Circle of Care Spotlight
Anita and Steve Westly

In February 2000, Anita and Steve Westly were eagerly anticipating the birth of their first child, a baby girl.What they expected to be an easy birth quickly turned frightening when the baby, Christie, was born with her umbilical cord wrapped twice around her small neck. The couple remembers seeing Hospital staff spring into action to clear the baby's airway. Fortunately, Christie was fine after just two days in Packard's neonatal intensive care unit.

Anita and Steve Westly, with their children, Matthew and Christie.

Moved by their personal experience, Anita and Steve now support the Hospital with the hope that such quality care will be available to more families in the area.

The Westlys place a priority on supporting those less fortunate than themselves. "This is an affluent area, but there are still many people who desperately need access to basic health care," says Steve. "People think of heart transplants and pioneering research when they think of Packard, but it is also providing basic services to a large number of people."

Anita adds, "I always have been impressed by the Hospital's policy to care for any child, regardless of a family’s financial situation."

	Children's Circle of Care Leaders in Annual Giving ... The Children's Circle of Care recognizes individuals and family foundations whose annual gifts of $10,000 or more help advance pediatric patient care, research, and teaching. For more information about Packard's Children's Circle of Care, please contact Sarah Collins at (650) 736-1243 or sarah.collins@lpfch.org. You may also visit our website at www.supportLPCH.org.

Steve and Anita recognize the importance of private support for institutions like Packard—a lesson made clearer when Steve became Controller for the State of California in 2003. "There just aren't enough resources in the state to go around," says Steve. "Private support from individuals is crucial. To the extent that we can help keep the doors open and the costs down, we are happy and proud to be able to do that." The couple has established a family foundation to support causes that are meaningful to them.

In 2004, Anita and Steve became founding members of the Chariman's Circle of the Children's Fund, a giving circle that recognizes donors who annually contribute $25,000 or more to the Lucile Packard Children's Fund. Their support of the Children's Fund allows the Hospital to use their gift where it is needed most in any given year.

"In general, we just want to support Packard and let the Hospital decide how best to use our donations," says Anita. "We were so impressed by the level of care we received at Packard, especially its warm environment and emphasis on children. I think there are probably a lot of people like us who just appreciate having such a good place to take their kids when they need it."

Steve adds, "You don't have to have a child with a serious illness to believe in what Packard is doing."