THE VG VOICE

THE VG VOICE

November 2024

Handmade with Heart: Young Entrepreneur Champions Health Care Access

In August, Natalie participated in National Lemonade Day, setting up a stand to sell lemonade, cookies, and her handmade items. Her efforts to donate proceeds to the Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation caught the attention of a patron from a nearby restaurant. Impressed by her initiative, they made a generous contribution to Virginia Garcia.

Ten-year-old Natalie has become a familiar face at the Farmers Market at the McMinnville Grange, where she sells her handmade creations, including rice packs, scrunchies, hand warmers, and potholders. With a vibrant spirit and a passion for entrepreneurship, she has turned her hobby into a small business to earn her own money.

Natalie is not only a budding entrepreneur but also an ambitious student with dreams of becoming an optometrist and a published author. “I love math and writing,” she says, reflecting on her favorite subjects in school.

Recently, Natalie discovered Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center & Foundation while researching online. Moved by the story of young Virginia and our mission to provide health care without barriers, she expressed her belief that health care should be a right for everyone. “If I couldn’t get help for my allergy, I would be really scared. I don’t want anyone else to feel that way,” she explained.

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Natalie is passionate about gymnastics and rock climbing, with aerial dance now capturing her heart as her favorite new activity. Practicing almost every day, she immerses herself in this art form. With her boundless creativity and generous spirit, she’s not just selling products—she is making a meaningful impact in her community.

Natalie’s story is a testament to the impact young people can have when they combine passion with purpose.

Thank you to Natalie and all our supporters for believing in the importance of accessible health care for everyone.

Virginia Garcia is Back in the 2024 Give!Guide

We are thrilled to be featured in Willamette Week’s 2024 Give!Guide and invite you to join us in making a difference this season of giving!

Your support helps us provide accessible, culturally, and linguistically appropriate health care to over 52,000 patients in our community. This year, we aim to raise $65,000 to strengthen our commitment to whole-person care. Giving runs through December 31, with exciting giveaways along the way for donors contributing $10 or more.

Special thanks to our generous Give!Guide partners:

·    Nico’s Ice Cream is treating the first 100 donors to free ice cream
·    Give $25+ for a free taco from ¿Por Qué No? Taqueria
·    Donate $100+ for an unlimited week of yoga at YoYoYogi Yoga Studio

Exclusive Giveaway: We are kicking off our partnership with Community Doula Alliance, whose Portland Doula Training (PDT) Program offers specialized training to the doulas at Virginia Garcia's Reproductive Health Clinic, with an exclusive giveaway: donate $10+ to both organizations between November 12 and November 19 for a chance to win a family photography session with Linnea Portrait Studio. Winners will be announced on November 21.

Follow us on social media and through our emails for more exclusive Give!Guide giveaways this season.

Partners in Our Work: A to Z Wineworks and REX HILL

Situated at the gateway to Oregon's wine country, REX HILL has been producing exceptional Pinot Noir for more than thirty years. In 2007, the families behind A to Z Wineworks took the helm of REX HILL, committing to a vision of excellence and sustainability. The winery meticulously creates a harmonious blend of flavors using only the finest hand-picked and hand-sorted fruit from the Willamette Valley, expertly nurtured in small fermenters and French oak barrels—truly a celebration of Oregon’s finest wines.

REX HILL and A to Z Wineworks have been unwavering allies of Virginia Garcia and those we serve for many years. REX HILL has been a vital partner hosting our summer event, helping us raise critical dollars for our outreach programs serving agricultural workers and their families. Their support helps us bring health care services to where our patients live and work, and provide critical support to those who need it most.

“We always appreciate partnering with Virginia Garcia. They approach the work always adding new and expanded health care access points with smart thinking around culturally appropriate, integrated health care services. As a Yamhill County community partner, we believe it’s our responsibility to support marginalized communities access these vital services. The recently opened renovated and expanded Newberg clinic is an example of this success," said Amy Prosenjak, President, Oregon brands for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.

We are grateful for the opportunity to continue partnering with A to Z Wineworks and REX HILL for many years to come and look forward to the positive impact we can create together.