Officer, Santa Clara County
Ellen Schaffer, CA Public Health Association North

3. VMC Foundation’s Annual Gala: Luxury by the Lake - Saturday, October 2

This will be the signature event in our 22-year history, held at the stunning Sunnyridge Estate in Los Gatos, one of the finest mansions in the Bay Area. Tickets are $200 per attendee for this black-tie optional ball, which will be the highlight of the social season. Sponsorship opportunities and details can be obtained by contacting the VMC Foundation's Judy Cosgrove at 408-885-5205. This is one fund raising ball you won’t want to miss!

...and THIS is what collaboration looks like!

It's ground-breaking - as in, it's never happned before, and it's happening here in Silicon Valley. Funny...that happens a lot here.

But usually that means it's happening in the tech sector. Probably by Apple. What if it happened for the benefit of the poorest segment of our population who rely on Second Harvest Food Bank to feed their families, and on Valley Medical Center to keep them healthy?

See where this is going? Click here - you'll be inspired I promise. A Huge thanks to Pat Morino at Citizen Blog for the publicity!

"Pedaling what they preach"...

Leah Toeniskoetter is not just a board member of the VMC Foundation, and not just the most recent Chair Emeritus...she's also a die-hard cyclist.

How die-hard? She rides her tires off every year in one of the world's most treacherous bike races: The Death Ride.

Leah does this to raise much-needed money for the VMC Foundation's "Turning Wheels for Kids" program, which provides new bikes to children in low-income families. This is great for their health, their self-esteem and their sense of independence.

Leah's energy is catching: She now has a huge team of "Death Riders", and if you want to hear more from this young dynamic leader on why she does it, she just appeared on Carl Guardino's CEO Show on KLIV Radio, along with Sunpower CEO Tom Werner. Check it out here, and if you would, join me in supporting Leah's efforts!

Thanking our donors: A selfish thing to do...

Friday marked the unveiling of the VMC Foundation's new Donor Wall outside the Sobrato Cancer Center in the newest building on VMC's campus. VIP's and wealthy philanthropists mingled with doctors, nurses and administrators as we celebrated the generosity of our community.

...and I've gotta say, A little gratitude goes a long way.

For one thing, our staff and that of VMC felt so good to hear from our donors, including the famous Peggy Fleming-Jenkins and her talented wine-making husband, Dr. Greg Jenkins. They pulled back the curtain to reveal the new beautiful donor wall, and we all felt a surge of pride.

But hearing John A. Sobrato tell the group why he is so committed to VMC, well that is a gift so heartfelt and powerful, I feel like we all came away enriched. Yes, I know that sounds overly-emotional, but if you were there, then you know.

...and if you weren't there, please read this wonderful blog post from Erica Cosgrove, regular contributor to the Silicon Valley Moms Blog. She describes the day better than I ever could. If you're moved by what you read, please share it with others. Our donors deserve the notoriety, and frankly, so does the beautiful Sobrato Cancer Center at VMC.

If you're REALLY moved, please visit

VMC Foundation: Jobs, health, and Silicon Valley

Next Friday, please consider attending a breakfast forum I'm helping present...and I promise you'll be glad you did, because it's important and engaging.

I'm in this year's class of American Leadership Forum, and our event Friday March 12 is called "A New Recipe for Job Growth." What it WON'T be is a typical "panel discussion with Q&A." Rather, you will be a participant in this uncommon conversation aimed at solving what many feel is our #1 problem: Jobs.

How does the VMC Foundation fit in? That's easy: Your public hospital's patient population is soaring as unprecedented numbers of people have lost their jobs/ health coverage and are turning to VMC. The stress is at an all-time high, and we've got to do something. Several things, actually.

Silicon Valley's unemployment rate is WAY higher than the national average. Add to that Colorado's Governor declaring "Colorado Loves California" Day last month, trying to lure companies away from here to relocate there. Yikes.

We've assembled a top group of leaders to participate in this critical discussion. Please be one of them, and register by clicking here.

Details:

A New Recipe for Regional Job Growth - a Conversation for Change
Friday, March 12, 7:30 am - 10:30am
Computer History Museum
1401 North Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA
$25 general, $15 seniors/nonprofits, free for students

Hope to see you there!

Toby Gerhart visits Matt Blea at VMC - what a winning team!

You likely remember reading about Matt Blea, the high school student injured on the football field on Thanksgiving. Well today Toby Gerhart, Stanford University football star and Heisman Trophy runner-up, came to visit while Matt is back at Valley Medical Center for rehab!

Matt, just weeks after life-saving surgery, started his day jogging in the grass outside the Rehab Unit where his progress has been amazing. Matt had no idea that Toby, one of the players he especially looks up to, was planning to visit him. Toby had heard about the high-schooler's injury from his coach, and decided to pay Matt a visit.

Coming directly to Valley Medical Center from The Stanford team's practice for their New Years Eve Sun Bowl game against Oklahoma , Toby met Matt in the day room of Valley Medical Center's Brain Injury Rehabilitation unit.

Toby was accompanied by Stanford football assistant coach, Tom Steiner, and as family, staff and other patients looked on, Matt accepted gifts of a Stanford jersey and a signed football.

Matt told Toby that he was a huge fan, and shared that his goal was to become a high school coach one day. Toby said how impressed he was with Matt's progress, and congratulated Matt on his planned discharge from VMC on Christmas Eve - the perfect present!

Our best Bike Build EVER. Again!

