WRITTEN BY Danielle DeVenio • PHOTOGRAPHY BY Eric Lusher
Donor Spotlight | Philanthropy Matters
Board membership inspires continued service to CHKD
Merrick McCabe (center left) relaxes at her family home with (from left) daughters Betsy, Sallie Carter and Helen and husband Michael.
“We give because we are grateful that CHKD is here - not only for our family, but for our friends, our neighbors and the entire community.” – Merrick McCabe
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s a mother of three young girls, Merrick McCabe’s passionate support for CHKD reflects her dedication to her growing family and her hometown community. Merrick, a Virginia Beach native and senior vice president at TowneBank, learned about CHKD by participating in local fundraisers. But it wasn’t until she was invited to join the Future Generations Board, a group supporting CHKD, that she gained a deeper understanding of how CHKD affects the entire community. “It has been so eye-opening to learn about all the specialized care CHKD is able to provide right here in our area,” says Merrick, who served on the Future Generations Board from 2011 to 2016. The experience inspired her to engage and educate others about the health system. “I want to make sure all young families are aware of this unbelievable resource in our community and encourage people of all ages to get involved,” she says. Merrick says she is especially motivated by CHKD’s genuine commitment to uncover and meet new healthcare needs in the community. “Over the past five years, I’ve been able to see the organization’s leadership directly address issues affecting
local families. Opening the region’s first urgent care for kids is a perfect example. CHKD found a way to fill a gap and provide an important new service for children,” she says. “Now, just a few years later, several more CHKD urgent care locations are opening throughout the region. As a parent, it’s comforting to know that CHKD is in touch with the needs of local families and continuing to find new ways to care for our children.” Merrick’s experiences at CHKD have also inspired her husband, Michael, a real estate portfolio manager at Dollar Tree. “CHKD is not just about making sick kids better. It’s about building and promoting a healthy community and that benefits everyone,” says Michael. This year, Merrick continues her service to CHKD by joining another board – the Children’s Health Foundation Board. She and Michael make an annual gift to CHKD to help ensure it will be available to all children who need it in the future. “We give because we are grateful that CHKD is here - not only for our family, but for our friends, our neighbors and the entire community,” says Merrick.
WINTER 2017
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