Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation, in cooperation with local McDonald’s Restaurants, raised awareness of hospice care while enjoying breakfast with two of children’s favorite celebrities, Ronald McDonald and Santa.

In addition to breakfast, guests enjoyed a magic show with Ronald McDonald and a gift from Santa’s goodie bag. By donating $5, guests had the opportunity to contribute directly to hospice care.

Breakfast with Santa and Ronald McDonald is part of the annual Trees of Angels campaign. Each year, Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation and local McDonald’s Restaurants, in partnership with Pathways Hospice, present the annual Trees of Angels campaign to raise funds and increase awareness of hospice care.

On Dec. 1, local dignitaries and community members joined together for a tree lighting at McDonald’s Restaurant located at 42800 Mission Blvd., Fremont. Following tradition, each year a family who has benefited from hospice care lights the tree in honor of their loved one.

On Dec. 8, local children enjoyed crafts, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus and a special musical sing-a-long with the Newark Memorial High School Cougar Chords at Newark’s Silliman Center, with Newark’s Mayor Dave Smith emceeing the event.

Washington Hospital has been a strong community supporter of hospice services, as these services directly benefit many of its district residents and their families.

The hospital has worked closely with the Bernardin family, who turned its own experience with hospice care into a winter sight for commuters on the Sunol Grade. Al Bernardin, restaurateur and owner of several McDonald’s franchises in Fremont, with his son, Mark, who serves as a Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation Trustee, both participate in Pathways’ corporate angel program. Bernardin began his quest to bring a Tree of Angels to his community after a family member was cared for by hospice. His son Mark has worked to expand the event to other McDonald’s sites in Fremont.

The event also works closely with Pat Gorman, McDonald’s Restaurants supervisor of stores, who serves as a Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation trustee.

Each light in the Trees of Angels campaign shines in memory of those who have died. Donations to light a symbolic bulb on each tree also provide additional funding to hospice, which brings in-home care to those in the final stages of life-threatening illness.

Pathways, formerly MidPeninsula Home Care and Hospice Services, began 25 years ago with the establishment of not-for-profit home health and hospice services in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

In 2002, in response to its expanded service area and growth, MidPeninsula Family of Services changed its name to Pathways to better reflect the many communities served throughout the five San Francisco Bay Area counties during the last 25 years.