St. Elizabeth of Hungary statue donated to French Hospital Medical Center for its interfaith healing garden

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - French Hospital Medical Center announced on Friday that it received a special donation, a statue of St. Elizabeth of Hungary as part of the Beyond Health campaign.

The St. Elizabeth Statue was placed in the healing garden of the hospital and was generously donated by long-time supporters Dr. Michael and Jennifer Clayton.

Dr. Clayton reportedly worked with a renowned artist in Germany to hand carve the wooden statue, which stands 39 inches tall.

This is the first of many spiritual symbols and artifacts that will be placed around the hospital campus, recognizing inclusion of all faiths and beliefs.

“Both Jenni and I are strong supporters of French Hospital and believe that this remarkable statue resonates with the heroic work being done by our hospital caregivers every day,” says Dr. Clayton.

Dr. Clayton is currently Chairman of the French Hospital Community Board which he has served since 2012.

“We are so grateful to the Claytons for this extraordinary gift. Our healing garden is a place which brings comfort and peace to our patients, visitors, and caregivers,” says Alan Iftiniuk, French Hospital President & CEO. “This statue will be a wonderful addition and fits well with our Beyond Health movement.”

St. Elizabeth is remembered for her charitable works, especially for the establishment of hospitals. Today, dozens of hospitals and medical centers have been named after her, several of them founded by the Sisters of St. Francis.

The Beyond Health fundraising campaign is supporting a $130 million hospital expansion project which includes the Swanson Family Chapel, a new four-story Patient Care Tower, and enhanced green spaces throughout the hospital campus.