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STORIES from the

HEART INSPIRING STORIES OF PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE The life-changing care Ascension Sacred Heart provides has touched the hearts of many who strive to ensure that this incredible mission of care continues for future generations. Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation is proud to be a partner in this endeavor. Please enjoy these ”Stories from the Heart.”

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“For the Little Ones, Featuring the Little Ones” On Jan. 29, 2022, the Cordova Mall Ball will once again be a dazzling, live event, but this year’s version will feature the debut of an exciting, new benevolent association. Autumn and Peyton Blackledge are inaugural chairpersons of the official Krewe of Les Petits Enfants (Order of the Small Children), named in honor of those it will help support. With an initial goal of 50 participants, the krewe’s membership fee will go toward the purchase of a neonatal transport unit for Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation coordinates the Cordova Mall Ball as one of its major fundraising events benefitting sick and injured children. This year’s goal is raising the $350,000 needed to purchase the highly specialized vehicle, which is capable of transporting newborns and children 5 and under. The Krewe of Les Petits Enfants’ admission fee of $1,000 will supplement the Mall Ball’s proceeds for the purchase. Both natives of Pensacola, Autumn is a longtime member of Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation’s Board, while husband Peyton is a professional firefighter in the city of Milton. Autumn attended Tate High School, while Peyton went to Washington High. Still, they are amazed that they never came across each other as teens. But Peyton theorizes,

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“I grew up with a kind of downtown crowd, and Autumn was more of a north-end girl.” Opened in 2014, the law firm of Autumn Beck Blackledge PLLC concentrates on family and marital law. She met Peyton, her future husband, that same year, and their marriage resulted in a blended family of five children. Today, the eldest is stationed with the Navy in England, while the other four teens are in every grade at Catholic High School — from freshman to senior. Autumn and Peyton are delighted that they’ve been given the opportunity to kick off a krewe at Northwest Florida’s largest Mardi Gras Ball of the season. But what inspires them the most about this project is that children will be the focus and the face of the krewe. Autumn explains, “Our vision is not only in the krewe’s name ‘For the Little Ones,’ but also featuring the little ones — the children in need, the children who will need the services of Studer Family Children’s Hospital, and the children whose parents have decided to invest and give.” Autumn was taught at an early age that, “You give your talents, you give your time, you give your treasure.” She and Peyton are trying to impress this mindset upon their children: when you are blessed with more, you need to give back to help those less fortunate. They recognize that children need to learn early on what giving is all about, or the community’s future charitable needs will not be met. Once they learn, they can carry on this tradition of giving later in life. Introducing kids to the Krewe of Les Petits Enfants through their parent’s membership will be a valuable first step, and the hope is to create generations of givers. They understand that community involvement is truly necessary to make any charitable undertaking successful. The Cordova Mall Ball has always been

well-attended and highly successful because it is an opportunity to have a good time while supporting a worthy cause. Autumn and Peyton believe that there are more people out there who would contribute to the needs of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital if the right opportunity arose. These people might never have considered being part of a Mardi Gras event, but the Krewe of Les Petits Enfants — with its emphasis on children — hopefully will appeal to them when they realize that it will be their “kids raising money for kids.” And it will give all Mall Ball attendees the opportunity to meet people they have never met. The Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation’s Mardi Gras mission raises money for the Studer Family Children’s Hospital, and through this event, the children of krewe members will be introduced to the hospital. They will learn what it’s all about, its significance for kids, and how their parents’ krewe participation will benefit the facility. Autumn and Peyton are staunch advocates of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital and consider it a blessing to have this resource “in our own backyard.” When their daughter was injured in a car accident, she was transported to its emergency room, where the care she received was exceptional. From the perspective of a fireman, Peyton expresses concern that the community sometimes seems to take for granted the presence of this amazing trauma center. It is often mentioned during his training that children from Tallahassee, Baldwin County, Brewton and the Mobile region are flown to the Studer Family Children’s Hospital for treatment. “Being as we are not a large community, it is an enormous benefit and opportunity for the children in our area,” he says. “Care for children can remain right here where they reside.”

A MESSAGE FROM CAROL CARLAN Once again, we find ourselves in the midst of mankind’s most celebrated season: A time to pause and reflect on the gift of the Christ Child. These Stories from the Heart are reminders of how our ministry continues to give thanks for that gift by ensuring that no child in need goes without the best possible healthcare. The Cordova Mall Ball, one of Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation’s major community events, returns live on Jan. 29, 2022, featuring the debut of the official Mardi Gras Krewe of Les Petits Enfants (Order of the Small Children). Autumn and Peyton Blackledge’s Story from the Heart details their efforts as the inaugural chairs of this new krewe, whose focus will be kids. Its membership fee will contribute to the purchase of a neonatal transport unit for Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, which is the fundraising goal of all proceeds from the upcoming Ball. Another story highlights the annual Dance Marathon at University of West Florida campus. This student-centered, communitysupported event features hours of dancing and games to raise funds for the needs of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Finally, our Stories from the Heart introduce the Foundation’s much-valued 2022 board membership. Wishing you a joyous Christmas and blessings in the coming new year,

Carol Carlan President, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation

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UWF Dance Marathon Dances on Despite Challenges For six years, Dance Marathon has put its best foot forward on the campus of the University of West Florida in Pensacola, all to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The daylong event requires a year’s worth of planning and initiatives — culminating in 10 hours of dancing, games and camaraderie to raise funds and awareness for sick and injured children at hospitals, like our local Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. Taylor Kindler has been part of the event for three years, progressing from team captain to board member to executive director. A senior at UWF, the nursing major says she was inspired to get involved with Dance Marathon because of her passion to help people. But when COVID-19 changed the world, the event had to undergo changes to keep fighting for the kids. Taylor was a big part of that push, brainstorming ways to continue fundraising during a time when it was nearly impossible to meet in person. In a “normal year,” UWF holds various fundraising events and spirit nights at

local restaurants leading up to the Dance Marathon. On event day, participants are taught a new dance progression every hour. There are games and challenges and it’s a great time for all, including families who have benefited from the care of Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. “The families come and speak and share their stories,” Taylor says. “The kids are on stage dancing, and it’s a really fun time as we recognize our yearlong efforts and how they impact the families.” In 2021, Taylor and her team had to get creative. All of the fundraisers prior to the big day were held virtually. Then, Dance Marathon was hosted outside for the first time in UWF history, with a limit of 50 participants at any given time. The rest of the party took place on the communications platform that made a name for itself during quarantine — Zoom. “During COVID-19, we thought it would be safer for the families to stay home, so a lot of our engagement came from participants online,” Taylor says. “Carter Harrison, our local Children’s Miracle Network champion, joined in for an online dinner so his family

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could tell their story and tie in to why we have Dance Marathon.” Still, despite the circumstances, through virtual parties and live-streamed dancing, the UWF team managed to raise $42,732 for the kids. Without Taylor and her team, this year’s event may never have happened. The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart recently opened the Bear Family Foundation Pediatric Oncology Center for Hope, made possible in part by annual donations from the UWF Dance Marathon. The hospital plans to continue its expansion of specialized care units, all designed with our community’s children in mind. “I think there’s a big misconception that Dance Marathon is only for the university, but the whole community comes together to fight for children’s health, and having this event on campus is such an impactful thing,” Taylor said. To learn more about UWF Dance Marathon and how you can get involved, please visit DanceMarathon. ChildrensMiracleNetworkHospitals.org.