Spring 2022 Newsletter - Volume 2

Well Beyond Medicine

From the desk of James P. Digan

Dear Friends & Supporters,

Bold ideas are nothing without the people who make them possible, and when it comes to real progress, there is no such thing as a small contribution. Your continued partnership has inspired an incredible outpouring of philanthropy to support our work. Beyond time or monetary donations, your generosity has breathed life into our quest for health equity and helped lay the foundation to undertake the important work ahead of us.

As science and technology propel the medical field forward, the possibilities for advanced care seem virtually limitless — machines and treatments that once seemed like science fiction are now in the hands of clinicians using them in ways we could never have imagined. But bolder still is the idea of keeping children from ever needing our care, investing in wellness and the prevention of illness. Nemours Children’s has developed a resolute enterprise-wide strategy to interweave data, policy and philanthropy to create a new framework for children’s health in America, catalyzing a radical shift in the way we understand what it means to be healthy. This requires us to look past the obvious and make forward-thinking investments in care — but this is only possible with the help of visionary partners like you.

From generous donors like the Swank Foundation to corporate partners like Country Thunder, advancing this institution is and always will be a community effort built on diversity and shared vision. Community fundraising partners Jake’s Dragon Foundation and Live Like Lukas, as well as committed volunteers turned donors, like Carol and Craig Kirkland, remind us of what it means to remember and celebrate the bravery of those we’ve lost. Stories of brave patients like Raymond and Reign give a human face to all these efforts and give hope to our mission.

Words can scarcely express my heartfelt gratitude for your support, generosity and trust as we seek to change the pediatric healthcare landscape. If all journeys begin with single steps, I believe this to be the first of many great strides toward a world in which all children have a chance to grow up healthy and achieve their limitless potential. I speak for the entire team here at Nemours Children’s Health when I say that we could not be more excited to begin this transformational journey together, and we could not be more proud to walk boldly alongside you with our sights set on a brighter future for all children.

My enduring thanks and warm regards,

James P. Digan President, Nemours Children’s Health Alliance

Reign Jefferson:

Facing sickle cell while dancing

“Your blood is like this,” says 7-year-old Reign Jefferson. She cups her fingers like capital Cs. “My blood is like this,” Reign says. Her fingers clamp down into a sickle shape. This is how Reign explains her medical condition: sickle cell anemia. One of her Nemours Children’s doctors taught her the demonstration. She shares it with children and adults alike. Following her demo, Reign further expounds that she must drink plenty of water to help her blood cells “open up.”

Reign’s mom, Elecia, recalls when her daughter was diagnosed as a baby. “I felt so sad and guilty. I thought it was all my fault,” she says. “I was scared and nervous, and Nemours Children’s has wiped away all of my fears. Without her care team, Reign would not be the energetic, dancing, cartwheeling girl she is today.”

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Our patients find life-saving specialty care across the Delaware Valley and throughout Florida.

“To me, Nemours Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders feels like a second home. It looks like love.”

— Elecia Goodman, Reign’s mom

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Elecia had good cause for concern. Sickle cell anemia symptoms can include tiredness, difficulty breathing (also known as chest syndrome), pain and swelling in the hands and feet, cold feet and pale skin. In addition, many patients experience episodes of acute pain, seizures, chronic organ failure and stroke.

“Sickle cell doesn’t stop me from having fun,” says Reign. “At Nemours Children’s, I like playing with the train, getting my face painted and eating cafeteria food. I love chips and cake pops. I also really like my doctors and want to be just like them.”

“We have appointments every three months,” says Elecia. “The doctors and nurses come in the exam room, sit down and talk with Reign so she feels comfortable and like she is part of her care. It’s clear they want patients to feel happy and healthy, not sick.”

Grateful family spotlight

When 14-month-old Raymond was unable to roll over, crawl, walk or talk, his mother, Alexandra Guadlap, says, “Motherly instincts told me that it was time to take steps to become an advocate for my son’s well-being.” Born in Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital in North Carolina, pediatricians and specialists there were unconcerned about Raymond’s inability to hit developmental milestones.

The family moved to their home state of New Jersey to have Raymond evaluated by top-notch specialists. A genetic study came back normal. However, during a visit to the Neurology Department at Nemours Children’s Health, Raymond had a routine electronic encephalogram (EEG) that showed he had seizures all day, every day. These were undoubtedly causing his developmental delays. The family saw improvement almost immediately after Raymond began taking anti-epilepsy medication. He could finally sit up — a watershed development. Thanks to therapy and guidance from Nemours Children’s, Raymond has continued reaching developmental milestones.

