Giving to
Children’s A Celebration of Gifts to Children’s Hospital Colorado
Inside This Issue: A thank you gift, decades later New name, same great care Courage Classic reaches new heights VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2
A gift to change a life: Sandy Wolf
SUMMER 2011
When The Melvin and Elaine Wolf Foundation Executive Director Sandy Wolf heard about the new Colorado Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health, she knew it was a project she could become invested in – not just invest in. Sandy’s generous $2 million donation will make an incredible difference in the lives of mothers, babies and families around Colorado and the region. The gift will be used to hire a maternal-fetal surgeon who will help save and heal babies with certain conditions detected during a pregnancy. Correcting these problems, such as spina bifida, heart problems or other anomalies while in utero or soon after birth may prevent babies from needing to undergo painful procedures in the future. “The more I learned about the Institute and the ways they are able to eliminate or simplify a condition that will affect a baby down the road, the more I knew I wanted to (Continued on page 4)
Gearing up for September Corporate fundraiser to benefit Children’s Colorado
Dear
friends,
You may have noticed a subtle but significant change to our organization’s name recently. We are now Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation, and we’re excited about letting the world know exactly where we are. The Foundation’s new name aligns with the hospital’s name change. The locator will help us build on our strong national reputation. Now, when Children’s Colorado is named as one of the country’s top five pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, as we are for 2011-2012, or when we are re-designated as a Magnet® hospital for excellence in nursing as we were this past May, families across the nation will know they can bring their children to Colorado for the very best care. Of course, while some things change, others remain the same. Rest assured that when you give to Children’s Colorado, you are supporting the same amazing hospital and the same mission of caring for children that you always have. In appreciation,
Steve Winesett President and CEO Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation
2 Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011
Beginning September 1, Walgreens stores throughout Colorado and Wyoming will run a four-week campaign to collect donations for Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Support
Children’s Colorado For more information about becoming a Children’s Hospital Colorado corporate partner, please contact Emily McNellis, emcnellis@childrenscolorado foundation.org or 720.777.1769.
“Walgreens is excited to conduct another campaign for Children’s Colorado this year,” said Howard Atlas, Walgreens market vice president for store operations. “As a company, we are committed to supporting kids and families in our communities. We strongly encourage our employees to participate in any way they see fit, and clearly they agree that Children’s Colorado patients are a cause worth their extra energy.” The enthusiasm of Walgreens employees from over 170 stores truly makes the Walgreens campaign unique. Not only do they collect change from customers at each register, but throughout the month of September, employees also organize basketball tournaments, bake sales and garage sales to collect donations for patients at Children’s Colorado. New this year, Walgreens will be working with Alice 105.9 FM, another longtime supporter of Children’s Colorado, to conduct a text campaign to solicit even more support for the hospital. “Last year, Walgreens employees’ brought in more than $250,000 for Children’s Hospital Colorado. This kind of support helps us provide better care to more children and families. Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation is thrilled to work with Walgreens once again this year,” said Julie Headley, Director of Corporate Giving for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation. Businesses of any type and size can demonstrate their support of children and families through a corporate giving program to benefit the hospital.
“As a company, we are committed to supporting kids and families in our communities.”
A special thank you from Harold Geist Gift will support the Cleft Lip and Palate Program On June 13, a lively and amiable Harold Geist arrived at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He came to donate a special gift in honor of his late brother, Edward, and his late wife, Florence Louise. At 90 years old, he and a companion had traveled more than 790 miles from his home in Sun City, Ariz., to make the gift in person. Harold presented Children’s Colorado with a check for $75,000. He asked that $60,000 be used to establish an endowed fund for the hospital’s Cleft Lip and Palate Program in Edward’s honor, and $15,000 would be an outright gift for the program in honor of Florence Louise.
at the hospital after his birth in 1922, and then spent a great deal of time at Children’s Colorado for visits during his childhood. According to Harold, young Edward became so accustomed to receiving care from the nurses that his mother had to wear a white dress to look like a nurse at home, or he would scream.
Harold came from a family of Fort Morgan laborers with modest means. In the 1920s and 1930s, Children’s Colorado provided “I decided that since Edward’s surgery to fix a I am going to live severe cleft palate free of charge, and his family was forever, I may as extremely grateful. well make the gift
Almost 90 years later, Harold was amazed by Children’s Colorado’s facilities upon arriving at the Anschutz Medical campus for the first time. He was pleased to see the now instead of in “This donation is a thank hospital’s red wagons my will as I had you for helping my family available for kids to use. in the 1920s,” said Harold originally planned!” “They’re wonderful for children,” he said of the of his gift. Harold was the wagons. Harold’s 10th child born into a family of 14 children, and the only endowed fund will be called The Florence, remaining child alive today. “I decided that Harold and Edward Geist Endowed Fund for since I am going to live forever, I may as the Cleft Lip and Palate Program. well make the gift now instead of in my will as I had originally planned!” he said. Harold recalls the days when he and Edward hitchhiked to the hospital from Fort Morgan for periodic check-ups after the surgery. Edward spent many months
Harold Geist enjoyed seeing red wagons for patients at Children's Colorado, as well as other changes, nearly 90 years after his first visit.
