Phoenix Children's - Moments Fall 2024

Moments C R E AT I N G B R IG H T E R F U T U R E S , TO G E T H E R | FA L L 2 0 24

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West Valley families can now find comprehensive care in their own backyards.

Contents FA LL 2 0 2 4 DEPARTMENTS Insider 4 The Updates from around Phoenix Children’s. for Solace 6 AGetSpace a behind-the-scenes look inside the new Prayer Room at Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Arrowhead Campus.

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Questions 7 5West Valley business owner Autumn Henderson shares her journey of giving back and the experiences that drive her commitment to Phoenix Children’s.

Nourishing 18 APath Forward A monitoring program for infants with cleft lip and palate puts babies on a course for happy, healthy lives.

Cause 19 Common Recent and upcoming events supporting Phoenix Children’s patients and their families.

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Grow West As Phoenix Children’s expands to the West Valley, patients and families are finding the comprehensive care they need—right in their own backyards.

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The Heart for It How Steve Grout’s courage advanced congenital heart surgery and how his legacy will support the growing field of adult congenital heart care.

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Dream Weaver Transforming adversity into artistry, Diné designer Naiomi Glasses donates a portion of proceeds from her collaboration with Ralph Lauren to Phoenix Children’s.

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS CHAIR

Taylor Burke Rainy Partners VICE CHAIR/SECRETARY

Alexa Schneider Kimbell, Inc. PHOENIX CHILDREN’S PRESIDENT AND CEO

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

Steven S. Schnall Tarl J. Robinson Plexus Worldwide Scott Bindley Screenwriter J. Paul Rhodes Community Volunteer Ahron Cohen Polar Sun Ventures Ed Grant Scottsdale Investment Management Shane Doan Toronto Maple Leafs Lisa Graziosi Extension Bar EMERITUS

Larry Clemmensen Community Volunteer EMERITUS

Michael Bill The MJ Companies EMERITUS

Kevin Czerwinski Merit Partners, Inc.

DEAR FRIENDS,

T

his year, we’ve expanded our reach, bringing specialized pediatric care closer to the families who need it most. Whether

it’s through opening our new West Valley campuses, enhancing our telehealth capabilities or forming strategic partnerships with community providers, your contributions have made it possible for us to bring world-class care right to our local neighborhoods.

And because of generous donors like the Moyes family and the Henderson family, for example, patients like Payton—who you’ll read more about in this issue—will now receive the care they need closer to home.

One of the most impactful developments is the growth of our outpatient services, along with the expansion into new hospitals with more inpatient beds. We’ve been able to introduce more pediatric specialists into underserved communities, reducing travel time for families and bolstering our ability to provide comprehensive care for children with complex medical needs. This expansion is a direct result of your dedication to making health care more accessible for every child.

We’re also pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in pediatric medicine, investing in cutting-edge technology and research that pave the way for innovative treatments and therapies that improve outcomes and transform lives. Phoenix Children’s is at the forefront of these advancements, offering our patients the highest-quality care across all our locations.

Your involvement is more than just a donation—it’s a vital part of our mission to build a healthier future for our children. Each story herein reflects the positive impact of your support.

Together, we are creating a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

Thank you for being an essential part of the Phoenix Children’s family.

Your investment in our mission is

Moments C R E AT I N G B R IG H T E R F U T U R E S , TO G E T H E R | FA L L 2 0 24

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West Valley families can now find comprehensive care in their own backyards.

On the Cover: Phoenix Children’s has expanded into the West Valley, opening several new facilities to meet families where they are.

Moments is published by the Phoenix Children’s Foundation.

Editorial and design consultation

by Casual Astronaut.

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

what drives us forward.

With heartfelt gratitude,

STEVE SCHNALL Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer

FA L L 2 0 24 M OMENT S

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The Insider

Updates From Around Phoenix Children’s

Festivalgoers enjoy the M3F music festival while also supporting its charitable causes.

Rocking for a Cause Two days, three stages, 25 acts and one incredible mission.