The Guadlaps were relieved in June 2020 when a reexamination of his genetic testing resulted in a diagnosis. Raymond is one of eight children in the world with a confirmed diagnosis of a mutation in the VAMP2 gene — a rare syndrome discovered in 2018. Though they sometimes struggle with not knowing how Raymond’s future will unfold, the Guadlaps remind each other that nobody’s life is predictable.

One thing the Guadlaps felt they could control is their expression of gratitude to Nemours Children’s. This year on June 4 and 5, they will host the Third Annual Raging Raymond’s Fluke Tournament to benefit Nemours Children’s specialty care in Deptford and Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

At age 5, Raymond is walking independently, his hand coordination has improved, and he consistently vocalizes new sounds. He is also interested in books and toys. The Guadlaps celebrate every milestone because they are so proud of their son’s accomplishments.

Fighting fire with fire: Zika virus & the battle against cancer

When it comes to allies in the fight against cancer, Zika virus might seem an unlikely candidate. Yet, visionary researchers at Nemours Children’s think it might hold the key to rendering certain kinds of cancer non-fatal. Thanks to funding from an anonymous donor, this audacious hypothesis is one step closer to reality.

Nemours Children’s comprehensive cancer research team is at the national forefront of addressing relapse cases in which patients become resistant to radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Kenneth Alexander, MD, and Tamarah Westmoreland, MD, PhD, are undertaking nonmodified Zika virus research that, if successful, will revolutionize how we treat cancer. While many researchers have avoided focusing on Zika virus because of stigma, our team has discovered that precision injections have tremendous potential as a therapeutic approach in some cancers, especially in relapsing patients.

“What we’re doing here is essentially taking the lemon of Zika virus and turning it into a lemonade of potential cancer therapy for children and adults,” says Dr. Alexander.

Targeted Zika therapy seeks to let the virus attack tumors and then allow the body’s immune system to neutralize the virus. While Zika is predominantly associated in popular consciousness with congenital disabilities in-utero, children and adults with Zika infection generally recover in under a

week through a combination of bed rest, fluid intake and acetaminophen to help with fever and aches. In addition, evidence shows that features across many cancers can be primed to be recognized and destroyed by the virus. At the same time, the immune system kicks in to neutralize the remaining virus.

A Zika-based therapy could become an effective strategy and bring relief to patients, sparing them the often toxic side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

More than anything, Dr. Alexander sees this research as a perfect showcase of how Nemours Children’s brings together innovative ideas by thinking outside of the box.

“Dr. Westmoreland is a pediatric cancer surgeon with an interest in neuroblastoma, and I’m an infectious disease expert and virologist,” he says. “This is an excellent example of how crossdisciplinary collaboration can bring about something really new and exciting.”

The importance of Dr. Alexander and Dr. Westmoreland’s work is enormous as Zika virus immunotherapy could have an impact in relapsed, treatmentresistant patients and other rare cancers.

The Angelo R. Cali and Mary V. Cali Family Foundation: Advancing knowledge to benefit patients, families, clinicians and researchers around the globe

Thirty-year-old Maria McClellan may live in Hawaii, but she’s at the center of the worldwide Morquio community. She dedicates her time and talents to connecting and educating families who learn their child has the rare disease, spreading awareness about Morquio and supporting leading-edge research into the syndrome, also known as MPS IVA.

Maria has Morquio A, a genetic condition that affects a child’s bones, spine, organs and physical abilities. Patients with the condition are missing or don’t produce enough enzymes to break down sugar chains

naturally made in the body. As a result, these chains accumulate in cells, blood, tendons and ligaments, causing damage over time that can include scoliosis, knock knees, heart and vision problems, enlarged liver and short stature. Symptoms typically appear between ages 1 and 3.

Maria has known Shunji Tomatsu, MD, PhD, an international leader in treating and investigating Morquio syndrome, for 20 years. Through the Angelo R. Cali and Mary V. Cali Family Foundation and the Morquio Community, Maria has supported Dr. Tomatsu’s work which has produced most of what is known about the disease over the last three decades.

Dr. Tomatsu, a Nemours Children’s principal research scientist in orthopedics, biomedical and skeletal dysplasia, also administers the MPS IVA patient registry, comprised of approximately 100 families.

