$110 million new gift to not-for-profit, people-centered healthcare system announced by Warner Thomas

Sutter Health announced an unprecedented $110 million philanthropic gift from a long-standing donor — the largest in the not-for-profit health system’s history.

This historic donation will accelerate Sutter Health’s strategic expansion and innovation initiatives, reinforcing its vision to deliver high-quality, comprehensive, and accessible care to communities across Northern California.

“We are incredibly excited and grateful to receive this generous donation,” said Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Sutter Health.

“Extraordinary generosity like this allows us to create a lasting, positive impact in the lives of our patients and change and save lives. It ensures everyone who walks through our doors receives the best care possible.

We’re looking forward to putting this gift to work — advancing cutting-edge technology, building state-of-the-art facilities, and delivering an exceptional care experience across Silicon Valley and surrounding communities.”

This donation will accelerate Sutter Health’s efforts to expand access and reduce wait times in growing communities with rising demand for comprehensive healthcare services. It supports Sutter’s broader initiative to bring high-quality, timely care closer to home for more patients across Northern California.

“This extraordinary gift represents more than generosity — it represents a legacy of trust, partnership, and belief in our shared goal of ensuring that every patient has convenient access to the care they need,” said Raya Elias-Petros, Sutter Health’s Chief Philanthropy Officer. “We have a robust plan underway to reach more people and make exceptional, comprehensive healthcare easier to access. The donor has a longstanding commitment to transformative change and believes in the power of community partnerships to drive impact.”

This historic donation is a powerful reflection of the compelling vision of Sutter Health, its philanthropy team, and the organization’s momentum, following a record-breaking fundraising year in 2024 thanks to the generous contributions from many donors, big and small.

In the Silicon Valley region, the gift will support expanding access to integrated, whole-person care across one of California’s most dynamic communities. In collaboration with the region’s 95-year-old Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG), Sutter is creating a regional healthcare system that will be equipped to offer a full spectrum of ambulatory services to a growing number of patients across Silicon Valley and the surrounding areas — from primary and specialty care to mental health care, imaging, lab and diagnostic services, ambulatory surgery, and more.

Hundreds of new physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and employees will also be added to support this patient care expansion.

“We’re building the future of healthcare in the Greater Silicon Valley and across the region—expanding access, advancing innovative care, and delivering the full range of services people need to live healthier lives,” said Kurt VandeVort, M.D., CEO of Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group.

“We’re working to bring on several hundred new physicians and clinicians to care for hundreds of thousands more patients by 2030. Philanthropic donations like this one are a powerful force in making this vision a reality—accelerating our ability to grow, innovate and ensure world-class care is available to more people, closer to home.”

“We are seeing increasing demand for accessible, compassionate specialty health care including mental health — right where our patients already receive their primary care,” said Dr. Elizabeth Vilardo, Sutter Health’s Strategic and Philanthropy Chief Medical Officer. “Our organization is proud to make expanding personalize care options a priority, ensuring that our services are not only accessible, but rooted in clinical excellence.”

Sutter Health is a not-for-profit, people-centered healthcare system providing comprehensive care throughout California. Sutter Health is committed to community partnerships, and innovative, high-quality patient care. Today, Sutter Health is pursuing a bold new plan to reach more people and make excellent healthcare more connected and accessible.

The health system’s 57,000+ staff and clinicians and 12,000+ affiliated physicians currently serve more than 3 million patients with a focus on expanding opportunities to serve patients, people and communities better.

Sutter Health offers exceptional, affordable care through its hospitals, medical groups, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care clinics, telehealth services, home health services, and hospice care.

Dedicated to transforming healthcare, at Sutter Health, getting better never stops.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG) is one of the largest multi-specialty medical groups in the country, comprising over 2,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians in more than 40 specialties, with practices throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

The organization is nationally recognized for its excellence, having received multiple awards for quality of care, innovation, and leadership.

PAFMG is affiliated with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, a not-for-profit healthcare organization, providing operational and administrative support, including the latest technology, which allows physicians to focus on delivering exceptional patient care.