September 27, 2026 - What began forty-six years ago as a community effort to support local healthcare has grown into an increasingly active philanthropic partner for John C. Fremont Healthcare District.
Since its founding in 1980, the JCF Hospital Foundation has brought together donors, volunteers, businesses, employees, and community partners who share a commitment to keeping quality healthcare available close to home. Through that support, the Foundation has helped fund equipment, patient care improvements, workforce development, scholarships, and other needs throughout the John C. Fremont Healthcare District.
From the beginning, until a couple years prior to the pandemic, the Foundation was deeply integrated with the Healthcare District, with a dedicated space on the Healthcare District campus, a staff person who informally supported the Foundation’s work, and sharing of supplies and resources.
After a halt of activities due to the pandemic and a loss in the number of board members, former Hospital Foundation member Heather Bernikoff, rejoined the board, was elected president by remaining members, and began rebuilding with both new and returning members in the summer of 2022.
In April 2025, the Foundation was in a strong enough position to hire Executive Administrator Miranda Wass as its first ever staff administrator on a part-time, contract basis.
“Having administrative support,” said Bernikoff, “has been key in helping the Foundation move forward with long desired activities, scaling our work beyond what we, as an all volunteer board, can now do. Miranda has increased our capacity to fulfill our mission of strengthening the rural communities of the John C. Fremont Healthcare District to maximize health through partnership and philanthropy.”
In recent years, Foundation growth and community generosity has helped the Foundation provide critical equipment for the District, including a Hamilton T1 ventilator, seven new smart IV pumps, a hospital bed, an infant warmer, new wheelchairs, defibrillators, and an Arjo sit to stand lift. The Foundation also continues to invest in the people behind local healthcare through its employee scholarship program and other workforce support.
Going back to a more fully integrated relationship with the Healthcare District is especially important at this moment as the District works on building the new hospital.
“In addition to the new building, new furniture, equipment, and a variety of other things will be needed, which are not funded by the sales tax or other means,” said Bernikoff. “More fully integrating with the Healthcare District, similar to how most other hospital foundations are structured and similar to how the JCF Hospital Foundation used to be structured, will be instrumental in helping the Foundation board meet this challenge.”
To better coordinate community engagement, philanthropy, and organizational priorities, Foundation Executive Administrator Miranda Wass will transition to employment with John C. Fremont Healthcare District while continuing to provide administrative and operational support to the Foundation as part of her job.
The Foundation will remain a separate nonprofit organization with its own Board of Directors, financial accounts, charitable assets, fundraising activities, and philanthropic mission. The new structure will strengthen coordination between the Foundation and District while allowing the Foundation to continue building relationships with donors and the community.
“This is less about a change in position and more about the natural evolution of the partnership between the Foundation and the District,” said Wass. “The Foundation has grown because our community continues to show us how much local healthcare matters to them.”
Community members interested in learning more about the JCF Hospital Foundation, volunteering, or supporting its work can visit: www.jcfhospitalfoundation.org or contact: admin@jcfhospitalfoundation.org.
The JCF Hospital Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the rural communities of the John C. Fremont Healthcare District to maximize health through partnership and philanthropy.
To stay up to date with the Foundation’s latest news, follow @jcfhospitalfoundation on Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up for the Foundation’s quarterly newsletter: https://forms.gle/hzSQn5RnHzneDJC66.
If you would like to financially support the Healthcare District through the Foundation, you can do so by sending a check to JCFHF, PO Box 1093, Mariposa, CA 95338, or through the online fundraising site at: secure.qgiv.com/for/jcfhospitalfoundation. Donations are tax-deductible.
View larger image of Three Year Community Impact (PDF) below here.
View larger image of JCF Leadership and Bios (PDF) below here.
View larger image of JCF Foundation District Partnership Brief (PDF) below here.
Source: JCF Hospital Foundation
