Hopes & Dreams | Spring 2022

Spring 2022 | Phoenix Children’s Foundation

HOPES & DREAMS BUILDING TO MEET A GROWING NEED Making premier pediatric care accessible to all

PHOTO BY SCOTT R. LEPAGE.

Former NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon is supporting cancer research at Phoenix Children’s with a grant from his charitable foundation.

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS CHAIRWOMAN

EMERITUS

Alexa Schneider Kimbell

Larry Clemmensen Community Volunteer

PAST CHAIRMAN

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Kevin Czerwinski Merit Partners VICE CHAIRWOMAN/SECRETARY

Sheila Zuieback Halle Family Foundation

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H OP E S & D RE AM S SPRING 2022

Robert L. Meyer PHOENIX CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Steven S. Schnall

Michael Bill, MJ Insurance Scott Bindley, Screenwriter Taylor Burke, Rainy Partners Ahron Cohen, Community Volunteer Taylor Melvin, Freeport McMoRan Jonathan Pinkus, Arizona Nutritional Supplements J. Paul Rhodes, Vestar Chris Stamets, Western Retail Advisors

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Letter from Steve Knockout Black

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Into High Gear Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation is helping Phoenix Children’s speed up the fight against childhood cancer

Make the Most of Your AZ Charitable Tax Credit Receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for your donation to Phoenix Children’s

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ountdown to a New Hospital C The East Valley will soon be home to a new Phoenix Children’s campus

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xpanding Their Legacy E One family’s generosity is bringing vital pediatric emergency care to the East Valley

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roundbreaking Grant G Funded by Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, Dr. Alexander Ngwube’s research takes aim at AML relapse eeting a Desperate Need M Homeless Youth Outreach program expands access to health care ake Your Impact M Our Community in Action

A Symbol of Hope A family gives back to the hospital that saved their child’s life

Cover: Empire Southwest President and CEO Jeff Whiteman and his wife, Holly, at their home in Mesa. Read their story on page 8.

Hopes & Dreams is published by the Phoenix Children’s Foundation.

To share your comments or if you wish to unsubscribe, call (602) 933-4483.

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DEAR FRIENDS:

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’m often reminded of the preciousness of time. Sometimes we look to the future and the distances in front of us feel infinite—like we have all

the time we could ever need. And other times, the moments seem to pass as quickly as they arrive.

At Phoenix Children’s, we experience moments such as these in abundance. We feel the excitement of a future brimming with possibility while at the same time meeting the immediacy of moments head-on, aware that some things can’t wait. In our work, it’s that sense of urgency that drives us each day—because moments count.

Each issue of Hopes & Dreams celebrates these moments, both big and small, and this one is no different. We’re excited to share an insider’s look at our expansion into the East Valley with the construction of Phoenix Children’s Hospital – East Valley at Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, scheduled to open in early 2023.

This issue also celebrates the contributions of individuals and families, physicians and researchers, foundations and businesses that have made a commitment to advancing our vision of making world-class health care accessible to every child in Arizona.

We encourage you to help us build on legacies like theirs. And we thank each and every Phoenix Children’s supporter for making moments like these possible.

Sincerely,

STEVE SCHNALL Chief Development Officer Phoenix Children’s Foundation

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H OP E S & D RE AM S SPRING 2022

Make the Most of Your AZ Charitable Tax Credit

Receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for your donation to Phoenix Children’s

Every year around tax time, Arizonans have the opportunity to give back to the causes that mean the most to them. The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit is a nonrefundable income tax credit for charitable contributions to Qualifying Charitable Organizations (QCOs) like Phoenix Children’s.

How does it work?

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Make a gift to Phoenix Children’s at GiveToPCH.org.

Keep your donation receipt so that you have it when you’re ready to file your next income tax return.

When completing your taxes, fill out Arizona Form 321 to claim your tax credit.

You’ll need to enter Phoenix Children’s QCO code, which is 20551.

How much can I contribute?

The maximum allowable credit for married couples filing jointly is $800.

The maximum allowable credit for single filers is $400.

What is the deadline for making contributions?

• Arizona allows taxpayers to claim their Charitable Tax Credit into April of the current year and have it applied toward their taxes for the prior year.

• For the 2021 tax year, the deadline to contribute is April 18, 2022 .

For more details, talk to your tax professional.

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COUNTDOWN TO A NEW HOSPITAL

The East Valley will soon be home to a new Phoenix Children’s campus

Projected to open in early 2023, the Women’s and Children’s Pavilion—a joint effort between Dignity Health and Phoenix Children’s—will offer a full complement of services for mothers, babies and children. Currently under construction on the campus of Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, the new facility aims to address the growing demand for pediatric health care in the East Valley. Here, we offer a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into bringing a new hospital to life.