Planned Giving at Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation Planned gifts benefit Children’s Hospital Colorado for many generations to come. By making a gift through your estate, you are providing hope for future generations at Children’s Colorado while also creating benefits for you and your heirs. Estate Planning with Children’s Colorado Foundation includes: naming Children’s Colorado in your will, establishing a charitable gift annuity, establishing a charitable trust, and making Children’s Colorado a beneficiary of your IRA or life insurance policy.
If you have any questions about Planned Giving, please contact Leslie Schaeffer, vice president, 720.777.1717 or lschaeffer@childrenscoloradofoundation.org.
Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011 3
“Isn’t it up to us to give each child the best destiny that we can?”
4 Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011
A gift to change a life: Sandy Wolf
(Continued from page 1) get involved,” said Sandy, the mother of four children and grandmother to six. “This is my opportunity to help a mother whose baby is affected by an illness or genetic anomaly. I’ve been through that, and I decided to make this gift because no parent should have to suffer from a devastating illness or loss that we have the knowledge to avoid.”
Joint project
The Wolf Foundation’s generosity to the hospital began in the 1970s, when Sandy’s parents built Children's Colorado mental health unit. They continued their relationship by commissioning the “Organ Grinder” and “Children on a Bench” statues, now on display in the sculpture walk outside the hospital cafeteria. In addition, they funded the family library, which carries the Wolf name, to provide a place for families to access child health information in all languages, and they generously supported the Child Health Clinic and the car seat safety program, among others.
The Institute’s team includes some of the nation’s most experienced, knowledgeable specialists in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatal, and pediatric medicine. The team of physicians and researchers works to serve the whole family in a supportive and friendly environment.
“My father, Melvin, passed away several years ago, but he and my mother created the foundation as a way to make a difference in people's lives. They believed that everyone should have the opportunity for education and health care, and that a family’s circumstances shouldn’t prevent them from accessing the possibilities out there,” Sandy said. Sandy’s generous pledge to the Institute fits squarely with the Wolf Foundation’s mission. The Sandy Wolf Chair in Maternal Fetal Surgery will bring a new breadth of services to expecting families in Colorado and the region, as well as national recognition to what is already a high-caliber program.
The Colorado Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health is a joint project of Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Hospital and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. A comprehensive center, it offers prenatal diagnosis, safe delivery, intervention within 72 hours, and post-delivery care.
Great strides ahead
Mary Beth Martin, RN, the program’s executive director, said that the gift will help the Institute make great strides. “The Wolf Foundation’s gift will help us immensely by allowing us to recruit a nationally-renowned leader in maternal-fetal medicine to focus on creating a cutting-edge program that saves lives,” she said. “It really matters to me that this program succeeds,” said Sandy. “I think about it with great pleasure, happiness and anticipation. Maternal-fetal medicine is largely uncharted territory. We are on the cusp of developing ways to change the destiny of a child. Isn’t it up to us to give each child the best destiny that we can?”
This new, comprehensive program supports the special needs of expectant mothers and their highrisk babies. Building on decades of expertise, the Institute’s team includes national experts in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatal and pediatric medicine from Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Hospital and University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011 5
New name, same great care The Children’s Hospital is now Children’s Hospital Colorado The Children’s Hospital has changed—not our excellent services and healthcare, but our name. We are now Children’s Hospital Colorado, and our Foundation has updated its name to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation.
As one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals, it benefits Children’s Hospital Colorado to be distinguished from the many other children’s hospitals in the U.S. for the care we provide throughout the Rocky Mountain region. The name change will help identify our hospital geographically and substantiate our national reputation as an excellent children’s hospital. “Our name change more accurately reflects that we are a world-wide leader in pediatric health,” said Steve Winesett, Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation president and CEO. “We are consistently ranked in the top 10 pediatric institutions in the U.S. and this name more clearly identifies us as an internationally prominent institution.” This year, Children’s Hospital Colorado was ranked fifth nationally by the U.S. News & World Report 2011-2012 Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll. Our hospital has been ranked a top children’s hospital “We are consistently by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1993. With ranked in the top 10 help from our new name and the generous gifts of pediatric institutions in donors, Children’s Colorado can continue to climb in rankings and become an even stronger pediatric the U.S. and this name healthcare institution for families in our region.
more clearly identifies us as an internationally prominent institution.”
