Community giving is in the DNA of Fremont-Rideout Health Group (FRHG). It began in 1907 when Phebe Rideout donated her family's 4,000-square foot mansion to provide a desperately needed public hospital for the residents of Yuba City and Marysville. In 1908 the hospital accepted its first patient. And since Rideout Memorial Hospital (RMH) merged with Fremont Medical Center (FMC) in 1983, the organization's community involvement and support has continued to grow.

FRHG is the leading health care group in the Yuba-Sutter area, as well as its largest employer. Nowhere is FRHG's relationship with the community stronger than in its emergency department: More than 55,000 people visit the emergency department at Rideout Memorial Hospital every year, making it the go-to care facility for residents of Yuba City, Marysville and Southern Butte County. Across the bridge in Yuba City, FRHG's new Urgent Care facility serves patients with non-life-threatening urgent medical issues.

The organization recognizes the needs of the community it serves and consistently strives to provide assistance where it can. That aid takes many forms, from direct financial contributions to providing essential services to donating volunteer hours. Perhaps the most significant portion of Fremont-Rideout's contribution comes in the form of services it provides with no compensation: in fiscal year 2008-2009, FMC and RMH combined provided more than $30 million in unreimbursed care to its neighbors.

One of the beneficiaries of FRHG's charitable giving programs is Pink October, a coordinated group of events created to raise money and awareness of breast cancer through Geweke's Caring for Women Foundation. FRHG has been involved with Pink October since its inception 12 years ago.

"FRHG has been in our corner on Pink October since day one," says Larry Geweke, president and owner of the Geweke Auto Group in Yuba City and chairman of the board of Geweke's Caring for Women Foundation. "They were the very first health group to step up and partner with us. We have a lot of respect for them and are very grateful for all that they do to support Pink October and make it as successful as it has been."

In addition to sponsoring the Yuba Sutter Race For Awareness 5k run, Fremont-Rideout Health Group also provides low-cost mammograms to women in October every year. Hundreds of women have taken advantage of this generosity.

Terri Gardiepy can attest to the depth of FRHG's dedication to local, community-based needs. "The American Cancer Society and The Fremont-Rideout Health Group have enjoyed a long relationship in which we have collaborated to make our community aware of cancer prevention and the importance of early detection of cancer," explains Gardiepy of American Cancer Society's Marysville field office. "The Fremont-Rideout Health Group has been a valuable partner in the fight against cancer. Through their continued sponsorship of the American Cancer Society's annual Daffodil Day Campaign and Relay For Life, more lives have been saved from this dreaded disease."