Construction of the Women’s and Children’s Pavilion at Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center began in 2018.

BRICK BY BRICK: CONSTRUCTION Plans for the building began in 2017. Visit the site today and you’ll see a flurry of activity, from framing and drywall installation to doors being hung and floors being laid.

“The most important aspect from a construction perspective,” says Russ Korcuska, Senior Vice President for Construction and Special Projects at Phoenix Children’s, “is ensuring the building operates properly so staff and visitors never need to worry that something isn’t going to function as anticipated.”

Since the Pavilion essentially comprises two hospitals, a strong partnership during construction is key.

“The collaborative environment between Dignity Health and Phoenix Children’s is one I’ve not seen with other partnerships,” Korcuska says. “It’s been a very open, very integrated delivery with both parties meeting regularly to ensure all stakeholders’ needs are met.”

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WIRED FOR SUCCESS: TECH

ordering equipment in advance. Once it arrives, the network teams

Navigating the challenges of two hospitals sharing

from Phoenix Children’s and Dignity Health will complete what Meyer

one space is also something Phoenix Children’s Chief

refers to as “IT plumbing,” a process that takes about three months.

Information Officer Brian Meyer cites as a top priority for the core network infrastructure.

“After the network infrastructure is in place, we’ll configure and deploy equipment, and test all software,” Meyer says.

“We’re working with Dignity Health to figure out how to handle things people take for granted, like Wi-Fi,” he says.

SMOOTH SAILING: PATIENT CARE

“We’ve had a lot of collaboration in order to create a shared

Running tests to ensure peak performance isn’t limited to IT

wireless environment that doesn’t jeopardize patient experience

and lab equipment. It’s also an essential piece of the puzzle for

or interfere with the clinical and business operations.”

Rhonda Thompson. She’s the Senior Vice President of Patient

Also of high priority is the timing of equipment installation.

Meyer’s team has mitigated recent supply chain delays by

Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Phoenix Children’s, and her role is to determine the scope of services for each department in the Pavilion, staff the care team and create efficient workflow practices.

“Our approach has been to deliver the right care at the right time and in the right place,” Thompson says.

She’s currently recruiting for the Associate Chief Nursing Officer position, one she hopes to fill before May. Come fall, that person will begin to finalize workflow for the new facility, such as how to transfer a child from the emergency department to their room or how and where patients are moved following surgery.

“Those things might seem small,” Thompson says, “but they are critical to how a hospital runs.”

EXPERT CARE: CLINICIANS Dr. Kathleen van Leeuwen, Medical Director, East Valley Services for Phoenix Children’s, has spent recent years identifying leaders in pediatric subspecialties— gastroenterology, cancer, emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery and more—to build a clinical team uniquely positioned to serve the East Valley community.

“We started with an inventory of who was in the East Valley already,” Dr. van Leeuwen says. “What we found was that some of our most skilled physicians were already there.”

So Dr. van Leeuwen’s team asked those practitioners what they wanted their services to be, and what offerings they thought they could provide the community. The answer was a resounding “everything.”

As Dr. van Leeuwen explains, certain cancer diagnoses require numerous hospital trips for multiple therapies. For an East Valley patient, that’s a lot of hours traveling between home and Phoenix Architectural renderings depict what the Women’s and Children’s Pavilion will look like when it is completed.

Children’s main campus in downtown Phoenix. Her philosophy for clinical care at the new Pavilion is: “The more a child needs to be at the hospital, the more we need to build the services for them.”

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HOPE MAKERS

Expanding Their Legacy One family’s generosity is bringing vital pediatric emergency care to the East Valley

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s parents know, having pediatric emergency care close to home provides invaluable peace of mind. Now, thanks to a generous gift from Holly and Jeff Whiteman, East

Valley families will have a Phoenix Children’s emergency department right in their backyard.

“When I was a kid, my dad told me that ‘just because you come from means doesn’t mean you are better than anyone; it means you have more responsibility to give back and help others,’” says Whiteman, who is the President and CEO of Mesa-based Empire Southwest, the Caterpillar dealership for Arizona and southeastern California. “That really made an impression on me, and I never forgot it. Holly was also raised by parents who felt strongly about giving back and making a difference. We are very grateful for the opportunity to support Phoenix Children’s expansion into the East Valley and the families it will serve.”

