Few families are woven into the fabric of a community quite like the Melchor family. From family patriarch, Jack, to his grandson, Lane, the family’s generosity and decades of commitment to El Camino Hospital are unmatched.
The story begins with Norma, a nurse, and Jack, an early Silicon Valley entrepreneur. Through her work with the El Camino Hospital Auxiliary, Norma was involved in the grand opening of the hospital. She later served as Auxiliary president leading volunteer efforts at the hospital. In 1982, Jack was instrumental in establishing the El Camino Hospital Foundation, which was formed to enhance patient care through philanthropic support. Their combined experiences produced a legacy of giving to the community.
When Norma passed away in 2012, Jack and his family honored her with a generous gift to the Heart & Vascular Institute due to her commitment to the services, doctors and staff. In her memory, it was rededicated as the Norma Melchor Heart & Vascular Institute. Jack passed away in 2015, entrusting their legacy to their children and grandchildren.
Jack and Norma's grandson, Lane, is proud to carry on the spirit of his grandparents' generosity. Lane has served on the El Camino Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for seven years. In his current role as Chair of the Board, he is leading the creation of a new long-range plan to support the community in the years to come. "Our hope is that we can ensure a steady, reliable stream of funding to support the Hospital's patient care initiatives," says Lane. "El Camino Hospital is an essential part of everyone’s lives in the community, and someone may need our services at any time."
Lane is proud of the Foundation's work to support hospital programs and services. "We've made great strides in areas like mental health and addiction services, women’s health, the South Asian Heart Center and cancer care." The Cancer Center holds a special place in his heart, as his grandfather Jack had a positive experience during his cancer treatment. "Every time we went there it felt more like we were visiting friends than getting medical care," a sentiment he hopes every patient shares.
The spirit of giving is essential to the future of El Camino Health. When it comes to getting involved, Lane's advice is simple: "Get to know El Camino Hospital. There are wonderful people doing incredible things there. The closer you are to it, the more you will be inspired to give back." Learn more about ways to support the El Camino Health Foundation.