By Maddy PUMILIA

The Healthcare Foundation at Glendale Adventist Medical Center is hosting its annual golf tournament on Sept. 15 to raise money for bedside monitoring systems for the hospital’s telemetry unit, which offers specialized care after surgery.

The Healthcare Foundation’s 28th Annual Golf Classic is being held at the Angeles National Golf Course in Sunland. The Foundation is looking to raise $200,000, which would match proceeds from last year’s tournament. Proceeds from the 2010 event were dedicated to acquiring state of the art equipment for the newly established Spine Institute.

“Our classic has become very popular,” Dro Abrahamian, the Foundation’s president, said of the tournament. “Most people return and we get new sponsors every year.”

Abrahamian took the reins of Foundation president in April 2010. Relocating from Michigan, his family is now firmly settled in California with an 18-year-old daughter, Ani, attending San Jose State University studying occupational therapy. His 16-year-old son Peter is at CV High School and interested in acting. Michael, 12, attends Rosemont Middle School and is involved with the Boy Scouts in La Cañada. The kids have gotten used to California life, discovering the Americana in Glendale, skateboard parks and the Beeline Bus to Santa Monica Beach. The Abrahamians attend St. Gregory’s Armenian Church in Pasadena where Diane, Dro’s wife, teaches Sunday School. Getting involved in the community from the get-go, Dro was recently approached by the Salvation Army of Glendale as well as the Boy Scouts of America Verdugo Hills Council to serve on their boards.

This year’s Healthcare Foundation’s Classic includes two flights, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with lunch and a dinner. There is a donation of $500 to play and sponsorships range from $1,000 to $15,000. To reserve a spot, call (818) 409-8055. Current top sponsors include Abbott Construction, Acco Engineering Systems, Glendale Adventist Medical Center Staff, Skyline Health Care and Wellness Center, Sodexo Healing Care Services, Valley Emergency Physicians and Western Drug.

The Foundation raises funds for and grows the awareness of the hospital. It takes part in other fundraisers including the Glendale News Press Downtown Dash. This year’s Dash, which took place in March and had more than 1,500 participants, brought more than $100,000 in donations, sponsorships and in-kind sponsorship, according to the Glendale Adventist website.

The Foundation also partners with its Guild, which has expanded to include the GAMC – Dr. Norik Bogossian Cancer Care Guild. The Foundation provides whatever is needed for the Guilds to succeed in their raising of funds.

An advocate for the hospital, Abrahamian recognizes the opportunity that Glendale Adventist has in impacting the community and looks for fun and interesting ways to raise money to help make a difference for all our patients, every day.

“We’re trying to make [donating] easy, enjoyable and everlasting,” Abrahamian said. “We’re in the business of turning hope into reality.”

  MADDY PUMILIA