Founder and President of Morquio Community, Maria is also an undergraduate student in ethnic studies at the University of Hawaii. She started the first in a series of conferences for medical practitioners, families and people with the syndrome. Held at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, it was the largest gathering of people with Morquio ever in one location. Some 30 people with the syndrome plus their families, clinicians and researchers attended.

“My goal for supporting Dr. Tomatsu’s work is to continue this amazing collaboration between the Morquio Community and further Morquio research,” explains Maria. “Nemours Children’s in Delaware is the only place in the world that knows how to fully treat and investigate Morquio syndrome — in the clinic, in the operating room and in the research lab.”

The Swank Foundation:

Advancing autism care and research

Our partnership with the Howard W. Swank, Alma K. Swank, and Richard K. Swank Foundation (Swank Foundation) established the Nemours Children’s Swank Autism Center in 2018. The investment is making an enormous impact on our capacity to provide clinical care and investigate the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The Swank Foundation’s $5 million gift could not be more strategic or timely for families facing an ASD diagnosis. Nationally, the prevalence of children with autism has increased from one in 110 to one in 54 since 2009. Unfortunately, there has not been a corresponding rise in health care workers with autism experience, such as developmental pediatricians, child psychologists and neurologists.

Although the recommended maximum wait time between initial referral and an ASD diagnosis is five months, the national average between parents’ initial concerns with their child’s development and diagnosis is between two and four years. Further, there are very few inpatient or acute services for children with autism and severe mental health crises — especially for children under 12 years of age.

Research and innovations are impeded by the unknown causes of ASD, limiting progress in therapeutic innovation and the development of individualized therapies.

The Nemours Children’s Swank Autism Center is increasing access to services and improving care by providing intake and triage within 72 hours of the first call from families, prioritizing appointments by clinical urgency and the child’s age, expanding telehealth for convenient, timely and expanded access to care, and collaborating with families, schools and caregivers in the community to identify and provide wrap-around services.

As a result, the number of unique patients treated in the Nemours Children’s Swank Autism Center has grown from 1,458 in 2017 to more than 2,649 in 2021. In addition, our researchers are working to identify genetic mutations related to ASD and investigating neural networks. These studies have enormous potential but are currently underexplored at other institutions. This growth would not be possible without the generous support of the Swank Foundation.

A brighter future Well beyond medicine

Up to 80 percent of the impacts on health take place outside of medical settings. As a leading children’s health system, we have an obligation to address the whole health of children — the social, economic, behavioral and environmental factors that also affect their well-being.

To do that, we’re not just thinking differently, we’re acting differently. Leveraging our expertise to have a direct impact through preventive care and health education, so that children are healthier in the first place. And expanding beyond the walls of our hospital buildings and clinics, in partnership with community leaders, educators, policymakers and families, to make every child’s world a place where they can thrive.

In 2021 our donors and community partners helped provide:

Support for Families: $211,208

Help with transportation, food, diapers, car seats, uninsured prostheses and medical devices, as well as uncompensated care

Health Equity: $25,669,850

Addressing social determinants of health in innovative ways in the communities we serve through new research and programs including: a mobile medical van to provide health screenings, programs to address food insecurity, community health fairs and events, and essential needs pantries

$30,559,375 in donor support helped us go well beyond medicine

Support for Families

Health Equity Research Education

Child Life & Childhood Experiences

Creative Arts & Animal Therapies

Philanthropic support fuels our vision to create the healthiest generations of children in American history.

Research: $3,271,293

Community foundation and individual support for biomedical, translational and health care delivery research for the benefit of children everywhere

Education: $549,508

Health education and support for children and families, endowments to ensure specialty care, and medical education programming for residents, fellows, students, nurses and other health care professionals

Child Life & Childhood Experiences: $364,734

Personnel, materials and programming to help patients and their siblings cope with health conditions and treatments through self-expression. Opportunities and events that allow kids to be kids: from informal experiences like bonding with other kids to childhood milestones like camps and proms, and continued learning through in-hospital STEM education

Creative Arts & Animal Therapies: $492,782

Evidence-based health services directed through music and art, and our specially trained assisted dog and pony therapy program that supports children’s holistic well-being — socially, psychologically, cognitively and physically; additional funding supports our volunteer-led visiting pet program that provides comfort and positive distraction to kids awaiting care or undergoing treatment

We are on a journey that will take us well beyond medicine.