The Whitemans’ gift will support a 24-bed emergency department at Phoenix Children’s Hospital – East Valley. Slated to open in early 2023 on the Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center campus, the hospital also will feature a 60-bed Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to care for the most ill and premature babies, six operating rooms and 48 beds. The expansion is designed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing East Valley and beyond.

A legacy of giving back Philanthropy has been a key part of the Whiteman family for generations. In 1961, Jeff’s father, Jack Whiteman, the founder of Empire Southwest, established the Edna Rider Whiteman Foundation, which he named after his mother. He believed that business has a fundamental responsibility to the community, often sharing the wisdom that, “If you take care of the farm, the farm will take care of you.” In 1999, the organization became the Whiteman Foundation, and the family continues to invest in the health, education and welfare of children.

“We have had numerous experiences with our kids, grandkids and friends who have been blessed by the amazing men and women of Phoenix Children’s,” Whiteman says.

“Their commitment to the East Valley is a big deal and a tremendous benefit for those who live in the area. We live and work in the East Valley, as do many in our company, so supporting the hospital just seemed like the right thing to do.”

Support our future expansions As the Valley continues to grow, so too does the need for high-quality pediatric care.

Visit GiveToPCH.org to support the future of children’s health care in Phoenix.

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Jeff and Holly Whiteman at their home in Mesa.

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HOPE MAKERS

A Symbol of Hope A family gives back to the hospital that saved their child’s life

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n May 2021, 11-month-old Bode’s life was hanging in the balance after a near-drowning incident in his family’s backyard swimming pool. Doctors estimated the little boy was

unconscious for nearly an hour. After being stabilized at a nearby hospital, Bode was transported to Phoenix Children’s by air ambulance. In critical condition, he spent the next month in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), where he received around-the-clock care that ultimately saved his life.

“Everyone had a relentless commitment to achieve positive results for Bode,” say the boy’s parents, Greta and Justin. “His care providers were professional, loving—especially the nurses—and well trained. One doctor in particular played a big role in getting Bode healthy and supporting us: Dr. David W. Tellez. We cannot thank him enough.”

To celebrate the lifesaving care Bode received, members of his family made a contribution supporting the PICU that they hope will help others facing similar challenges. “The gift

“Phoenix Children’s is a tremendous asset to our community, and it’s imperative that we support the institution so they can keep doing good and saving lives.”

— GRETA AND JUSTIN, BODE’S PARENTS

symbolizes our gratitude for everyone who helped Bode survive this terrible incident,” the family says. “Without Phoenix Children’s expertise and specializations—which are not found at every hospital—who knows where we would be with Bode. Phoenix Children’s is a tremendous asset to our community, and it’s imperative that we support the institution so they can keep doing good and saving lives.”

Beating the odds Today, Bode is 20 months old and thriving. His parents describe him as a fighter who continues to get stronger every day. He continues to receive support and therapies from Phoenix Children’s but enjoys a relatively normal life. And he loves playing with his older siblings, 7-year-old Harvey and 5-year-old Odette. His parents and grandparents say that the joy they get from watching the toddler with his brother and sister is priceless.

“Bode beat all odds,” the family says. “He is literally a walking miracle. A big part of that was the excellent care he received at Phoenix Children’s. No amount of donation will ever be enough to express our gratitude for the wonderful people who work there.”

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H O P E S & D R E A M S SPRING 2022

Bode (center) and his family at his grandparents’ home in Phoenix.

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HOPE MAKERS

Into High Gear Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation is helping Phoenix Children’s speed up the fight against childhood cancer

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few years ago, NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon was in the Valley for the Barrett-Jackson car auction, where he was auctioning off his 2016 Corvette C7.R Special Edition to raise

money for childhood cancer research. That’s where he met Lila, a little girl who at the time was in treatment for leukemia at Phoenix Children’s.

Inspired by trailblazing research Of course, Gordon is no stranger to Phoenix, having raced here during his storied career. But ever since meeting Lila, he’s had a special place in his heart for the Valley and Phoenix Children’s.

When the opportunity arose to fund the research of Dr. Alexander Ngwube, a Phoenix Children’s hematologistoncologist, the board of Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation was drawn to the fact that the research focused on acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as was Gordon.

As a result, the foundation awarded a $250,000 grant to fund Dr. Ngwube’s

“ALL [acute lymphocytic leukemia] was once considered practically incurable, and now nearly 90% of children with the disease survive.

Now we need to see the same success for AML.” — JEFF GORDON

research, one of several key grants the “It’s almost hard to believe that in the span of my lifetime, ALL [acute lymphocytic leukemia] was once considered practically incurable, and now nearly 90% of children with the disease survive,” Gordon says. “Now we need to see the same success for AML.”

