Friends of Laguna Honda Hospital

Friends of Laguna Honda is a name used over the years by various groups supporting Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center(LHH), a 62-acre skilled nursing and rehabilitation center owned and operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.[1] Today, the name is used as the business alias for Laguna Honda Hospital Volunteers, Inc., The hospital is located in the Forest Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, California.[2]

Committee to Save Laguna Honda

The first recorded usage of the name Friends of Laguna Honda occurred in the late 1990s as supporters of Laguna Honda Hospital rallied to save the institution from being shut down.[3] The hospital faced a host of challenges including antiquated facilities,[4] dwindling staff numbers,[5] and a potential cut off of federal funding of $250,000 per day in Medicare and Medi-Cal payments due to overcrowding[2] and poor conditions.[6] An expensive renovation and rebuilding of the hospital was required.[7] In early 1998, an influential group of San Franciscans with diverse interests formed the “Laguna Honda First Committee.” This group advocated that a bond measure for Laguna Honda Hospital should be approved before passing bond measures to support any other causes or institutions.[8] At the time, the De Young Museum,[9] Academy of Sciences,[10] and the Conservatory of Flowers[11] all were seeking to pass bond measures.

A $503 million bond measure was proposed in July 1998,[12] but as the largest ever bond measure at the time,[13] it faced difficult prospects for gaining voter approval.[14] Organizers of the Laguna Honda First Committee changed their name to “Friends of Laguna Honda” to focus on developing a new lower cost bond measure.[3] After the bond amount was reduced to $299 million,[15] supporters changed their name again to the Committee to Save Laguna Honda and led the campaign for voter approval of this bond measure.[16] That bond measure passed successfully in November 1999.[17]

Laguna Honda Hospital Volunteers, Inc.

Laguna Honda Hospital Volunteers, Inc. was founded in 1956, received non-profit status in 1957,[18] and “financially supported both the patients at Laguna Honda, and LHH’s cadre of volunteers.[19]” In 1999, it was a major supporter of the Committee to Save Laguna Honda, contributing $250,000 to the campaign committee to ensure passage of the $299 million bond measure.[20]

After the bond measure passed, Louise Renne, who retired as City Attorney in 2002,[21] started up the new Laguna Honda Foundation in 2003.[22] Renne's LH Foundation was active in doing public relations, including the re-branding of LHH Volunteers Inc. In 2010, LHH Volunteers, Inc. first adopted the business alias of Friends of Laguna Honda,[23] and underwent a re-branding campaign over the next few years. During this time, LHH Volunteers, Inc suffered a dramatic fall off in donations, while LHH Volunteers Inc. grants to Laguna Honda Hospital patient activities and support services dropped even more dramatically.[19]

Today LHH Volunteers, Inc., dba Friends of Laguna Honda, supports non-medical programs and services to enhance the quality of life for the residents at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center

The re-branded Friends of Laguna Honda's website describes its first projects as providing “modern metal wheelchairs, visitors’ lounge and dining room furnishings, a color television, a player piano, power tools for the craft shop, equipment for a new beauty parlor, a sound system for the Gerald Simon Theater, and much more.” [24]

Friends of Laguna Honda states it provides residents of LHHRC with ongoing programs including “helping to fund the hospital’s Animal Assisted Therapy and Horticultural programs, sponsoring community outings—Bay cruises, museum visits, movies, picnics, ball games, and bowling—and supporting Art With Elders” .[24]

Laguna Honda Foundation – Name Change and Controversy

As City Attorney, Renne helped steer millions of dollars in tobacco settlement funds towards the Laguna Honda rebuild.[25] She also supported the 1999 bond measure which eventually paid for most of the rebuild.[26] Renne then formally established the Laguna Honda Foundation on October 8, 2003.[27] Claiming LH Foundation would raise "$30 + million for furniture, fixtures and equipment,"[28] Renne sought approval from the SF Health Commission in April 2004.[29]

However, LH Foundation immediately began intertwining its activities with Laguna Honda Volunteers, Inc.,[19] including the receipt of $375,00 from LH Volunteers, Inc to hire startup staff for the LH Foundation's first three years of operation.[27] Although the LH Foundation did hire an Executive Director on June 14, 2004,[30] in less than one year (May 19, 2005) Renne placed LH Foundation into suspension,[31] stating that there “was too much unrest to support any fundraising at this time.” Instead of raising funds for the hospital, Renne re-directed the Foundation “to proactively improve the image of LHH in the media and community.”[32]

There is no record of LH Foundation making any donations towards rebuilding Laguna Honda Hospital.[33] Critics charged that the main function of LH Foundation was to fund PR activities that inflated Renne's role in saving and re-building Laguna Honda.[19]

LH Foundation was active in public relations and marketing [34] including the renaming and re-branding of Laguna Honda Volunteers, Inc to adopt the name “Friends of Laguna Honda”.[19] Renne hired her former public relations aide at the City Attorney's office[35] to run PR for LH Foundation, the hospital and Laguna Honda Volunteers, Inc.[36] A public relations agency was hired,[37] and printed sidewalk banners were produced.[38] Much of the PR culminated in the organizing of a 2010 gala to commemorate the opening of the new Laguna Honda Hospital.[39] The gala feted Renne as the leader in the hospital's re-building.[40] Members of the original Committee to Save Laguna Honda were not part of the gala.

