Dear Friends,
As we approach the close of another year, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an incredible year! The San Juan Medical Foundation and the people we serve have been truly blessed, and I am proud to share just a few highlights of the impact you helped create:
♦ Connelly Hospitality House: We welcomed 65 families, providing them a supportive ‘home away from home’ and a place to heal as they went through one of the most difficult times of their lives.
♦ Riley Men’s Health Fund: 194 men in our community received assistance with their medical bills.
♦ Cathy Lincoln Memorial Cancer Fund: 140 women were supported with their cancer-related medical expenses, honoring their journey with essential aid.
It is truly an honor to hear stories from the grateful men and women who benefited from your donations, knowing they received the medical treatment they needed without having to make difficult choices.
It was also a privilege to support San Juan Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) this year by providing:
♦ Simulation Training Tools and Equipment for their Nurse Residency Program, and their Vascular Access Specialist Team
These tools and equipment will help our caregivers better prepare to manage complex assessments, procedures, and tasks with precision and competence. In the coming months, we will also help fund the development of a simulation lab to support SJRMC’s new Internal Medicine Residency Program.
As we look ahead to the New Year, I respectfully ask that you consider a gift to the San Juan Medical Foundation to help continue our mission of enhancing the health and well-being of people in the Four Corners community. Every gift, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated.
On behalf of everyone at the San Juan Medical Foundation, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support. We look forward to another year of serving our community.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a healthy New Year.
With a grateful heart,
Audra Winters
Executive Director
Veronica Cassador
Helping others is personal for Veronica, House Manager for the Connelly Hospitality House (CHH). She started her journey as a volunteer, performing light housekeeping and covering for the house manager as needed. She remembers her mother taking her grandmother to dialysis appointments in distant cities, with the added expense and stress of hotel stays. Places like the CHH were not available. Veronica has always enjoyed working with people and making a difference. That passion only grew as she transitioned from volunteer to a leadership role, where she now serves families through all of San Juan Medical Foundation (SJMF)'s programs. The most rewarding part of her work is providing a safe, quiet space for people from rural areas traveling for medical care, easing the burden of lodging costs so they can focus on healing. Your year-end gift helps SJMF offer this vital sanctuary, bringing comfort to families as they navigate medical challenges.
Pete & Thelma Yazzie
When longtime coach and mentor Stacy "Pete" Yazzie received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, it turned life upside down for him and his family. Known throughout Farmington as “Coach Pete,” Stacy spent nearly two decades supporting student-athletes and volunteering countless hours to help local kids succeed both on and off the field. As he and his wife Thelma faced the ongoing challenges of treatment, the Riley Men's Health Fund provided a crucial lifeline—helping them cover rising medical costs, annual insurance deductibles, and the long trips to Mayo Clinic. This support meant Stacy could focus not on bills, but on fighting for his health and being there for his community. Your year-end gift ensures that families like the Yazzies—people who have given so much to others—can find practical relief and renewed hope, when it’s needed most.
Brenna Sherwood
A 41-year-old mother of two young boys, Brenna received a shocking and devastating breast cancer diagnosis. The journey through a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation brought not only immense emotional strain but also an unexpected financial burden. Fighting for her life while trying to stay financially afloat was a stress she never imagined. The Cathy Lincoln Memorial Cancer Fund became a light in her darkest times, providing critical financial assistance that allowed her to focus on healing and being present for her family. Your year-end gift ensures this lifeline continues for other women, offering tangible support and the priceless gift of hope in their hour of need.
