The Agricultural Leadership Council Receives National Philanthropy Day Award for Support of Natividad Medical Center
Salinas, CA, December 18, 2014 – The Agricultural Leadership Council (TALC), a collective of leading Salinas Valley agricultural businesses and farm families, was recently honored at the 23rd Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards in Pebble Beach as this year’s Outstanding Philanthropic Service Organization. The award acknowledges TALC’s contributions of more than $1.25 million to date in philanthropic support to Natividad Medical Center – ranging from breast cancer detection devices and critical care incubators for premature infants to Natividad Medical Foundation’s groundbreaking Indigenous Interpreting+ healthcare interpreting program.
TALC represents more than 125 members in the Salinas Valley, including D’Arrigo Bros. Co of Ca., Driscoll’s, Taylor Farms and NewStar, “TALC is all about farm families and the companies that service and supply the agricultural industry helping agricultural workers and their families with their healthcare needs,” said TALC founder John D’Arrigo, a third-generation Salinas Valley grower and President & CEO of D’Arrigo Bros. “TALC is extremely pleased that the community recognizes the need to philanthropically support Natividad Medical Center and values our commitment to Natividad.”
Natividad Medical Foundation’s Indigenous Interpreting+ program is one of the few indigeneous language interpreting programs in the United States. With support from TALC, Indigenous Interpreting+ provides trained interpreters to serve indigenous people hospitalized at Natividad Medical Center who speak Mixteco, Zapoteco, Triqui and other native languages.
Mixteco, Triqui, Chatino and Zapoteco are among the top seven languages most commonly spoken by patients at Natividad Medical Center, the safety net hospital serving Monterey County, where more than 27,000 indigenous people live and work in “America’s Salad Bowl.” Since its launch in March 2014, Indigenous Interpreting+ has provided 1,000 indigenous language interpreting sessions for patients at Natividad Medical Center, including nearly 500 for indigenous languages.
When it comes to medical issues, cultural variations can be extreme. For example, the word “tuberculosis” means “a demon in my throat” in one Zapotec variant but not in another. A study by the American College of Emergency Physicians in 2012 analyzed interpreter errors that had clinical consequences, and found that the error rate was significantly lower for professional interpreters than for ad hoc interpreters — 12 percent as opposed to 22 percent.
About The Agricultural Leadership Council (TALC)
Since 2010, TALC has purchased over 90 pieces of medical equipment for Natividad Medical Center, ranging from breast cancer detection devices to critical care incubators for premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. TALC members are inspired by founder John D’Arrigo’s vision for improving the health status of agricultural workers and their families through a genuine understanding of the good that can be achieved when competitors and partners join together for the shared purpose of philanthropically supporting Natividad.
About National Philanthropy Day
National Philanthropy Day® (NPD) is a special day set aside in November to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy — and those people active in the philanthropic community — to the enrichment of our world. National Philanthropy Day® provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. First held in 1986, NPD celebrates the endless daily contributions individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions. Last year, more than 100 AFP chapters held NPD events and activities across North America.
About Natividad Medical Foundation:
Natividad Medical Foundation philanthropically supports programs that continually improve the health status of the people in Monterey County through access to essential healthcare services regardless of ability to pay. Natividad Medical Foundation is passionate about raising funds to support access to healthcare for babies, children and families in our community. Established in 1988, Natividad Medical Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. For more information, visit http://www.natividadfoundation.org.
