The Central California Faculty Medical Group, Inc. (CCFMG) and University Centers of Excellence are helping to ensure Valley residents can remain at the bedsides of their loved ones receiving critical care – this time with a $100,000 gift toward Terry’s House, a 20-room guest house within walking distance of the main entrance to Community Regional Medical Center.

Ground broke on the 17,000-square-foot, two-story Terry’s House, at the corner of Fresno and R streets, in January.

“Community Regional Medical Center prides itself on providing great care to our patients,” said Lynn Bennink, trauma program director for Community Regional. “We care for patients from all over the Valley and beyond. Terry’s House will provide us to care for the families as well. It will be a home for families of critically injured or burned patients that have to travel long distances to be close to their loved ones. Currently, these families are sleeping in our waiting room or staying in expensive hotels.”

Dr. Steven Parks, board president of CCFMG.

Giving to Community has become a tradition for CCFMG, a group of more than 200 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified midwives headquartered in Fresno. Last year, CCFMG pledged $500,000 to help care for the underserved at the soon-to-open Deran Koligian Ambulatory Care Center. In 2008, the group completed a seven-year, $1 million pledge for Community’s burn and trauma programs – the only comprehensive burn and Level 1 trauma programs between Los Angeles and Sacramento.

“We, at CCFMG and the University Centers of Excellence offices, are very pleased to be able to contribute to Terry’s House,” said Charlene Chessum, CCFMG marketing director. “It’s very important to have family close by during the healing process and Terry’s House makes this possible.”

CCFMG physicians treat patients at University Centers of Excellence offices throughout Fresno, but they are core faculty for the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program – teaching the next generation of local physicians.

“CCFMG’s philanthropic generosity over the years, and specifically their recent gift towards Terry’s House, has been key in helping us to extend the highest level of care and offer the most comprehensive services to the people of this region,” said Rob Saroyan, chief development officer for Community Medical Foundation.

Building and maintaining Terry’s House is dependent upon private support from Community’s donor-investors. While enough funds have been raised to construct the house, the hospital system’s fundraising campaign continues to seek support for furnishings, operations and families who cannot otherwise afford to stay.

Some help in that area came recently from both corporate citizens and individuals who share in the vision for this facility. John R. Lawson Rock & Oil and Jeff Lion each contributed $10,000 while California Bank and Trust gave $4,000.

“We are grateful for the organizations and individuals that have graciously made gifts in support of this important project,” Saroyan said.

For more information on Terry’s House, or to find out how to give, log on to http://www.terryshousefresno.com/.

This story was reported by Eddie Hughes. He can be reached at eddieh@communitymedical.org.