Our social impacts

Delivered 23,400 vaccinations to community members, associates & patients Nemours Estate gardens produced 200 lbs. of fresh produce given to patient families

Launched multiple elementary school-based wellness centers

Created a data pipeline from schools to primary care to address health-related school absenteeism

Launched a pilot to embed mental health providers in primary care offices

Developed a health equity index to track progress in eliminating bias

Joined the Healthcare Anchor Network formed to support strategic decisionmaking in hiring, purchasing and investment designed for equitable, local economic impact

Live Like Lukas and Jake’s Dragon Foundation: Community fundraising partners benefit countless children

Community fundraising plays a vital role in our philanthropy efforts. For example, two families established nonprofit organizations after losing their sons to cancer. Each has raised more than $100,000 over the past several years to benefit children and families we serve.

The majority of Jake McHugh’s days included anxiety and stress as he struggled to succeed socially and academically.

Diagnosed with developmental delays and learning issues as a young child, Jake withdrew into fantasy to help him cope. In this realm, his favorite characters were dragons. They were his protectors. So, when it was time for the McHughs to name the nonprofit they created to honor Jake, Jake’s Dragon Foundation was the natural choice.

In August 2017, Jake complained of pain in his shoulder. It persisted, and one night when he couldn’t sleep because of the pain, his

parents took him to an emergency room. An x-ray of his chest revealed a large mass, which led to a diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). In children, PTCL is extremely rare and carries a poor prognosis. Although Jake never gave up, he passed away just six months later.

Jake’s Dragon Foundation funds support for a genetic counselor in research, provides gift cards and toys during the holidays, and helps social workers fund other needs throughout the year.

rhabdomyosarcoma, at 8 years old. Affectionately known as the Dutch Destroyer, Lukas had many passions, but family and football were chief among them. Lukas was a talented and tenacious football player and a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan. After a grueling series of treatments, Lukas died in his mother’s arms at age 10.

The cancer journey Lukas Kusters traveled at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, inspired his mother to establish Live Like Lukas. The nonprofit focuses on keeping his memory alive while providing family assistance, nonprofit foundation support and childhood cancer research.

Lukas was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer,

Live Like Lukas supports Nemours Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders research, the purchase of furniture designed to provide comfort and support in patient rooms, the adoption of families battling cancer during the holidays and various oncology family needs identified by social workers.

We are grateful for the support of Jake’s Dragon Foundation and Live Like Lukas, as well as all the community organizations who hold fundraising events to support our mission and share their compassion and love with the patients and families we are privileged to serve.

The Don and Lorraine Freeberg Foundation: From science fiction-like surgery to current-day reality

Thanks to a generous donation of $2.2 million from the Don and Lorraine Freeberg Foundation, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida was the proud recipient of a new da Vinci ® surgical robot that will help develop a robotic-assisted laparoscopic program. This cutting-edge technology allows for minimally invasive surgery for children, supports the recruitment and retention of academically-minded surgeons and dramatically shortens recovery times for children undergoing certain surgeries.

“The best prescription is knowledge. New equipment is only the beginning,” says Daniel J. Podberesky, MD, Radiologist-in-Chief and Associate Chief Medical Officer. “We will advance the surgical science landscape with this technology and wave of discovery.”

The da Vinci surgical robot facilitates pediatric surgery using a minimally invasive approach. The spider-like arms are controlled by a trained surgeon from a console, allowing for remote micro-precise incisions while the tiny instruments move like human hands, but with a greater range of motion. The da Vinci® Vision System TM also delivers highly magnified, three-dimensional high-definition views

of the surgical area, while the instrument size makes it possible for surgeons to operate through one or a few small incisions. These features are essential for pediatric surgery, since children’s needs are often difficult to meet by traditional techniques.

Installed in December, the robot has already been used to perform surgery on several young urology patients, resulting in increased pain control, fewer nights spent in the hospital recovering and noticeably decreased post-operative complications. As a result of its purchase, a new highly skilled and talented physician was hired with unique experience in research and urological surgeries, Abhishek Seth, MD, MS, FAAP. This recruitment would not have been possible without the da Vinci machine.

The machine is named in recognition of famed Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci’s studies of human anatomy, which eventually led to the design of the first known robot. As da Vinci was in his own time, the robotic system that bears his name sits at the forefront of medical innovation, expanding the boundaries of existing science and ushering in a new technological future, fusing clinician knowledge with mechanical precision.

