Emergency care initiated a lasting relationship between

2011 Crystal Ball honorees, Methodist hospital

It's not unusual for a serious accident to bring a hospital and family together in a lasting relationship.

Alan and Sandy Whitman, who in October will be recognized as our 2011 Crystal Ball honorees, experienced both and were doubly blessed.

"Methodist Hospital really is our hospital," Alan said. "It has been for a long time and it will be for as long as we're around."

Born and reared in Omaha, Nebraska, Alan attended the University of Nebraska, Omaha. Sandy, meanwhile, was born in Louisiana and moved to Ontario, California, attending Cal State Fullerton. The two met when Alan was in the Army: both were members of a friend's wedding party, where they became acquainted, fell in love and married in 1971.

After Alan's discharge, he was hired by Dean Witter & Co., forerunner to his current employer, Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney, the couple moved to Arcadia, and Sandy gave birth to a daughter, Amy.

Late one evening Sandy and Amy were taken to the Methodist Hospital Emergency Department, where they were treated following a serious car accident. Several years later, Sandy returned to the hospital suffering with pneumonia. Doctors again treated her, this time possibly saving her life.

"Her care was amazing," Alan said. "The doctors very likely saved her life."

Over the years, longtime Methodist Hospital supporter Mickey Segal had become a close friend of Alan. Aware of the care that Sandy had received, and appreciative of his friend's many strengths, Mickey invited Alan to join the Foundation board. In 2002 he did just that, quickly rising through the ranks.

"Mickey got me interested," Alan said. "That was my first official involvement with the hospital."

Alan's involvement gave the two an additional bond to share. Not only were they close friends, but they now had a common interest: making Methodist Hospital even better.

Like Mickey, Alan flourished on the board, eventually taking on other challenges. He has served on several Foundation board committees; he also was treasurer (2003 and 2004), chair-elect (2005), and board chairman (2006) for the Foundation. The Whitmans also have supported the Next Generation of Care campaign, sponsored the Crystal Ball, and recently made a generous contribution to the Emergency Department Council through an endowment gift. Alan also works tirelessly with staff to help identify and cultivate new supporters for the Foundation.

A special interest of Alan and Sandy has been the Maternal Child Health program, and several rooms have been named in their honor. Alan beams whenever friends and clients call to tell him a family member has delivered in one of "their" rooms.

Amy and her husband, Landis, are expecting their first child this year. Appropriately, they plan to deliver atwhere else?Methodist Hospital.

"I grew up in a household where charity was very important," Alan said. "Each week I had to give 10 cents out of my 50-cent allowance to charity. Life has been very good to me, and I just believe you have to give something back. It's crucial that you give back to your community, either with money, time or talent."

The Whitmans also support other organizations. Alan is a member of the prestigious Smithsonian National Postal Museum Council of Philatelists, and he serves on many other boards as well, including the Midgley Foundation board. He also has served as president and board member for the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, board president for the Weizmann Day School in Pasadena, and board member for the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.

In October, the hospital will give back to the Whitmans for their many years of faithful service. As Crystal Ball honorees they will be recognized for their leadership and extraordinary support at a hospital they have grown to love. Put simply, they will be honored for their longtime, generous and tireless commitment.

It's a special honor that holds special significance. Not only are the Whitmans longtime supporters of Methodist Hospital, but they were grand sponsors of the Crystal Ball several years ago.

"I was astounded when they told me," Alan said. "It is an incredible honor. It really is very special, and the people who have been honored before us have been very special people to the hospital. It's nice that the hospital thinks so much of us that we can join such significant company."

When the couple are honored, other "significant company" will be on hand: close friends, Mickey and Lee Segal. It only seems fitting Mickey, who first encouraged Alan to become involved with the hospital, volunteered to chair the 2011 Crystal Ball.

"This means so much to us," Sandy said. "Methodist Hospital has been very important to our family for a long, long time, and for them to honor us in this way really touches Alan and me."

As they should, Alan and Sandy view the honor not as a culmination, but as another milestone in a relationship with Methodist Hospital that they believe will continue for the rest of their lives.

Alan said. "When I agreed to join the Foundation board I assumed we were going to contribute financially as well, and it's been an honor for us to do that. I've enjoyed every second that I've spent with the hospital and I look forward to doing that long into the future."