‘Rockin’ the Ranch’ event to benefit children’s hospital

Dedicated to providing medical care and disease prevention education to children, the staff and volunteers of the Foundation for the Children of the Californias would practically give their blood, sweat and tears to keep kids healthy on both sides of the border. Therefore, it makes sense that to continue to provide critical support, the foundation is inviting the community to its fourth annual Concert for the Kids, titled ‘Rockin’ the Ranch,’ Aug. 27, 5 p.m. at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, where this year the band Blood, Sweat & Tears will perform at the fundraiser.

“It’s such a wonderful cause,” said Dionicia Lozoya, executive director of the Foundation for the Children of the Californias.

Event proceeds will support the development of a new onsite dental clinic at the Hospital Infantil de las Californias, a 56,000-square-foot pediatric complex that offers outpatient services in 25 specialties.

A dentist previously leased space at the facility, which is a half-mile into Baja California, Mexico, but he did not renew his lease in 2015. In the past, the hospital provided dental services to about 425 children every month, totaling 5,100 patients per year.

“Because there’s such a high demand for specialized pediatric dental services, we needed to do something,” Lozoya said. “Funds from the event will help us purchase equipment needed for us to have updated, quality state-of-the-art services for these kids.

Funds raised will also support the hospital’s “Programa de Apoyo a Pacientes Indigentes,” a program for indigent patients, as well as foundation operations. Thanks to a match from Price Philanthropies, up to $100,000 in funds raised will be doubled.

“That gift will really kickstart our fundraising for the dental program,” said Maura Molish, development associate for the Foundation for the Children of the Californias.

In September, the foundation is partnering with the Milargo Foundation to present “The Ultimate Experience with Carlos Santana,” on Sept. 24 at the House of Blues in Las Vegas.

The private cocktail party and tequila tasting with musician Carlos Santana featuring his signature tequila, Casa Noble, will help develop the new Santana Telehealth project between a medical clinic that Santana built in his hometown of Autlan, Mexico, and Hospital Infantil de las Californias in Tijuana.

“These partners and supporters are priceless,” Lozoya said. “We literally could not do it without donors.”

In an effort to improve the health and nutrition of children, the Foundation for the Children of the Californias was founded in 1994. In this tri-national collaboration with the United States, Mexico and Canada, pediatric professionals joined forces with academic, business and civic leaders from the three countries to open and operate the pediatric medical center in northwestern Mexico.

Today the medical center serves about 3,500 children per month, with some children coming from San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties.

Approximately 60 percent of the center’s medical personnel and staff donate their services. Volunteers have served more than 392,000 hours, giving nearly 474,000 consultations, conducting more than 13,000 surgeries and procedures, and providing more than 325,000 hours of health education since the foundation was established.

“There’s so much need, and it’s really in our backyard,” Molish said. “It’s really our responsibility to help.”

This year’s “Rockin’ the Ranch: Concert for the Kids” will feature Blood, Sweat & Tears, a contemporary jazz-rock band, now led by singer and “American Idol” runner-up Bo Bice. Fellow Idol alum Constantine Maroulis is this year’s opening act.

It is the first time the annual concert will take place at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. The event was previously held at The Santaluz Club in Carmel Valley.

Event organizers said they changed the location to introduce the Foundation for the Children of the Californias to new potential supporters.

“The Inn is just such a charming, cozy environment,” Molish said. “It will just be a very community-oriented event.”

About 600 people are expected at the event, which includes a gourmet dinner, opportunity drawing, and live and silent auction. Tickets range from $195 to $500 and can be purchased online at www.usfcc.org.