“Over the past few years, we have received significant gifts from across the country,” said Winesett. “Acknowledging our hospital’s leadership on a national level will enhance these national philanthropic efforts. We look forward to talking further with national philanthropists about the world class research, clinical care, education and advocacy efforts at Children's Colorado." Children’s Colorado has 15 Network of Care locations throughout the state, including the main Anschutz Medical Campus, as well as over 400 clinics in Colorado and surrounding states.
Children’s Colorado
has five specialty areas ranked within the top 10 #4
Diabetes and Endocrinlogy
#4
Pulmonology
#5
Gastroenterology
#9
Orthopedics
#10
Cancer
6 Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011
Top honors U.S. News & World Report has ranked Children’s Hospital Colorado a top children’s hospital once again. This year, Children’s Hospital Colorado ranked fifth in the U.S. News & World Report 2011-2012 Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll. The top
50 children’s hospitals in the nation were recognized according to 10 specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology. Since the first U.S. News & World Report rankings edition in 1993, Children’s Colorado has been ranked a top hospital in the nation each consecutive year.
Recent Endowed Chairs and Endowed Funds Helene and Marshall Abrahams Family Endowed Fund in Bipolar Disorder Research William K. Frankenburg Research Professorship in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics The Garrison Family Endowed Fund for the Stress and Anxiety Disorders Program The Florence, Harold and Edward Geist Endowed Fund for the Cleft Lip and Palate Program David and Tomme Kaplan and Family Endowed Fund in Pediatric Stem Cell Biology Fern and Samuel Primack Endowed Fund Elizabeth B. Searle and Family Endowed Fund in Pediatric Stem Cell Biology The Sandy Wolf Chair in Maternal Fetal Surgery Laura and Douglas Wright Family Endowed Fund in Pediatric Stem Cell Biology
Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011 7
Giddy-Up Gala
A Night of Western Festivity
Saturday, June 25, marked the Foundation’s second Giddy-Up Gala to benefit research at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Hosted by Crooked Willow Farms on their beautiful property in Larkspur, the event drew 630 guests.
G
uests enjoyed a night of dinner and dancing, and a live performance by four-time Grammy-nominated group, Little Big Town. The group toured Children’s Colorado and performed for patients prior to the evening’s show.
A live auction benefited the hospital, featuring two exclusive getaway packages. The first item up for bid included a trip to Nashville, Tenn., to see the Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 9, 2011, and accommodations for two at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Nashville, selling for $26,000. The second item included a four day/three night stay at one of Cuvée’s ultra-luxurious properties, which sold for $20,000.
Featured entertainers Little Big Town visited with Dane, a Children’s Colorado patient, before their Giddy-Up Gala show.
“We were lucky to have amazing staff and volunteers who put their heart and soul into making the event special for our guests,” said Lindsey Alexander, senior event manager at Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation. “Everyone involved focused on the true spirit of the Giddy-Up Gala, which was helping children and families.” Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation would like to thank the many sponsors who made the evening possible, including Triple Crown sponsor, Phipps/McCarthy, a joint venture; Diamond Spur sponsors, First Bank Holding Company, Crooked Willow Farms, and Cathey and Richard Finlon; Gold Buckle sponsors, Crothall Healthcare, Inc., Cuvée Ventures, HRM Resources/Welborn, Sullivan, Meck & Tooley, P.C., and U.S. Engineering Co.; and the many Silver Stallion, Bronze Boot, and contributing sponsors.
Gift News We gratefully acknowledge pledges, pledge payments and outright gifts of $10,000 or more made between January 1 and June 30, 2011. Anonymous (7)
CBRE
Don Dolifka
Bob and Sharla Hottman
Dr. and Mrs. Frank J. Accurso
Estate of Leslie Cohn
Corry and Phil Doty
Mr. Alvin Huber
Ace Hardware
Patricia and Terry Colip
Katey and Lee Driscoll
Margie and Dave Hunter
Alice 105.9
The Colorado Health Foundation
Eastdil Secured
Employees of IBM Corporation, Colorado
Robert P. Allen Family Trust
Colorado School of Dance
Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman PC
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Ikard
Julie and Ted Antenucci
The Colorado Trust
FirstBank Holding Company
Pam and Ted Jadlos
Cynda Collins Arsenault
The Phyllis M. Coors Foundation
Amy and Scott Fisher
Joy S. Johnson and Family
Mr. and Mrs. Michael H. Asher
Costco Wholesale
Sibyl Frankenburg and Steve Kessel
Violet M. Johnson Family Foundation
Bacon Family Foundation
Credit Union of Denver
Karl & Barbara Friedman
Dr. and Mrs. Michael S. Kappy
Balfour Concord
Crocs Cares
Bank of America, N.A.
