Betty Burke-Oldfiel Nominated for Women in Service Award

Each year the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley hosts a Women In Service luncheon honoring outstanding women volunteers throughout the valley. The Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation nominated Betty Burke-Oldfield as our outstanding women volunteer.

Betty Burke-Oldfield’s involvement with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital began 47 years ago, when the hospital first opened its doors to the Santa Clarita Valley community. When asked to volunteer, Betty did not hesitate to step in. “It sounded like a good thing to do,” said Betty. Not only is she a founding member of the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Auxiliary Group, she was the first chair of the Holiday Home Tour League and served on the Hospital Board.

While serving on Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital’s Board of Directors, she was responsible for encouraging the hospital to seek its trauma designation in 1984. Later in 1992, Betty continued her work and helped the hospital to be upgraded as a Level II Trauma hospital. “The progress has been remarkable at Henry Mayo,” Betty said. “I couldn’t be more proud of what they are doing for the health of our community.”

In addition to supporting the hospital, she co-founded a program designed to help get impaired teens home safely, no questions asked, called Safe Rides. Betty was the co-founder of the American Cancer Society in Santa Clarita Valley and Founder of the Docent Program at Hart Park.

Betty never sought the limelight but pursued causes meaningful to her, her family and her community. A pioneering businesswomen helping her husband start Santa Clarita Concessions in 1955, nonprofit founder and leader, mother and great-grandmother, Betty has paved the way and has provided for our community in health and social services.

The legacy of supporting the hospital continues with Betty’s daughter, Lisa Burke. Lisa took over Santa Clarita Concessions in 1997 and has been a longtime supporter of the hospital and Foundations signature fundraising event, Frontier Toyota/Henry Mayo “Drive Safe” Golf Classic. “I grew up watching, and participating when I could. My mom (Betty) is so active in the community, that it just seemed natural for me to follow in her footsteps.” Lisa went on to say, “She asked me to be the photographer for the first ever Home Tour and even had me play a patient on the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital float at the annual 4^th of July Parade when I was a child. I may never be the icon my mom is to the Santa Clarita community, particularly the hospital, but I am proud to be her daughter and will do as much as I can to continue her legacy of support.”

The Foundation and hospital are so thankful to the Burke family for their years of continues support that have made it possible for us to care for our community by providing the highest level of lifesaving services.

For more information on ways you can contribute to Henry Mayo, please call the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation at 661.200.1200, or CLICK HERE.