Day of Hope shatters record with $681,779 raised for local cancer patients
NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) – Once again the Day of Hope fundraiser was a record-breaker, setting a new all-time mark for money raised for the 13th straight year.
However, this year’s amount of $681,779 not only set a new record, it smashed last year’s total by a whopping $207,842, representing a remarkable 44% increase.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Derek Baden, Mission Hope Cancer Center Senior Director of Cancer Services. “We we had a lofty goal this year and we blew it out of the water and I couldn’t be more impressed with this community.”
The announcement was made Tuesday night by Dignity Health during a special Thank You Celebration held at the Edwards Barn in Nipomo.
Day of Hope is a yearly community fundraising event for Mission Hope Cancer Center, which operates facilities in Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande.
All of the proceeds collected during the event help support cancer patient assistance needs, the acquisition of new technology and equipment, and programs and services.
Held last month on Aug. 26, the 13th Annual Day of Hope took place in several Central Coast locations, including Santa Maria, Orcutt, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Guadalupe and Lompoc.
Since the fundraiser was first held in 2014, it has featured hundreds of volunteers selling special edition $1 Santa Maria Times newspapers on street corners, intersections, parking lots, schools and many other locations.
Another constant has been an ever increasing amount of money raised through not only newspaper purchases, but also generous donations from local businesses, families and individuals.
In 2014, the first-ever Day of Hope raised $100,000, and ever since, a new record has been established each and every year.
This year, the Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation raised $542,057 to support Mission Hope Cancer Center’s Santa Maria location, while the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation raised $139,722 to support Mission Hope Cancer Center’s Arroyo Grande location.
“Day of Hope is a profound testament to the compassion of our community,” said Sue Andersen, Marian Regional Medical Center and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital President/CEO. “The support we’ve received goes far beyond a financial gift, it represents a wave of hope for those facing a cancer diagnosis. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed; your generosity ensures that our patients and their families have the expert care and unwavering support they need throughout their healing journey.”
The top fundraising teams for several catergories were also announced on Tuesday during the celebration event.
The first place team in the corporate team category was Rugged Radios, which collected a record-breaking $50,135.
The top team for the family and friends category was Passion for Color, with $33,773 raised.
The most spirited team award was given to Mission Hope Cancer Center for the Santa Maria location and Grands of AG for the Arroyo Grande location.
The top fundraising school was El Camino Junior High in Santa Maria, which raised $1,052.
With this year’s $681,779 added to the overall total collected, more than $3,850,000 has been raised over the 13 years the Day of Hope has been held.
While the 2026 Day of Hope has officially concluded, community members can still contribute financially to Mission Hope Cancer Center and support local cancer patients.
For more information, call the Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation at (805) 739-3595 and the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation at (805) 994-5421.
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