Cummins Rocky Mountain, LLC
Gallagher Family Foundation
King Soopers
Marcy and Bruce Benson
Barbara Mellman Davis
Joan and Lester Garrison
Denver Kiwanis Foundation
Michele and Bill Bergner
Estate of Betty P. Day
Sidney and Caleb Gates
Rocky Mountain District
Stephen Berman and Elaine Gantz Berman
Denver Designer Show House
Harold Geist
Big O Tires
Denver Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, Inc.
Gill Foundation
Bonnie and Gary Koerber
Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Bock
The Denver Foundation
Karen Glanert
Kohl's Department Stores
Bill G. and Karol A. Brown
Denver Post Season To Share,
GTRI
Ms. Andrea Kreitman
Bunning Family Foundation Estate of Elsa A. Burrows Randall Carter
8 Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011 6
Family Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Michael G. Kennedy
Kiwanis Foundation
Bridget and John Grier
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kugeler
Robin Deterding, MD
Anne and Jim Hillary
La Cache, Association of Volunteers
Riisa and Panayes Dikeou
Estate of Joy R. Hilliard
Estate of Muriel Arlene Ladwig
a McCormick Foundation Fund
COURAGE CLASSIC celebrates another great year
The 157-mile Courage Classic is more than just a fundraising event for many of the riders, patients, sponsors and volunteers who participate. An event full of personal meaning, it is also a great way to give back to Children’s Colorado. “I owe so much to Children’s Colorado,” said Paul Lemieux, a Children’s Colorado patient who was treated for cancer. “This ride is a lot of fun, it’s well-supported, and it also benefits the hospital. Participating is a great way to try and pay back what I feel I owe.” To date, more than 15,000 donors have contributed over $2.1 million for Children’s Hospital Colorado. The 2011 ride brought together 2,000 riders, 400 volunteers and many sponsors and friends for a weekend in the Colorado mountains. “To think that this many people are out here for the single focus of trying to raise money for
such a great cause, it’s very inspirational,” said one team rider. Most funds raised by the Courage Classic support the greatest needs of Children’s Hospital Colorado. Children’s Colorado’s Courage Classic has become one of the state’s most well-supported cycling events. “We want to thank all of the riders and teams and all the volunteers,” said Tour Manager Carrie Olinger. “Without their hard work, this event would not come together as well as it does, year after year. We truly could not do it without them.”
Don and Susie Law
Estate of Helen Priday
The RJC Family Foundation
U.S. Engineering Co.
The Lowe Fund of The Denver Foundation
Primrose Schools
Romani Group, Inc.
The Verdoorn Foundation
Evi and Evan Makovsky
ProLogis
Kalleen and Bob Malone
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy M. Prunk
Rose Community Foundation
Judi and Joe Wagner
Marriott Properties
Kathy and Jim Raybin
Ms. Cynthia Rosenblatt Ross
Walmart
McCormick Foundation
RBS Securities
Sam's Club
Amy and John Weinberg
Lynn and Kevin McDonald/
Estate of Marcus R. Reid
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Samuel
Wells Fargo
Martischang Foundation
Angie and Tim Romani
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Wagener
Reiman Foundation, Inc.
Dr. and Mrs. Michael S. Schaffer
Wheel Pros
McLane Western
Virginia and Scott Reiman
Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado
Cille and Ron Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Meyer
RE/MAX
Mr. and Mrs. William Sharp
Mr. James W. Williams, Jr.
The Monaghan Foundation
RE/MAX Alliance
Anna and John J. Sie Foundation
Sandy Wolf and The Melvin and
Morgan Stanley
RE/MAX of Cherry Creek, Inc.
Anna and John J. Sie
My Wireless, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Blair E. Richardson
Michelle and Tom Whitten
Estate of June Netcher
Grace Richardson Fund
Elaine Wolf Foundation Laura and Doug Wright
SM Energy Co.
P.J. Wyatt Living Trust
Newman's Own, Inc.
Patricia and Thomas Agnew
Julie and Lanas Smith
Wynkoop Brewing Company
Noble Energy, Inc.
E. William Stetson III
Mr. and Mrs. George H. Solich
James W. Norris Charitable
Eli Tripp*
Strata Resources Inc.