“Our Foundation is so pleased to have been involved in acquiring the da Vinci surgical robot for Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. Our hope was that this gift would assist surgeons in their work to improve the lives of children — to know this is already the case after just a few short months has us looking forward to even more accomplishments at Nemours Children’s in the future.”

— Amanda Freeberg Donovan, Executive Director

Acme Markets: 40 stores support 2021 Radiothon campaign

ACME Markets District Manager

Kevin Reger and Trolley Square Store Director Steve Crissman recently presented Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware with $57,000 to support our patients and families. The funds were raised in 40 stores across ACME’s Delaware locations and stores in Chester and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania, and Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey.

Supporting the 2021 Radiothon campaign was a natural fit for Steve Crissman, whose daughter spent the first five weeks of her life at Nemours Children’s. He credits the hospital as the reason she is alive today.

Proceeds from the 2021 Radiothon provide for important programs like Child Life, creative arts therapy, pet therapy and palliative care that help to support and normalize life for children who visit the hospital.

Country Thunder rocks boots and wins heart

When Country Thunder made inroads into Florida back in 2019, we were quick to hitch our wagon to theirs. And why wouldn’t we? As one of the biggest country music festivals in North America, these rompin’ stompin’ country fanatics put on one of the best shows around. They’ve since become one of our most important corporate supporters, spurring the strongest partnership between pediatric care and contemporary country music ever realized on a festival-wide scale.

From October 14-17, country fans from all over Florida flocked to Kissimmee, donning their finest Stetsons, boots and buckles for a weekend to remember. No amount of rain and mud could stop them from cheering on fan favorites like Eric Church and Old Dominion, who twanged one tune after another, barely audible over the crowds crooning every word right back at them. Nemours Children’s was there in full force, hosting a garden party where friends, sponsors and partners could relax amid the action.

“We love the opportunity to support Nemours Children’s while attending Country Thunder,” said one enthusiastic attendee in Kissimmee. “It has almost become a tradition for us.”

With $2 from every ticket going directly to Nemours Children’s, the event helped raise $45,673 for the orthopedic program at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, which serves more than 13,000 children each year. At the festival’s conclusion, this amount was proudly presented to John F. Lovejoy III, MD, Department Chair of Orthopedics. This impressive sum will help many little patients walk, run and maybe even do-si-do at next year’s gig.

VyStar Credit Union:

Making 2022 Days of Giving possible in Jacksonville and Orlando

VyStar Credit Union is recognized as one of Northeast Florida’s top philanthropic companies for its support of local nonprofits. They fund dozens of worthy causes, including children’s health. VyStar’s support is helping fund key programs at Nemours

Children’s related to the transformation of our Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders as well as the Patient and Family Support Fund, which provides fundamental necessities like medical equipment, meals, transportation, diapers and more to our patient families. We are deeply grateful for VyStar’s support and positive impact on the entire Jacksonville community over the past several years.

VyStar supported Jacksonville Day of Giving events in 2019 and 2021. Although we did not have a Day of Giving in 2020 due to COVID-19, VyStar made a gift to support our Patient and Family Support Fund. This year, we are very excited that VyStar will serve as the presenting sponsor of our Day of Giving in Jacksonville and our inaugural Day of Giving in Orlando.

2022 Special Events

April 09 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

April 11 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

April 26 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

June 04 8 a.m. Start

June 11 8 a.m. Start

June 11 5 p.m. Registration

9th Annual Pigs Against Pediatric Cancer | Orlando Harley Davidson

Fundraiser hosted by the Iron Pigs Motorcycle Club, St. Johns River chapter

Day of Giving Jacksonville, presented by VyStar | WJXT-Channel 4

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Phone bank on WJXT-Channel 4. Proceeds benefit Jacksonville Compassionate Care Fund

Day of Giving Orlando, presented by VyStar | News 6

Phone bank on News 6. Proceeds benefit Orlando Compassionate Care Fund

Brace for the Race 5K | Nemours Estate, Wilmington, Delaware

5K race/walk with proceeds benefitting Nemours Children’s, Delaware Orthopedics

Healthy U 5K | Nemours Estate, Wilmington, Delaware

Run/walk fundraiser for Weight Management Program at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware

14th Annual “Hear We Go” 5K and Family Fun Day | Nemours Estate, Wilmington, Delaware Run/walk fundraiser for research, services and programs related to hearing loss and hearing conservation

Carol & Craig Kirkland Estate planning to remember a furry family member

The estate planning process offers the opportunity to create a legacy for many relationships with loved ones — even four-legged family members. For example, Carol and Craig Kirkland’s family includes silken windhounds. One day in 2009, when the family lived in Orlando, they happened to walk by a children’s soccer game. The dogs became the center of the kids’ attention and excited petting commenced. Carol noticed that their dog, Ti’ Amo, was particularly relaxed and amenable to all the expressions of affection. She said to Craig, “Maybe he’s supposed to be a therapy dog.”