San Francisco's Health Commission initially lauded "the capable leadership of Louise Renne" in starting the Laguna Honda Foundation,[41] but soon became concerned with the function of LH Foundation since it started out claiming it would raise up to $40 million for Laguna Honda Hospital,[42] and repeatedly claimed it would pay for the hospital's furniture and equipment.[43] Instead, funding for the gala and other activities actually came from Laguna Honda Volunteers Inc, and even city government coffers.[19] SF Health Commissioners repeatedly asked for representation on the LH Foundation board of directors[44] to allow for more transparency, and also asked for an open accounting of LH Foundation's finances. However, they were rebuffed on both counts.[45]

After continued press scrutiny of LH Foundation and a reported investigation by the California Attorney General,[19] Renne shuttered the LH Foundation in 2013.[46] Laguna Honda Volunteers, Inc. continued to do business under the name Friends of Laguna Honda.[24]

Hospital Facility

Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (LHHRC) is the only publicly funded long-term care facility of its kind in the U.S. It is also the first LEED-certified green hospital in California.[47]

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gollark: He had to appear to die for the ritual.
gollark: Exactly. He was waiting for the opportune moment when his strength would be greatest and when it would be most dramatically appropriate.
gollark: And amassing followers.
gollark: Mere propaganda. Jesus knew exactly what he was doing. Ascending to lichdom.

References
  1. "Laguna Honda Hospital - About Us". lagunahonda.org. Department of Public Health, City and County of San Francisco. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  2. Katz, Michell. "OPTIONS FOR LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL WHITE PAPER" (PDF). Victoria Sweet. SF Department of Public Health. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  3. Gordon, Rachel (July 29, 1998). "Laguna Honda flip viewed as political flop". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  4. Garcia, Ken (May 12, 1998). "Decisions Overdue on S.F. Facility / Leaders must face up to Laguna Honda dilemma". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  5. Tuller, David (August 29, 1997). "Director of Nursing Quits Laguna Honda / Abrupt departure as staff dwindles". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  6. Dougan, Michael. "Laguna Honda in peril" (July 12, 1998). San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  7. Epstein, Edward (June 13, 1998). "Willie Brown Speaks Out On Hospital / He estimates $1 billion to rebuild Laguna Honda". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  8. Monette-Shaw, Patrick (November 2010). "San Francisco health commission names Laguna Honda Hospital spaces after strange bedfellows" (PDF). West Side Observer. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  9. Gordon, Rachel (June 12, 1998). "What's next for the de Young Museum?". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  10. Johnson, Jason B. (July 7, 1998). "Backers Pull S.F. Museum Bond Proposal / Academy of Sciences faced long odds for public funds". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  11. Wilson, Yumi (August 5, 1998). "Voters Won't Be Asked to Fund S.F. Landmark / Private donations may repair Conservatory of Flowers". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  12. Gordon, Rachel (July 24, 1998). "Supes approve bond vote for Laguna Honda". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  13. Gordon, Rachel (July 28, 1998). "Laguna Honda bond "up in the air'". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  14. Opinion Writers, Editorial Page (July 22, 1998). "A Laguna Honda Go-Ahead". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  15. Torassa, Ulysses (June 2, 1999). "Laguna Honda bond issue is slimmed down". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  16. Voter Information Pamphlet Consolidated Municipal Election November 2, 1999 (PDF). San Francisco Department of Elections. 1999. pp. 37–50. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  17. Seligman, Katherine (November 4, 1999). "Rejoicing at Laguna Honda". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  18. "LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS INC". Guidestar.org. Guidestar. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
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  26. "SAN FRANCISCO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 2009-2010 ANNUAL REPORT" (PDF). sfdph.org. SF Dept. of Public Health. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
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  29. "JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL MEETING Thursday, March 25, 2004" (PDF). sfdph.org. SF Dept. of Public Health. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
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  34. Monette-Shaw, Patrick (May 2011). "Laguna Honda Commingling of Public and Private Funds" (PDF) (Volume 24, Number 4). Westside Observer. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  35. Lewis, Gregory (August 8, 1988). "50-50 split on tobacco monies". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  36. Noyes, Dan (May 25, 2010). "Hospital makes changes after I-Team investigation". KGO-TV 7 News. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
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  39. "Laguna Honda Annual Report 2009-2010" (PDF). lagunahonda.org. Laguna Honda Hospital. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  40. Bigelow, Miss (June 30, 2010). "Gala marks Laguna Honda Hospital reopening". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  41. "JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL MEETING Thursday, September 18, 2003" (PDF). sfdph.org. SF Dept. of Public Health. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  42. "JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL MEETING Thursday, September 18, 2003" (PDF). sfdph.org. SF Dept. of Public Health. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  43. "JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL MEETING" (PDF). sfdph.org. SF Dept. of Public Health. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  44. "JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL MEETING Monday, September 26, 2005" (PDF). sfdph.org. SF Dept. of Public Health. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  45. "https://www.sfdph.org/dph/hc/JCC/LHH/Minutes/JCCLHHM01232006.pdf" (PDF). sfdph.org. SF Dept. of Public Health. Retrieved 2 July 2018. External link in |title= (help)
  46. "Laguna Honda Foundation From 990-EZ" (PDF). erieri.com. Home About ERI Economic Research Institute. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  47. Ahsapbank. "designwire daily | Laguna Honda Becomes First LEED-Certified Hospital in California". Designwire.interiordesign.net. Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
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