Torrance Memorial Medical Center announced a $10 million gift by O. Allen
Alpay, a 45-year Peninsula resident and grateful former patient. The gift
will name the O. Allen Alpay East Wing, which houses Torrance Memorial’s
Emergency Department and Labor & Delivery Unit.
“On many occasions, I, and members of our family, have used the services
of Torrance Memorial. We are always very impressed with the care we receive—especially
from the nursing staff,” Alpay said. “When the opportunity
presented itself to name the East Wing, I was very happy to do what I
believed was my responsibility as a community member. Each day the East
Wing celebrates the birth of a whole new set of lives in the Labor &
Delivery Unit, while saving many others in its Emergency Department. I
hope this gift will inspire and motivate others to step up and do what
they can to give back to their community in any way they can.”
Alpay is a former petroleum engineer and is now involved with various real
estate ventures in California and Texas. He received a doctorate in engineering
from Purdue University. In addition to being a member of the Torrance
Memorial Patrons program, Alpay is also involved in numerous non-profit,
philanthropic organizations.
The gift was formally announced during the hospital’s 32nd Annual Holiday Festival Gala on Friday, December 4, 2015. In total, Holiday
Festival 2015 raised more than $11.2 million, which includes sponsorships
and major gift announcements.
“Each year Holiday Festival kick starts the holiday season with an
experience that engages and delights the senses, in addition to raising
millions of dollars to support local health care,” said Laura Schenasi,
executive vice president, Torrance Memorial Foundation. “We are
so fortunate to have a generous community and army of dedicated volunteers
that supports Torrance Memorial to make this event a huge success; we
could not do it without them.”
Additional festival highlights include donations of $100,000 by Loraine
and Ralph Scriba, and $50,000 each by Russell Varon, and Sam and Rose
Feng. These gifts were made during the “Gifts from the Heart”
portion of the Gala’s live auction, when donors spontaneously raise
their paddles to make a donation. In addition, Ellen and Pat Theodora
donated $25,000. Kirsten Wagner and Rick Rounsavelle, DDS, and Dominic
and Danica Iannitti each donated $10,000.
Live auction items included a party for 75 people at the soon-to-be open
Shade Hotel in Redondo Beach, donated by Michael Zislis and Jeff Neu.
Ofelia and Emmanuel David made the winning bid of $31,000 for this item.
Russell and Marshall Varon, owner of Morgan’s Jewelers donated a
rose gold and 9.5 carat diamond bracelet. Ofelia and Emmanuel David placed
a winning bid of $13,000 for this. Andrea and Michael Zislis, Ellen and
Patrick Theodora, and Greta and Michael Jarvis donated two trips for eight
people to Sonoma. Sigrid and Ralph Allman and Dr. Rick Rounsavelle each
placed bids of $12,500 to win these trips. Friends, family and Torrance
Memorial Foundation board members also donated a “wine lot,”
with wines from California, France and Italy. Lee and Sandii Minshull
placed the winning bid of $24,000 for this item.
More than 15,000 community members enjoyed the six-day event hosted under
a 30,000 square-foot white tent on the Torrance Memorial campus. Festivities
included a display of 32 themed decorated trees, a Fashion Show, Gala
Dinner, Santa Lunch, two Seniors Days and the South Bay’s largest
Holiday Shopping Boutique.
As a bonus to the week’s festivities, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
donated 2016 Lexus RC350 as the Opportunity Drawing Grand Prize, which
raised nearly $46,000. Roy Fu, MD, hospitalist, became the third consecutive
Torrance Memorial physician to win the car, following wins by Emergency
Department physician Stephanie Tang, DO, in 2014 and Erik Nakkim, MD, in 2013.
For information about the Holiday Festival, call the Torrance Memorial
Foundation at 310-517-4703 or visit
www.TorranceMemorial/HolidayFestival.