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MOM ENTS FAL L 20 24

The annual M3F music festival in

In 2023, board-certified therapists

Phoenix may seem like other music

engaged with 3,300 Phoenix Children’s

festivals. What sets M3F apart, however,

patients, using art and music to help

is its nonprofit status, with 100% of

children manage physical pain and

its proceeds donated to local causes,

emotional discomfort, adjust to new

including to Phoenix Children’s

treatments or diagnoses, cope with long

Therapeutic Arts Program. Funded by

hospitalizations and learn how to navigate

donations, the program offers patients

feelings of grief or loss. In 2024, even more

an outlet—immersive crafts, drawing,

patients will benefit, thanks to M3F’s

singing, playing instruments—through

generous $125,000 donation—a gift that will

which they can safely process feelings in

provide therapeutic arts throughout the

a way conducive to healing.

entire Phoenix Children’s health system.

Protecting Little Lives With Waymo 4 Tips for a Savvy Giving Strategy Looking for tax-smart ways to support Phoenix Children’s? Here’s how.

1

DONATE STOCK Benefit: When you donate appreciated stock you’ve owned for more than 12 months, you receive a fair market value tax deduction and pay no capital gains tax. Have other appreciated assets? There

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are great strategies for these too.

GIVE WITH THE ARIZONA CHARITABLE TAX CREDIT

other entity whose mission

will be free to grow up

is more safety-oriented

in environments devoid

than Waymo, which is

of danger. But that’s not

why its three-years-strong

always possible—risks exist

partnership with Phoenix

everywhere for children

Children’s is so aptly suited.

of all ages. That’s why

The autonomous vehicle

Phoenix Children’s offers

technology company

the Injury Prevention

has donated $60,000 to

Program, an education

Phoenix Children’s, with an

and outreach effort that

additional $20,000 planned

provides families and

for 2024. Of that, two-thirds

caregivers information,

funds the Injury Prevention

tools and support to help

Program and its Child

prevent childhood injuries.

Passenger Safety and Bike

And there’s perhaps no

Safety programs.

In 2023, the Phoenix Children’s Injury Prevention

Benefit: A dollar-for-dollar credit offering the value of your gift back on your state income taxes—up to $470 for individual

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The hope is that children

filers and $938 for those filing jointly.

MAKE A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION FROM AN IRA

Program helped fund and distribute:

1,000 3,300 new car seats to families in need through safety initiatives

children’s bike helmets through community outreach programs

2

road- and bike-safety awareness videos

Benefit: For IRA account owners ages 70 ½ and older, this can satisfy the required minimum distribution and exclude the

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amount donated from taxable income.

DONATE FROM A DAF

Two-thirds of Waymo’s gifts to Phoenix Children’s goes toward the Injury Prevention Program.

Benefit: If you’ve previously funded a donor-advised fund (DAF), you can direct a grant to Phoenix Children’s without it affecting your income.

PMS

PMS

Make the Most of Your Gift Learn about these and other savvy giving strategies at GiveToPCH.org/Gift-Planning.

CMYK

CMYK

*This information is not intended as tax, legal or financial advice. Gift results may vary.

Consult your personal financial advisor for information specific to your situation.

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H E A L I N G S PAC E S

CUSTOMIZABLE AMBIENCE Adjustable lighting and sound allow the space to reflect the tone and needs of any event taking place in the space.

MULTIFAITH SPACE The new space is designed to accommodate individuals of all religious beliefs, as well as those seeking a quiet space for reflection or meditation.

SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES Storage in the back holds items of significance for those from many faith backgrounds, including diverse religious texts, children’s books, prayer rugs, rosaries and literature on coping in difficult circumstances.

COLORFUL & CALMING Beautiful glass artwork with natureinspired colors provides a calming, serene environment.

ADAPTABLE SEATING Movable/adjustable seating allows the room to convert into a space for a religious ser vice, baptism, parent support group or other gathering.

A Space for Solace Get a behind-the-scenes look inside the new Prayer Room at Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Arrowhead Campus.

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nveiled in July 2024, the brand-new Prayer Room at Phoenix Children’s Hospital –

Arrowhead Campus was made possible thanks to a generous gift from the Autumn and Robert Henderson Family. The Prayer Room is open and available to patients and their families 24/7, offering a place to find comfort and peace during challenging times. Here, we offer an insider’s look at this space for solace.

5 QUESTIONS

Heartfelt Dedication Autumn Henderson, COO and co-owner of Liberty Buick and Liberty GMC in Peoria, shares the profound impact of the new Prayer Room that bears her family’s name and the personal experiences that drive her commitment to Phoenix Children’s.

