Sponsor Spotlight
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The Katz Cancer Resource Center inspired us to become donors to Dominican Hospital and their mission. Dominican has been a fantastic resource to our community. They are an inspiration to the Pajaro Valley community, especially during the pandemic, generously helping with vaccinations and supplies. We are all very grateful. —Dick Peixoto, owner of Lakeside Organic Gardens
Healing through Compassion and Support
D
ick Peixoto grew up in Watsonville and remembers riding around visiting farms with his dad when he was eight years old, while his dad sold pesticides to local farmers. By the time Dick was a senior at Watsonville High School in 1975, he decided to start farming on his own, growing green beans, squash, and cucumber for Capurro Farms on a 40-acre farm. In 1996, Dick decided to convert to organic after 21 years farming conventionally. “My focus was to provide my community with healthy organic vegetables, while safely and sustainably farming the Pajaro Valley.” Lakeside Organic Gardens now grows 50 different commodities, on 50 different parcels of land, with 350 local employees, shipping nationwide.
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Inspired by the lack of options in local restaurants offering organic choices, the Peixoto’s purchased the California Grill and Bar in Watsonville in order to supply healthy organic vegetables and other local fare to their community. When Dick’s wife, Marisela, was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided to seek treatments at Dominican Hospital, the Katz Cancer Resource Center stepped in to help them get through the treatments. The Peixoto’s were so impressed with the staff’s compassion and support, Dick and his wife decided they needed to pay it forward. Annually, in October they donate one day's total of receipts from the California Grill and Bar to the Katz Cancer Resource Center until put on hold in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The Annual Healthcare Sponsorship Program Recognizing sponsors year-round who give at levels of $10,000 or $30,000+. For sponsorship information, contact Anthony Pagliaro at 831.462.7712 or visit supportdominican.org/ways-to-give/annual-healthcare-sponsors
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