$2 million challenge grant for Sonoma Valley Hospital

A $2 million challenge grant from the Vadasz family has been pledged toward a fundraising campaign for Sonoma Valley Hospital.

The grant will match dollar for dollar -- up to $2 million -- donations to a hospital renovation and expansion project.

The $2 million in gifts from the community must be raised by September to receive the grant, campaign director Harmony Plenty said.

The Sonoma Valley Hospital Capital Campaign for Emergency Care aims to raise $11 million to close a gap between $35 million in general obligation bonds approved by Sonoma voters in 2008 and the cost of meeting seismic standards, new construction and equipment.

Included in the project are seismic upgrades, infrastructure for electronic health records, expanded parking, electrical upgrades and a new wing for anemergency care center and surgery center.

To date, the campaign has raised $5 million and with the Vadasz grant, campaign organizers expect to exceed $9 million when it is matched.

Les Vadasz, a retired Intel Corp. executive, founded a philanthropic fund with his wife, Judy. He also is one of the financial backers of Sonoma Media Investments, which last year bought The Press Democrat.