Carol decided to explore a volunteer opportunity at Nemours Children’s Health, which was caring for patients at the 1717 Clinic while the hospital in Orlando was under construction. After graduating from a pet therapy training program, Carol and Ti’ Amo visited countless children and families for seven years until Ti’ Amo’s untimely passing. Along the way, Ti’ Amo represented Nemours Children’s in the community. For example, his paw print is on the Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida toppingoff beam to commemorate the end of construction. Ti’ Amo and Carol received an Inspiration Award for their volunteerism, and they also received recognition from the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for their work.

The Kirklands made their first major gift after Ti’ Amo passed and they helped create a pet therapy wall, which includes Ti’ Amo and all the dogs in the program. They also sponsored pet therapy coloring books and trading cards.

Craig and Carol have made a generous planned gift in honor of Ti’ Amo and their connection to Nemours Children’s. Craig noted that they don’t want any credit for their gift.

“I recall the feelings of fulfillment in my heart from hours of volunteering with Ti’ Amo. One day, I was at the hospital with our oldest dog, Lilli, also a therapy dog. A man and his daughter, who was in a wheelchair, approached us. The man pointed at Lilli and said, ‘That’s not Ti’ Amo.’ You have no idea how that visit made us feel. Knowing how meaningful Ti’ Amo’s visits were to children and families is just priceless.”

“We just really believe in Nemours Children’s. Everything — from A. I. duPont’s legacy to establish Nemours, to the lasting relationships made over the years with hospital staff and other volunteers.”

— Craig Kirkland

A message from Clint Travis AVP of Major and Planned Gifts

Reading the Kirkland’s story about honoring their beloved therapy dog is a great reminder that an estate gift is an effective way to create a legacy and honor a loved one. Sometimes folks tell me that they don’t have an estate plan because they don’t have an estate. This comment is usually said in jest, but there’s often an underlying kernel of truth. This is because we associate the word “estate” with wealth. That connection leads to a feeling that estate planning is exclusively for the wealthy, making it seem complicated and expensive.

This might explain why only 46 percent of adults have a will. And while I do think that speaking with an experienced estate attorney is worth the money, the reality is that in most places, a handwritten will signed and acknowledged by a couple of witnesses is just as legally binding as a complex trust. If you’ve worked hard most of your life, no matter what remains, you deserve the opportunity to ensure that it’s dispersed in a way that honors your values and priorities. So, if you’re one of those people who has put it off until now, I encourage you to take the necessary steps to have your wishes documented.

Once you begin creating a will, I’d love for you to consider adding a gift to Nemours Children’s Health to support our mission of life-saving care and research for children and families who need us. Of the 46 percent of those who have a will, a much smaller percentage considers leaving a favorite charity in their plans. Much of the work we do is possible because of those types of planned gifts.

And, if you already have a will or trust and we are part of it, please let us know. Of course, I would love for you to become part of our 1936 legacy society and join us at an event, but more importantly, letting us know enables us to verify that the gift will be used the way you want and allows us to thank you properly during your lifetime.

Feel free to contact me anytime. I can be reached at clinton.travis@nemours.org or 904.697.4156

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Sep 22-23 Sep

A Night at Nemours: Celebrating Excellence | Nemours Estate, Wilmington, Delaware Annual Gala, benefitting Behavioral Health Services

Help Our Kids Radiothon | Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware | Benefitting a variety of hospital-based programs such as Child Life, Creative Arts Therapy, Pet Therapy, Palliative Care and Pastoral Care.

Oct 08

A Night with Nemours: Marking Milestones & Celebrating 10 Years | Orlando, Florida

Annual Gala, benefitting the Cardiac Center and celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Country Thunder Festival | Kissimmee, Florida | Benefitting Orthopedics at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

23

Young Heroes 5K | Nemours Estate, Wilmington, Delaware | Run/walk benefitting Nemours Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders

A Round Fore the Kids | DuPont Country Club Wilmington, Delaware | Golf tournament and dinner benefitting Child and Family Services at Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware