VCAHU Members supporting the community
Each year since 1990, VCAHU raises money through our Wood-Gutzke Charity. With the donations from our members, we send Santa and his Elves to Ventura County Medical Center to deliver toys to the children and babies in the Pediatric Ward and NICU. While 2020 looked a little different with the COVID restrictions in place, that did not stop our members from supporting our annual efforts. We were able to raise close to $2,500 in a time of economic struggle!
Here is an excerpt from a Thank You note received "I am the certified child life specialist working at Ventura County Medical Center. I walked into my office this morning with a box full of amazing things donated by you and your team. As the child life specialist it is one of my jobs to take those items and distribute them accordingly. I wanted to take some time and personally thank you for your donation. I promise that all of the items will be put to use 🙂 Again, on behalf of my team and the children of VCMC thank you."
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(above) Amy Towner, from The Ventura Health Foundation, joined us at our 2020 virtual holiday charity event to tell us how impactful our annual contributions truly are to the Ventura County Medical Center.
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(above) Adonis Campillo with Amy Towner after dropping off the first batch of wish list items on Christmas Eve, 2020.
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(left) Adonis Campillo, with the VCMC staff, delivering the final shipment of wish list items and a check to the pediatrics unit for the remining balance of contributions received from our members! THANK YOU!!!!
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About the Wood-Gutzke Charity Event: In 1990, Greg Hoffman was president of VCAHU and had an idea to start a charity. Ken Gutzke was the past-president at that time and had an experience at the Ventura County Medical Center 6 months prior. His niece was in the hospital for 3 weeks due to a ruptured appendix. Ken and his wife visited her daily and realized that there were no toys or videos for the kids staying at the pediatric ward. Not wanting to just make a cash donation, VCAHU decided to donate toys for the kids that were in the ward at Christmas time.
VCAHU raised $2,500 the first year and several of us decided to dress up as Santa and elves and deliver the toys. The hospital was somewhat overwhelmed as the group of about 25 insurance elves sang carols through the halls while delivering toys. We provided toys from the kid's wish list as well as enough toys to last through the year for all the kids that came through the facility. The hospital had to devote an entire room for the toys, games and video's we provide and hired a full-time play therapist, Michelle Landon. We coordinated our efforts with Dr. Chris Landon at VCMC and have made similar, or greater, donations every year since 1990. We were recognized by the National Association of Health Underwriters as having the finest Charity Program in the nation among local chapters and local newspaper wrote an article with photos noting the generosity of the Insurance Agent Community.
In 1992, Karen Wood joined Ken Gutzke as co-chair of the charity. Ken moved to Idaho in 2006 and eventually became active in his local association.
VCAHU raised $2,500 the first year and several of us decided to dress up as Santa and elves and deliver the toys. The hospital was somewhat overwhelmed as the group of about 25 insurance elves sang carols through the halls while delivering toys. We provided toys from the kid's wish list as well as enough toys to last through the year for all the kids that came through the facility. The hospital had to devote an entire room for the toys, games and video's we provide and hired a full-time play therapist, Michelle Landon. We coordinated our efforts with Dr. Chris Landon at VCMC and have made similar, or greater, donations every year since 1990. We were recognized by the National Association of Health Underwriters as having the finest Charity Program in the nation among local chapters and local newspaper wrote an article with photos noting the generosity of the Insurance Agent Community.
In 1992, Karen Wood joined Ken Gutzke as co-chair of the charity. Ken moved to Idaho in 2006 and eventually became active in his local association.
Children's Dream Racer car - 5k
On behalf of the Ventura County Association of Health Underwriters, we THANK YOU for your participation in our 1st 5k event on January 12th 2019. We consider it a major success thanks to YOU! Despite the exceptional rain, many chose to show up and make it happen. Your commitment inspires us all. It is because of you that we will be able to provide the children at VCMC Pediatrics the power of imagination and play so that they can overcome their obstacles and adversity!
On January 23rd, we also closed the gap in our fundraising efforts and reached our goal of $10,000.
On August 1st, 2019, we gathered at the Ventura County Medical Center to unveil the Children's Dream Racer. It was an honor to see the Dream Racer in person and in it's final parking spot! We hope that it brings joy to the children of our community.
On January 23rd, we also closed the gap in our fundraising efforts and reached our goal of $10,000.
On August 1st, 2019, we gathered at the Ventura County Medical Center to unveil the Children's Dream Racer. It was an honor to see the Dream Racer in person and in it's final parking spot! We hope that it brings joy to the children of our community.
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Who We Are
Ventura County Association of Health Underwriters (VCAHU) proudly serves our community with a vision of providing access to private sector solutions for health insurance through the unbiased advice of local agents and brokers.
Joining as one voice enables us to keep our seat at the table legislatively. Access to top notch continuing education, tools and resources will keep you at the front end of the most up to date compliance rules and innovative options for your clients. Continuous opportunities to connect with like minded professionals to learn from and grow.
As the saying goes ...“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.”
You can be sure to be in the RIGHT room each and every time you attend one of AHU’s events or conferences!
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Joining as one voice enables us to keep our seat at the table legislatively. Access to top notch continuing education, tools and resources will keep you at the front end of the most up to date compliance rules and innovative options for your clients. Continuous opportunities to connect with like minded professionals to learn from and grow.
As the saying goes ...“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.”
You can be sure to be in the RIGHT room each and every time you attend one of AHU’s events or conferences!
We look forward to seeing you soon.
The National Association of Health Underwriters represents more than 100,000 licensed health insurance agents, brokers, general agents, consultants and benefit professionals through more than 200 chapters across America.
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The California Association of Health Underwriters was founded in 1989 and today has well over 2,000 members. We are the state’s largest organization of professional health insurance agents and brokers, who collectively represent more than one million California healthcare consumers.
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The Ventura County Association of Health Underwriters is one of 13 local chapters across the Golden State of California, which provide grassroots services, networking, and legislative support where our members live and work. We are approx 70 members strong and growing.
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Whether you're a consumer looking for a licensed agent to assist you or you're a seasoned agent looking for support in another state, "Find an Agent" portal enables you to search qualified AHU professionals.
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For more than 85 years, health insurance agents and benefit specialists have provided valuable healthcare financing services to millions of individuals and employers.
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