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s the namesake of the new Prayer Room at Phoenix

heartfelt. Through her own experiences and deep personal

Children’s Hospital – Arrowhead Campus, Autumn’s

connections, Autumn has channeled her passion for helping

journey from a dedicated donor to a key figure in the West

others into creating a sanctuary of peace for families facing

Valley’s philanthropic community is both inspiring and

challenging times.

What significance does the new Prayer Room hold for you?

Why did you first become involved with Phoenix Children’s?

My mother had brain surgery and was in the

You’re an active West Valley Phoenix Children’s council member and co-chair. Why is helping this campus important to you?

hospital for a while. Whenever I went to the

I was raised in the West Valley and I know

hospital’s chapel, I felt a sense of calm and

how important it is for our community to have

peace, even though it was a scary time for me. I wanted to

a children’s hospital near us. The fact that we

help provide other families that same sense of peace and

now have this amazing hospital in our own

calmness while experiencing their own scary times.

backyard makes a difference in so many lives.

more than just

What has been the most rewarding part of your partnership with Phoenix Children’s?

who works for

What values or experiences have influenced your dedication to giving back to the community?

donate, and

Now that people know I’m so involved, my employees

within a week

will often share their own experiences with Phoenix

of having this

Children’s and thank me. It reinforces that I made the

thought, a friend

best decision choosing to be on this council.

Phoenix Children’s

When someone

Foundation called

in need asked my

me about an

parents for help,

opportunity to join

they were always

the West Valley

willing to help, even

Phoenix Children’s

if it meant giving

council. I couldn’t

them the shirt off

say yes fast

their back. I’m

enough! It was

sure that’s where it

meant to be.

started with me.

I wanted to do

Bobby and Autumn Henderson stand outside the new Prayer Room that bears their family’s name.

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GR W As Phoenix Children’s expands to the West Valley, patients and families are finding the comprehensive care they need—right in their own backyards.

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P

ayton was just 5 years old when she fell at school, hitting her

head on the sidewalk. Diagnostic scans at the local urgent care showed that what her parents first believed to be a minor scrape was, in fact, a skull fracture and a brain bleed, serious injuries requiring surgery. Payton was immediately transferred from Surprise, where the family resides, to Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Thomas Campus for brain surgery.

Though she spent nearly 30 days in the hospital—12 days in a coma in the pediatric intensive care unit and time in both inpatient and outpatient rehab to relearn gross and fine motor skills—Payton recovered. She received a cutting-edge new cooling treatment for traumatic brain injury—plus art and music therapy, two programs supported by donations—as part of her care. Even her family, including her two older brothers, were looked after by Payton’s care team, receiving gifts on Easter and getting a chance to go to the Child Life Zone, a unique, state-of-the-art therapeutic space within the hospital where kids can be kids. “[They] were incredible,” says Payton’s

M E E T I N G A C R I T IC A L N E E D

mom, Brandy. “They continually went above

Phoenix’s West Valley encompasses the

and beyond to help her and us navigate the

communities from Avondale and Buckeye to

scariest moments of our lives.”

Wickenburg and Youngtown. Together, the

The worst has passed for Payton, now

West Valley’s 15 cities boast a growth rate of

11 years old. The energetic fifth grader loves

twice the national average, with more than 1.7

drawing and singing and dancing and soccer.

million people currently calling the West Valley

She’s full of life and curiosity.

home. Over the next 25 years, more than 50% of

But that doesn’t mean she’s out of the woods yet. A traumatic brain injury is a

place in the region, and the pediatric population

lifelong condition, and for Payton, this

is expected to increase from 400,000 at present

means regular visits to Phoenix Children’s—a

to 500,000 by 2030.

90-minute round-trip drive from the

All this to say, the need for comprehensive

family’s home in the West Valley—for

pediatric health care in the West Valley is urgent.

evaluations to make sure she’s meeting critical

“Over the last 10 years, there’s been massive

developmental milestones. If only the level of

growth,” notes Jared Muenzer, MD, MBA, chief

care that Payton requires were closer to home.

physician executive at Phoenix Children’s. “We

Thankfully, now it is.

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Maricopa County’s growth is expected to take

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recognize that, and we understand that the

Payton on the playground at Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Thomas Campus, where she received treatment for a traumatic brain injury when she was 5.

world-class pediatric care we provide should be available to everyone, without the burden of having to travel. The question becomes: ‘How do we get closer to home and what parts of our business do we put closer to home?’”

