About Us

Founded in 1988, the Friends of Mercy Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to raise and administer philanthropic funds for Mercy Hospital Downtown and Mercy Hospital Southwest. Together with our Board of Directors, physicians, and other community leaders, the Foundation works to encourage public interest and support of Mercy Hospital Downtown and Mercy Hospital Southwest and our many worthy programs, services, and outreach activities in a manner consistent with our values and goals.

The Foundation gets its name from founding Chairman Jim Burke’s belief in the importance of connecting the community to the mission of the Sisters of Mercy – Mercy Hospital’s founding congregation – as well as the need to raise funds; thus the name, Friends of Mercy.

The Friends of Mercy Foundation has proudly raised more than $30,000,000 in support of outreach programs, advanced technology, and state-of-the-art equipment for Mercy Hospital Downtown and Mercy Hospital Southwest, your local, not-for-profit hospitals serving Bakersfield.  

Our Mission

The Friends of Mercy Foundation is committed to supporting Mercy Hospitals Bakersfield’s mission of providing compassionate and high-quality healthcare to the communities it serves. The Friends of Mercy Foundation does this through raising and administering philanthropic funds for our many worthy programs, services, and outreach activities in a manner consistent with our values and goals.

Support the Friends of Mercy Foundation

Mercy Downtown and Mercy Southwest are not-for-profit hospitals focused on delivering compassionate, high quality, health care right here in Kern County. Philanthropic support helps to provide for new facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and technology, new programs and services, health education, and community outreach.

100% of your gift will support Mercy Hospitals and the care provided to our patients and community.

The Friends of Mercy Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with state and federal regulations.

Foundation Staff

The Foundation’s staff welcomes the opportunity to talk to you about how your gift can make a difference in the life of someone you may never meet, but who will benefit from your generosity.

• Toni Harper – Vice President of Philanthropy
• Misty De La Torre – Director of Operations
• Jessica Turrubiates – Manager of Philanthropy
• Kristina Andrew – Manager of Annual Giving