Ruiz Family Donates $1 Million
to Children’s Hospital

The Ruiz family, which operates Ruiz Foods, donated $1 million to Children’s Hospital Central California. In honor of their gift and long-standing support, the new eight-bed expansion of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) will be named “The Ruiz Family Pediatric Intensive Care North.”

“At Ruiz Foods, our passion and our promise is to make a difference in everything that we do,” said Ruiz Foods Co-chairman Kim Ruiz Beck. “While today’s economy is challenging, we believe that the children of the Valley deserve the best possible care if and when they should ever need it.”

Ruiz Foods Co-founder Fred Ruiz, President and COO Bryce Ruiz and the entire Ruiz family joined Beck for the donation announcement in the hospital’s donor recognition area. Dozens of Children’s Hospital employees and patients held thank you signs and cheered when they heard the news.

“On behalf of everyone here and all those that we serve, I want to express our sincere appreciation to the Ruiz family for your generosity,” said William F. Haug, President and CEO, Children’s Hospital. “It’s that commitment that will allow us to continue to serve this very vital mission for the children of this region.”

Beck shared how her entire family has benefited personally by having a world-class pediatric health facility in the Valley. Over the years, two of her sons have been treated at Children’s, as well as most of her brother’s and sister’s children.

“In addition, nearly 200 of our team members’ children have been patients here and that’s just within the last four years,” said Beck. “So as far as we’re concerned, your marketing slogan ‘Amazing People, Incredible Care’ is completely understated and doesn’t come close to what you do.”

Founded in 1964 by Louis Ruiz and his son, Fred, Ruiz Foods is the leading Mexican food manufacturer in the United States. Headquartered in Dinuba, Calif., Ruiz Foods produces more than 200 different products under their signature El Monterey brand.

Children’s PICU offers coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is staffed by pediatric intensivists board certified in pediatric critical care, many of whom have subspecialties in pediatric anesthesiology. The more than 130-member staff includes 90 specialty-trained PICU nurses, respiratory therapists, and other clinical specialists. The 34-bed unit is currently expanding to 42. Twelve of the rooms are equipped to convert to surgical suites if needed.