The answer? A strategic West Valley expansion offering convenient and high-quality options for children in need of urgent and emergency care, specialty care, inpatient care, outpatient surgical care and sports medicine.

“Phoenix Children’s main campus will always have the ability to do all those things,” Dr. Muenzer says. “But, for example, when children are diagnosed with cancer, those care plans last two to three years. Most of that care can be done in a patient’s own community. Whatever that need is, whatever can be done closer to home, it makes life so much easier for families.”

A traumatic brain injury is a lifelong condition, and for Payton, this means regular visits to Phoenix Children’s— a 90-minute round-trip drive from the family’s home in the West Valley.

Now, the level of care that Payton requires is closer to home.

The expansion in the West Valley comprises several new facilities in Arrowhead and Avondale, providing a suite of offerings that run the gamut of pediatric health care needs: • Availability of radiology, MRI and CT scans • Intensive care unit capabilities • 48 inpatient beds • Operating rooms open every day of the week • Subspecialists for outpatient treatment • Sports medicine physical therapy “Children with broken arms or those who need stitches, children with diabetes or those who are asthmatics … all these conditions can now be cared for in the West Valley,” Dr. Muenzer says. “Everything you can think of that needs to be done at a children’s hospital, we can do it.”

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Jerry and Vickie Moyes have created a lasting legacy with their gift to Phoenix Children’s, playing a prominent part in the West Valley expansion.

A N S W E R I N G T H E C A LL

clan lives in the West Valley. Throughout the past

Dr. Muenzer says that Phoenix Children’s is

six decades, Jerry and Vickie have seen the area

always looking forward to what’s next—a future-

morph from vast desert into a metropolitan area

focused perspective on the region’s population

with several cities.

And though the development has been

growth and how that translates to its pediatric

impressive, they feel that it’s also outpaced itself

health care needs. But to propel projections into actions, Dr. Muenzer says it’s all about philanthropy. “We can do things faster, quicker and offer more programs and more support to patients and families because we have the robust engine of our partners and donors,” he says.

Among these impactful donors are Vickie and Jerry Moyes.

The couple—high school sweethearts who met in junior high—moved here from Utah in the 1960s, settling in the West Valley where Jerry founded Swift Transportation. He launched the business with a single truck, turning the small company into one of the largest trucking enterprises in the United States.

During this time, their family grew too.

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“The worldclass pediatric care we provide should be available to everyone, without the burden of having to travel.”

—Dr. Jared Muenzer, chief physician executive at Phoenix Children’s

in some ways. “I believe the West Valley has been neglected in a number of areas, whether it’s education or health care,” Jerry says.

With that in mind, the Moyes family has found ways to bolster the community’s needs over the years, from supporting child welfare and behavioral health programs to helping create safe spaces for children to thrive.

When Phoenix Children’s launched its $200 million health care expansion into the West Valley, Jerry saw yet another opportunity to help. He and Vickie made a $5 million philanthropic investment into Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Arrowhead Campus, a gift that will transform pediatric care for West

The couple has 10 children, 22 grandchildren

Valley children and their families for years

and 15 great-grandchildren. The whole Moyes

to come.

M OM ENTS FAL L 20 24

West Valley Expansion at a Glance

A glimpse of Glendale in the 1970s, where open fields once stretched across the landscape—now home to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Arrowhead Campus.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Arrowhead Campus • Inpatient care • Emergency department • Surgery center • Multispecialty clinic • Supports 76,000 annual visits

Phoenix Children’s Specialty Care – Arrowhead Campus

“We wanted to do something that’s

• Allergy & immunology

important and will benefit children and

• Cardiology

families for a long time,” Jerry says.

• Developmental pediatrics

“We drive by the new Phoenix Children’s

• Endocrinology

Hospital up there, and we’re very excited

• ENT (otolaryngology,

about supporting that. We’re excited to see

head and neck) • Gastroenterology

the progress that will bring.”

Vickie recalls, “I remember it was

• General surgery

orange groves—absolutely beautiful

• Genetics

orange groves. Now there’s a gorgeous

• Nephrology

hospital there.”

