BREAKING RECORDS Driving the Future
Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital held another record-breaking Driving the Future car raffle, with more than $1.6 million given. Over its 13-year history and more than $13.5 million contributed, proceeds have supported building our Children’s Hospital and expanding care for children in Louisiana and the region. For the third year in a row, Driving the Future was presented by Geico – Your Local Office. Additional sponsors include KidStrong, Cox Media, Campus Federal Credit Union and Aetna. Longtime partners include Price LeBlanc, WAFB-TV and iHeart Media. The annual fundraiser raffles five Lexus vehicles — five cars, five winners! Tickets were purchased from individuals across 39 U.S. states; this year all five winners hailed from the Greater Baton Rouge area.
The Big Bash On May 4, 2023, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital hosted The Big Bash 20th Shellebration. Started in 2003 as a garden party with 250 guests, this year’s sold-out event welcomed more than 800 guests in the Dow Hangar at the Baton Rouge Airport for an undersea experience. The fundraiser was a record-breaking evening with more than $1 million contributed in support of Child Life Services. KidStrong was the presenting sponsor for the evening. Top sponsors included Bartlett Group, Children’s Hospital New Orleans, Dow, Doyle Electric, MMR Group, Milton J. Womack, Inc., and SASSO.
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At the event, guests were taken on the journey of Wyatt LeBlanc, a patient who in 2021 came to the hospital via airmed to our trauma unit after a dirt bike accident. Staying with us for five weeks, the LeBlanc family leaned on Child Life specialists for everything from information about procedures to celebrating Wyatt’s birthday while in the hospital and relieving fears as he took first steps towards his future.
“Our children’s hospital provides lifesaving care to families right here at home each day regardless of their ability to pay. The support of donors through events like Driving the Future and The Big Bash allows us to continue fulfilling our mission to bring the Spirit of Healing to the patients and families we are privileged to serve.” — Ann Marie Marmande, president of Our Lady of the Lake Foundation