On Saturday, something happened so amazing that you pretty much have to see it to believe it...which you can do Turning Wheels for Kids.

My favorite coverage so far is by Tonic.com, and they've made the 2300 bikes and 600 volunteers their big inspiring story of the week. Read it here, and seriously now, share this with others. People deserve to know that the biggest all-volunteer "elf" event for the holidays involved this astounding program of the VMC Foundation.

Huge congratulations to Sue Runsvold, R.N., and her team of dedicated "Wheeler Dealers" whose contribution to holiday joy in Silicon Valley is unparallelled.

Last year's Bike Build was so big, I wondered if they could do it again. Serves me right for wondering...this was the biggest and best ever. Hooray!

Chris is running? Now I've heard everything.

After voluntarily flying in a jet-copter last weekend (I have serious acrophobia), my friends and family are all asking me the same question: “Who are you and what have you done with Chris?”

They conclude I have been replaced by an imposter not just from the whirlybird incident, but also because I’ve been running. No, I’m not being chased, though that was my standard response for decades…until now. I blame my friend James MacGregor, Publisher of the Silicon Valley San Jose Business Journal:

JAMES: Maybe you should set some goals around running.
ME: I hate running. It makes me insane with anger.
JAMES: Nah, you just need to train for something!
ME: Fat chance.
JAMES: Tell ya what – if you run the 2009 Turkey Trot, I’ll run it with you.
ME: James, you could run that race TODAY, twice!

…and so on. Sadly, the more James talked, the more sense he made, so I am training to run the 2009 Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. This race is ten kilometers, which is something like 300 miles if my math is correct.

So I started running in August, and guess what? It’s not bad! I’m actually enjoying it, and ready to take on the Turkey Trot. Here’s a thought: Why not run it with me and James? It’s not expensive, so let’s get a VMC Foundation team together…if you’re game, send me an email at echristopher.wilder@hhs.sccgov.org and we’ll join forces.

Here’s the best part: the Turkey Trot raises money for some super organizations, including the Children’s Health Initiative (I serve on their foundation’s board, and their work truly benefits Valley Medical Center’s patients). Let’s start Thanksgiving right, by giving back to our community and doing something good for ourselves too.

Amazing, really. Who am I and what have I done with myself?

The. Best. Party. EVER.

Friends, the VMC Foundation held our annual gala Saturday night, and I know I say this pretty much every year, but this one ROCKED.

If you've ever been to one of our events, you know the VMC Foundation will NOT do "chicken dinner at the hotel ballroom"...no offense to hotel ballrooms, or chickens. We find unique venues, like Club Auto Sport, to show off some of the most amazing cars in the world. We find the coolest entertainment, like Earth Circus - "Cirque" style performers who amazed our 450 attendees. I like the photo above, taken by Elisabeth Handler with her cell...blurry but magical.

We serve the finest wine, provided by Burrell School Vineyards. The best food, thanks to Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme. The best band, David Dumont's Li'l Big Band. The slickest auctioneer, attorney Richard Alexander. If you were there, then you know. If not, hey - come next year!

We do all of this for three reasons:

1. Our donors and supporters deserve a great party.
2. The VMC Foundation staff, especailly Gala Diva Judy Cosgrove, will not settle for less.

3. I go attend a zillion events every year, as many of you do...so I want ours to stand out. It did, and I thank everyone who made it happen. Go visit our Facebook page later this week to see the photos!

Everyone Eating

Everyone Eating
Originally uploaded by VMC Foundation

How big was our party? Our "Give a Booster Shot" party? We served 1300 meals, gave away 1400 bottles of VMC Foundation water (compostable!) and the Idol Hands Band (way in the background of this shot) rocked for two hours.

We had so much fun, we're thinking of doing this again...in part for the folks who couldn't attend this one (we need an event for the swing/night shifts) and in part because it was just such a BLAST!

Thanks so much for everyone (that's a lot of people) who made this party a success...and for those who gave a booster shot to the VMC Foundation: www.giveaboostershot.org

VMCF Staff Making Paella

VMCF Staff Making Paella
Originally uploaded by VMC Foundation

So Thursday, we threw a party for the staff of the Santa Clara Valley Heatlh & Hospital System. Two reasons: The excellent work everyone does to care for all the patients that need VMC, the clinics, mental health, alcohol & drug services, public health...are we the best public hospital system in the nation? Is that paella pan big?

That's Elizabeth, Hayley, Andy, Debbie and Judy. Okay, they didn't really cook the food...Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme did.

I'm an uncle again!

Wonderful news: My sister-in-Law gave birth to Sophie and Olivia this week, so I'm an uncle twice more!

My extended family's new twins reminds me of a great event you should attend the day after our VMC Foundation gala - which the alert reader knows is September 12.

So, hosted by the Coalition for Alcohol and Drug Free Pregnancies, their "Mothers' Tea for Healthy Babies" takes place 9/13 at the St. Elizabeth Day Home in San Jose. Details are on their website, where you can buy tickets, but consider WHY you should attend:

- When a pregnant woman smokes, drinks or uses drugs, so does her baby (this you likely know)

- This NUMBER ONE cause of mental retardation is 100% preventable (again, you knew)

- Drug and alcohol use during pregancy has NOT declined in recent years (this really shocks me...maybe you too?)

Obviously, they have a lot of education to do, and your attending this event will help them do it. Thanks so much, and welcome Sophie and Olivia.