Remainder Unitrust
Grace Richardson Stetson Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Gordon
Patte and John Orr
Patricia and Thomas Agnew
Nancy and Ron Talarico
Estate of Elinor S. Patterson
E. William Stetson III
U.S. Taekwondo Center
GH Phipps Construction Companies
Eli Tripp*
Mile High United Way
Phipps/McCarthy, a joint venture
Rite Aid Corporation
University Physicians, Inc.
(* Deceased)
Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011 9
Circle of Care donor spotlight: Susan Noble
Susan Noble is a generous community supporter and longtime friend of Children’s Hospital Colorado. Since the 1980s, her generosity has benefited the hospital in more ways than one. Susan, a Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation Board member, and her husband Howard, have long supported Children’s Colorado’s pediatric program along with the annual Gala, Courage Classic, Alice’s 36 Hours for Kids Radiothon, and other events and programs.
Children’s Circle of Care recognizes individuals, family foundations and private corporations giving $10,000 or more to Children’s Hospital Colorado in a calendar year.
Susan’s latest gift supports research into the genetic underpinnings of orthopedic diseases. Her 2-year-old grand-nephew Charlie has arthrogryposis, a disorder that causes the loss of joint mobility. Though the condition is somewhat rare, Children’s Colorado’s Orthopedics department treats quite a few children with arthrogryposis, according to Dr. Nancy Miller, the recipient of Susan’s latest gift. What’s more, Children’s Colorado is currently studying the genetics of a similar disease in hopes of developing a cure. In Nancy Miller’s lab, four workers spend their days studying isolated areas of chromosomes 17 and 22 to determine the genetic underpinnings of scoliosis. Like arthrogryposis, scoliosis, or malformation of the spine, likely has a genetic origin. “This gift directly benefits my workers and my lab,” said Dr. Miller. “NIH [National Institutes of Health] research grants decreased by 25 percent overall this year, and we expect to see another 10 to 15 percent decrease next year, so we truly depend on private donations to keep us in league with other hospitals. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
Children’s Circle of Care
Holiday reception with Dr. Jim Shmerling
The evening of Thursday, December 1, 2011 at the Shmerling residence
To learn more, call Amy Stewart at 720.777.1760
10 Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011
Topping out celebrates new patient tower
East Tower
news
A crowd gathered on the top level of the East parking structure on Wednesday, July 13, to celebrate the most recent addition to Children’s Hospital Colorado: a new patient tower.
“Looking up, you can see the outline of the East Tower,” said Cathey Finlon, chair of Children’s Colorado’s Board of Directors. “But there is no roof, there are no windows and there are no walls. What you see is progress.” The East Tower, a new wing to the east of the existing hospital, adds more than 355,000 ft. of space to the hospital’s footprint, including 124 beds for patients and rooms for high demand specialty services. The expansion will place Children’s Colorado at fifth in the nation for number of beds offered to patients. The Colorado Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health, the hospital’s newest specialty area, will offer mothers, newborns and their families care and treatment on a floor of the new tower. Additionally, the tower will provide space for the expansion of 11 existing specialty areas, including the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Digestive Health Institute, Heart Institute and more.
Austin Beckner also spoke at the ceremony. Austin, a Children’s Colorado patient, sustained life-threatening injuries in 2010 when he was bucked by a bull in a Greeley children’s rodeo. “Up, up, and away!” said Austin through a walkie-talkie, giving the construction crew the go-ahead to lift the final beam, which was covered completely in signatures from Children’s patients and employees. The tower will be finished by late 2012.
“'Up, up, and away!' said Austin through a walkie-talkie, giving the construction crew the go-ahead to lift the final beam.”
Dr. Jim Shmerling, Children’s Colorado president and CEO, Steve Winesett, Children’s Colorado Foundation president and CEO, and Children’s Colorado ambassador
Giving To Children’s • SUMMER 2011 11
Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation Anschutz Medical Campus • 13123 E. 16th Ave., Box 045 • Aurora, CO 80045 • www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org
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Giving to Children’s is published quarterly by Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation Editors: Laura Esterly, Tina Garbin Contributors: Mackenzie Carroll, Kristi Perry, Keri Muuss Designer: Catrine Watt Printed on recycled paper © Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation
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Gala 2011 Featuring
Brian Regan The Starlight Experience
Saturday, September 10 Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
More information: www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org/gala
Ask us
about the
Enterprise Zone Tax Credit!
Children’s Hospital Colorado donors may be eligible to receive up to 65% of their gift back in the form of tax benefits.
To learn more, call 720.777.1700