Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation to honor Brinton, Hohorst

The Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation has named Gerry Brinton and Lorrie Hohorst as the foundation’s Pulse Award honorees, given each year to recognize outstanding Sonoma Valley women who have made significant contributions to the community through their volunteerism, community involvement and philanthropy.

Brinton and Hohorst will be honored at the foundation’s 10th annual Celebration of Women luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 21, at The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa. Proceeds from the event will benefit women’s health and wellness programs at Sonoma Valley Hospital, including Project Pink which funds mammograms for uninsured women each May and October.

“We are delighted to recognize these women who so passionately and generously give of themselves for the betterment of our community”, said Selma Blanusa, executive director of the hospital foundation. “As the famous quote says, ‘No man or woman, even of the humblest sort, can be strong, gentle, pure and good without the world being better for it, without someone being helped or comforted by the very existence of that goodness.’ These women personify these qualities and Sonoma is so lucky to have them.”

Brinton and her husband, Bill, bought their home in Glen Ellen in 1984 and have lived here full time since 2001 when they sold their fresh juice business and began their Charles Creek Vineyard adventure.

She has contributed to her communities through governing board responsibilities with CPMC in San Francisco and Sutter Health, Sacramento, and several years on the finance committee of the Sonoma Valley Hospital.

Volunteering has been both vocation and avocation for Lorrie Hohorst. She and her husband, Peter, moved to the Valley in 1987. Almost immediately, she went to work as manager of Volunteer Center of Sonoma County’s Sonoma Office, where she supported its volunteer referral service program by recruiting individuals and groups for local nonprofits and schools. To meet the growth of Valley nonprofits from 37 to over 100 she formed the NonProfit Network and the ED Roundtable to facilitate better cooperation and communication.

Other volunteer efforts have included both the City and County Planning Commissions, the BERT (Business Education Round Table) that established “Leadership Sonoma Valley,” Sonoma County Master Gardeners, and Vintage House’s Vintage Sale. She has played key roles in all of the ballot measure campaigns for Sonoma Valley Hospital.

To make a reservation or obtain more information about the event or the hospital foundation, go to svh.com/foundation. To make a donation in honor of any of the honorees or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Julia Cervone at 935-5331 or jcervone@svh.com.