Funding to reduce recurrence That’s exactly what Dr. Ngwube’s research aims to do, and the fact that it focuses on reducing recurrence is what Susan Johnston, Executive Director of Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, is most grateful for—because the only thing worse for a family to hear than a cancer diagnosis is a cancer relapse.

“Going from thinking you’ve beaten childhood cancer to learning that it’s back with a vengeance is the very definition of heartbreak,” she says. “We hope that grants like this one can eventually give families more peace of mind that their childhood cancer battle is behind them—once and for all.”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF GORDON CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION.

organization has made throughout the country.

Former NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon with Lila, who underwent leukemia treatment at Phoenix Children’s, at the Barrett-Jackson car auction in Scottsdale.

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BOLD IDEAS

A Groundbreaking Grant Funded by Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, Dr. Alexander Ngwube’s research takes aim at AML relapse

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cute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a roller coaster of a diagnosis. While treatment is often successful

Dr. Ngwube’s research is aimed at reducing the relapse rate by administering additional stem

and remission rates are relatively high, relapse is all too

cells along with the maintenance chemotherapy.

common. And the disease’s survival rate—which is about

Instead of transplanting all the donor cells at once,

60% to 70% in patients under 20—is well below where it

Dr. Ngwube saves some and transplants them

needs to be.

intermittently during remission.

Fortunately, Phoenix Children’s hematologist-

“The idea is that the donor stem cells have more time to

oncologist Dr. Alexander Ngwube is working to change

mature,” Dr. Ngwube says. “And so they can go about the

that. With a $250,000 grant from Jeff Gordon Children’s

business of attacking and destroying any leukemic cells

Foundation, Dr. Ngwube’s research is about to step on

that are still hanging around.”

the gas against AML recurrences.

In a pilot study that included 12 patients, Dr. Ngwube saw a 20% reduction in relapse rates using intermittent

About AML

stem cell therapy. “We went from seeing a leukemia-free

AML accounts for about 20% of all childhood leukemias

survival rate in the range of 60% and 70% to having a

(cancers that originate in the blood or bone marrow);

leukemia-free survival rate in the high 80s to 90s,” he

about 800 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. With

says. “That’s huge.”

AML, the bone marrow, which is responsible for producing new blood cells, makes abnormal white blood cells, red

The next phase

blood cells or platelets that never mature.

Now, with the grant from Jeff Gordon Children’s

The danger of AML is twofold: Not only can the

Foundation, Dr. Ngwube will be expanding his research

abnormal cells spread to other parts of the body, but

into a prospective trial in which he’ll recruit 30 patients not

the overproduction of abnormal cells means there’s

only from Phoenix Children’s but also Yale New Haven

less room for healthy cells. And without a high

Children’s Hospital in Connecticut, Mayo Clinic Children’s

percentage of normal blood cells, patients are at risk

Center and others.

for infection, anemia and bleeding. Treatment for AML

“I wouldn’t have been able to continue this research

in children usually involves chemotherapy and blood

without the grant, so I’m very grateful,” Dr. Ngwube

stem cell transplant.

says. “But at the end of the day, the people who benefit from these things are the wonderful families that we are

Pilot study success The vast majority (85% to 90%) of AML patients have

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privileged to care for.”

You can carry forward the work of Dr. Nwgube

success with treatment and go into remission. Regular

and other physicians and researchers at Phoenix

maintenance chemotherapy may be needed to prevent

Children’s by supporting our Center for Cancer and

the cancer from coming back. Still, AML returns in

Blood Disorders. Their compassionate and personalized

about 30% to 40% of children, many of whom end

care has immediate, life-changing impact for children

up dying from the disease, which tends to be more

experiencing these conditions. To make a gift, visit

aggressive in recurrence.

GiveToPCH.org/CCBD.

H O P E S & D R E A M S SPRING 2022

“At the end of the day, the people who benefit from [this research] are the wonderful families that we are privileged to care for.”

— DR. ALEXANDER NGWUBE

Dr. Alexander Ngwube at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

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CHANGING FUTURES

Meeting a Desperate Need The Homeless Youth Outreach program is expanding access to health care

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n any given night in Arizona, there are potentially 3,000 to 5,000 young people experiencing homelessness. For more than 20 years, Phoenix Children’s Homeless

Youth Outreach (HYO) program has been working to ensure that every child and young person without a home has access to quality comprehensive health care, says Dr. Sarah Beaumont, Medical Director of the program.