• Neurology

The hospital’s Vickie and Jerry Moyes

• Neurosurgery

Family Pavilion forever celebrates their

• Ophthalmology

deep dedication to investing in the futures

• Orthopedics

of West Valley children—from the health

• Pulmonology

of kids to their quality of life. “It’s very,

• Sleep medicine

very important, good medical care,” Jerry

• Sports medicine

says. “But one of the things people don’t

• Urology

think too much about is, it’s not only to have health care, but to have it where it’s not inconvenient.”

Dr. Muenzer seconds that sentiment:

Phoenix Children’s – Avondale Campus

“Our mission is that every child, patient and family get the highest quality of care

• Emergency department

no matter where they touch a Phoenix

• Rehabilitation services

Children’s location or provider. From when

• Expanded specialty clinic

they initially contact us all the way to

• Supports 71,000

discharge, we want that experience to be

annual visits

consistent and world-class no matter where they go.”

FO CUSIN G O N WHAT M AT TERS At 11 years old, Payton is compassionate and funny, says her mother, Brandy.

Payton can be a little shy as a result of her injury, Brandy adds, but she says that Payton loves people and loves having fun.

The effervescent girl she is today, and the enthusiasm with which she navigates the world, owes much to the gift of life given to her at Phoenix Children’s six years ago.

“Being able to come [to Phoenix Children’s] and get as much care and support as we did was amazing,” Brandy recalls.

The good news for Payton and her family—and for thousands of other West Valley children affected by life-threatening disease, chronic illness or injury—is now they don’t have to travel far and wide for the transformative power of healing care.

Thanks to compassionate donors like Jerry and Vickie Moyes, first-class pediatric care is right here, in their very own ZIP code.

“What I love most about working at Phoenix Children’s is that there’s potential,” Dr. Muenzer says. “You won’t find an opportunity to grow and develop and deliver this level of care anywhere else in this country. We have the population base, the commitment and the philanthropic support. That potential is palpable.”

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The

Heart for It How Steve Grout’s courage advanced congenital heart surgery and how his legacy will support the growing field of adult congenital heart care.

C

ongenital heart defects are deformities in the heart that are

A Remarkable Life & Legacy

present at birth. It wasn’t long

success. He graduated from the University of California and went on to pursue a graduate degree at Stanford University. He then earned

ago that a congenital heart defect was a

a law degree from the University of Arizona,

grave diagnosis.

where he made Law Review. Steve practiced

When Steve Grout was born in 1955,

law and taught himself investing. “Steve was

doctors told his mother not to get too

brilliant and determined,” Barbara says. “He

attached. Born with four separate heart

always found a way to do what he loved.”

defects, he wasn’t expected to live past his first week. But a week went by, then a month, then a year. Steve kept growing and was in relatively good health throughout childhood, even if he had challenges.

“He didn’t like to dwell on his limitations, but it was frustrating when the other boys

Steve had two strokes before age 35. He 1955 | A Rocky Start: Steve Grout was born with four heart defects, and doctors doubted he would survive his first week.

frequently had to travel to California for care because Phoenix didn’t have any cardiologists who specialized in congenital heart disease in adults at the time. After all, kids with congenital heart disease didn’t usually survive to adulthood.

were able to play baseball and football, and

After his second stroke, his Los Angeles

Steve would easily tire and have to spend the

doctors told him about a new surgery called

rest of recess inside,” says Barbara Grout,

the Fontan procedure, a complex surgery

Steve’s wife. He had a desire to learn chess at

that reroutes blood through the heart to the

this time, so his mother drove him to a rec

lungs. They told him he had a 50-50 chance of

center, where he played with adults once a month. Chess became his replacement for sports, and he later became a chess master.

STAR PATIENT Despite his health challenges, Steve achieved remarkable academic and professional

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1960s | Childhood Challenges: Despite health issues, Steve grew up determined, though unable to join in typical childhood activities.

surviving it. “Steve just said, ‘I have no chance if I don’t do it,’” Barbara says.

The surgery, which Steve had in 1988, gave him a new lease on life. “For the first time, his fingernails were pink, and he could breathe well,” Barbara says. “He proposed because he finally felt like he had a future.”

While Steve’s surgery was a success, he still required regular care from a cardiologist.

That meant traveling to California each time he needed a checkup or treatment. Then in 2017, Phoenix Children’s launched an adult congenital heart disease program.

