Supporting the ‘Heart of San Diego’:
Gala Benefits UC San Diego Medical Center’s Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center

Jack and Judy White, UCSD friends and community supporters, to be honored
Feb. 27

February 12 , 2010

By Jade Griffin

Jack and Judy White

Friends and supporters of the University of California, San Diego’s Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center, part of the UC San Diego Medical Center, will show their heart on Feb. 27 by joining the university’s 13th annual Heart of San Diego Gala. Proceeds from the black-tie fete — which will include dinner, dancing and a live auction at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad — will directly benefit the construction of the comprehensive Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center. 

Slated to open in early 2011, the new state-of-the-art facility will provide a single site for all of UC San Diego’s clinical treatment and research efforts in heart and vascular disease and stroke management. 

This year’s event will honor generous university friends Jack and Judy White for their exceptional support to the Cardiovascular Center and the local community. 

The Whites moved to La Jolla from Columbus, Ohio over three decades ago.  It was then that Jack founded the first discount stock brokerage firm in the United States. 

Over the years, the family experienced the need for the highest caliber cardiovascular care on several occasions. When Judy’s mother suffered a series of heart-related medical emergencies, the Whites researched the best possible cardiovascular care in the region.  Their research brought them to the UC San Diego Medical Center and the Cardiovascular Center, under the care of Anthony DeMaria, M.D.  Years later, when Jack suffered a heart attack, the Whites knew where he needed to go..  UC San Diego’s chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stuart Jamieson, MB, FRCS, performed Jack’s successful heart surgery. 

“My family has been heavily impacted by heart disease for many years,” said Jack.  “I was very pleased with the results of my open heart surgery and thankful to UCSD for owning expertise in this field.”

To show their gratitude to UC San Diego, the Whites generously donated $1.2 million to endow the Judith and Jack White Chair in Cardiology at the UCSD School of Medicine.  Endowed faculty chairs are vital to UC San Diego, allowing the campus to recruit and retain stellar scientists and physicians.  Permanent endowed funds created by philanthropic gifts provide perpetual annual income in support of the teaching and research activities of the person holding the chair.

“The UC San Diego Medical Center is an invaluable resource,” said Judy White.  “We are fortunate to have it in our community.”

Upon Jack’s recovery in 2004, the Whites also provided the funding to upgrade all of San Diego’s Emergency Medical System vehicles with 12-lead electrocardiographic equipment.  The devices allow paramedics to determine if a patient is experiencing cardiac arrest prior to arriving at the hospital.  Now, hospitals are able to prepare for cardiac treatment in advance of a patient’s arrival, saving time and lives.

 “We are thrilled to honor the Whites for their outstanding example of service to the community and the Cardiovascular Center,” said DeMaria, director of the Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center and chair holder of the Judith and Jack White Chair in Cardiology.  “Jack and Judy have played an integral role in supporting our efforts to improve prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.”

Longtime co-chairs of the Heart of San Diego Gala are Zandra Rhodes, founder of the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, and Salah Hassanein, chairman of Variety Children’s Lifeline. Jeanne Jones and Don Breitenberg and Evelyn and Ernest Rady are honorary co-chairs.

Proceeds from the gala will directly benefit the Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center.  Tickets for the Heart of San Diego Gala are $650 for diamond seating and $500 for ruby seating.  Sponsorships opportunities up to $50,000 are available. The evening will begin with cocktails and silent auction at 6 p.m., followed by dinner, dancing and live auction at 7:30 p.m.  For reservations, please call (858) 534-6223. 

More information on the Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center can be found at www.heartcenter.ucsd.edu.

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About the Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center
The Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center at UC San Diego unites leaders in the fields of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, cardiology and cardiovascular research, in a comprehensive approach to battle heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Such interdisciplinary cooperation enables more patients to participate in clinical trials and to benefit sooner from new methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Media Contact: Jade Griffin at jadegriffin@ucsd.edu or 858-822-5309