“In a best-case scenario, our services wouldn’t be needed, and this program wouldn’t exist,” Dr. Beaumont says. “Unfortunately, the state of homelessness in Phoenix and beyond is only worsening, and the need for our services continues to grow.”

The HYO program covers more than 30 miles across the Phoenix metro area and treats patients up to 24 years old who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. With mobile medical units that travel to shelters, group homes, drop-in centers and schools throughout the metro area, along with clinics at UMOM New Day Centers, Phoenix Dream Center and Children First Leadership Academy, Dr. Beaumont and her team are bringing comprehensive medical and behavioral health services directly to the children who need them most.

Making health care accessible for all The cornerstone of the HYO program is the Crews’n Healthmobile: a doctor’s office on wheels serving youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness, where and when they need it. The program has three Healthmobiles, each equipped with exam rooms, a pharmacy, an intake area, a laboratory and a triage area, as well as mental health counselors and access to psychiatric services at Phoenix Children’s—all at no cost to the patient.

“Whether they’re insured or not, we don’t want any of our patients to ever receive a bill. Patients should never fear coming to see us, which is why donor funding is so vital,” Dr. Beaumont says.

Thanks to a recent $100,000 gift from On Q Financial, the HYO program can continue to serve children and young adults experiencing homelessness. The gift will help meet a range of ongoing needs, including pharmaceuticals, eyeglasses and other medical supplies; fuel and mobile medical unit maintenance; and staff time of personnel dedicated to providing program services.

“Homelessness is one of our giving pillars here at On Q, and we’re absolutely honored to help support Phoenix Children’s with their Homeless Youth Outreach program,” says Juan Rodas, Executive Vice President at On Q Financial. “When I was a child, my family and I were supported by a local children’s hospital, so this is a cause that’s very near and dear to my heart. We’re very excited to say that this is just the beginning.”

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A family waits to see the doctor at one of the Homeless Youth Outreach program’s mobile medical units.

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MAKE YOUR IMPACT WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN ACTION With more reasons now to come together, Phoenix Children’s Foundation is creating fun, inspiring and unique opportunities for our community to get involved and stay engaged. The proceeds of every event are used to give children and their families the best possible experiences and outcomes.

EVENT

Ignite Hope Why it matters: Ignite Hope is a special Phoenix Children’s holiday tradition. The candlelight walk down Thomas Road to Phoenix Children’s main campus raises money for the hospital while showing patients and their families that they are not alone during the holidays. The 2021 event drew nearly 2,500 walkers, with many more participants showing their support by displaying candles and luminaria at home.

Total raised: $506,000

UPCOMING EVENTS Look for updates by visiting these event websites

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2022

APRIL 13

ABC15 Telethon TelethonForPCH.org FEATURED EVENT

EVENT

EVENT

Off the Record

Concours in the Hills

Why it matters: Off the Record is an annual private concert

Why it matters: Concours in the Hills is a one-of-a-kind car

organized by PCH 50, an auxiliary group made up of 50 men under

show that benefits Phoenix Children’s. Held in the spectacular

age 50 who raise funds and awareness for Phoenix Children’s. In

setting of Fountain Park in Fountain Hills, this annual event draws

2021, country music superstar and Phoenix native Dierks Bentley

automotive enthusiasts from across the state and as far away as

was the featured performer at the fifth annual Off the Record

California, Nevada and New Mexico. More than 1,200 vehicles

concert. Since 2017, Off the Record has raised $1.9 million for

were displayed at the 2022 show, which had an estimated

Phoenix Children’s.

attendance of over 40,000.

Total raised: $740,000

Total raised: $435,000

2022

APRIL 14

AZ Coyotes Telethon ArizonaCoyotes.com/Telethon

2022

APRIL 22

Power Play PowerPlayPCH.org

2022

2022

KTAR News & Arizona’s Sports Station Give-A-Thon

Heart & Hand Clinical Excellence Awards

AUGUST

OCTOBER 20

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NOVEMBER 6

Big Dig for Kids BigDigForKids.com

GiveAThonforPCH.org

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MORE STORIES. MORE OFTEN. Bringing you inspiring stories of hope from the patients at Phoenix Children’s and the people who’ve joined this mission to save children’s lives.

Visit hopes-dreams.org

Connect with us Phoenix Children’s Foundation (602) 933-4483 Foundation@phoenixchildrens.com GivetoPCH.org FriendsofPCH Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation

To find a Phoenix Children’s location near you, visit phoenixchildrens.org/locations