We’ll honor our 2024 Hearts of Gold winners and raise funds to benefit caregiver scholarships at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. 

6 p.m. reception
7 p.m. dinner

1108 E. Marina Way • Hood River

Proceeds from this year’s Hearts of Gold will support our scholarship fund, which provides advanced training and educational opportunities for caregivers who wish to deepen their skills and grow in their health care careers. Caregiver scholarships will help Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital retain top talent and provide the very best care to each person who comes through our doors.

Don Evaristo Romero's journey is inspiring — from a farmworker background, he became a force for social justice and health in our community for decades, as well as a beacon of support for those who are most marginalized.

Originally a health worker for several Columbia Gorge clinics, his unique perspective allowed him to connect deeply with individuals, particularly farmworkers, plus address broader social causes that affect health. 

Evaristo was active in the Providence residency program, helping medical residents provide care and taking them to the fields and factories so they could better understand the workers. A champion of effective communication, he worked to make health information understood by all in the community.

Honoree Paul Crowley, who served as a judge for nearly 23 years and as a  Rotarian for 32 years, exemplifies all that is community service in Hood River. 

As a Rotarian, he started the “Dictionary  Project” to give each fifth grader in our area a dictionary every year and led cleanups along Interstate 84, among other efforts.

Drawing on his legal background, Paul has helped several nonprofit and government organizations with mediation.  He spearheaded a vital partnership to have Rotary members volunteer more than 3,500 hours with the FISH  Food Bank  during the pandemic.

If this wasn’t enough to stay busy, Paul is an avid biker and a member of the Hood River Crag Rats, taking part in  mountain rescues for that organization.