“There are now more adults living with

1988 | Life-Changing

congenital heart disease than children—

Surgery: Steve

about 2 million, and that number increases

underwent the Fontan

by 50,000 people each year,” says Jordan

procedure, which

D. Awerbach, MD, medical director of the

improved his health

Stephen C. Grout Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. “That hasn’t always been

and allowed him to marry Barbara.

the case. It has only been in the past decade

“There are now more adults living with congenital heart disease than children—about 2 million, and that number increases by 50,000 people each year.”

— JORDAN D. AWERBACH, MD, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE STEPHEN C. GROUT ADULT CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE PROGRAM

that the need for congenital cardiologists who are also trained to care for medically

impact,” Dr. Awerbach says. “His anatomy has

complex adults has been realized.”

been studied by all of our cardiology fellows and all of our students from the University

And it’s still very much a growing field.

of Arizona College of Medicine during their

Phoenix Children’s adult congenital heart

cardiac anatomy block.”

disease program is one of only 53 in the

2017 | Local Care

country today. Depending on which direction

Relief: Phoenix

a patient travels, the next closest center is

Children’s launched an

created the Stephen C. Grout Endowed Fund

between 350 and 1,000 miles away.

Adult Congenital Heart

for Adult Congenital Heart Care at Phoenix

A LASTING GIFT

easing Steve’s care in

Steve was so grateful for the program that when it came time to make end-of-life arrangements, he specified that he wanted Phoenix Children’s to be able to learn from his heart when he died.

“Stephen was passionate about education, and his incredible gift of

Disease Program, his later years. Steve passed away in 2023.

Legacy of Hope Steve donated his heart and lungs to research, leaving a lasting impact on

Additionally, the Grout Family Trust

Children’s in Steve’s honor. The fund will be invested and distribute out a percentage in perpetuity, meaning Steve’s legacy will live on indefinitely.

“This transformational gift will support the creation of an adult congenital heart disease fellowship here at Phoenix Children’s to help address the national shortage of providers,” Dr. Awerbach says. “It will significantly

donating his heart and lungs for teaching

future congenital

contribute to the care of our adult congenital

and research has already had a profound

heart disease care.

heart disease patients.”

To learn how an estate gift to Phoenix Children’s can leave a legacy of hope and healing for Arizona children, visit GiveToPCH.org/Legacy or contact Nicola Lawrence, associate vice president of philanthropic advising, at 602-933-3870 or giftplanning@phoenixchildrens.com.

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Dream Weaver Ralph Lauren and Naiomi Glasses select Phoenix Children’s Foundation to receive a portion of proceeds from their design collaboration.

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M OM ENTS FA L L 20 24

N

aiomi Glasses was born with a craniofacial disorder that caused her to look different from other kids. But her family made

her feel so loved that it wasn’t until she went to preschool at 5 that she really felt different.

“A little girl in my class asked, ‘Why are you so ugly?’” Glasses recalls.

Fortunately, her medical team at Phoenix Children’s had prepared her for such comments.

“I just told her, ‘I have a bilateral cleft lip and palate. My doctors are fixing it. Do you want to be “This first drop of the collection is truly a love

friends?’” Glasses says.

“Fixing it” consisted of several surgeries

letter to the land,” Glasses says. “When I think

between infancy and adulthood. Glasses’ final

of the land, I think of my family. It’s a way to

surgery was at 21. She considers herself lucky

show love for them and just how interconnected

to have gotten the care she needed at Phoenix

everything is.”

Where the first drop’s earthtones are subdued,

Children’s over the years, especially considering her family moved from Mesa to Dinétah

the second drop is anything but. “Color in Motion”

(Navajo Nation)—six hours away from Phoenix

is a nod to another of Glasses’ long-time loves:

Children’s—when she was in grade school.

skateboarding. “There are parallels between weaving and skateboarding,” Glasses says. “Both

“I’ve met a lot of kids who stop getting treatment after the initial necessary procedures

are very meditative. You can ride and ride, weave

because they can’t afford to travel for their care,”

and weave, and just get lost in them.”

Glasses says. That’s why, when she was named Polo Ralph Lauren’s first-ever artist in residence, Glasses recommended that Phoenix Children’s Foundation receive a portion of the proceeds of one of her clothing collections.

A LOOMING LOVE Glasses began weaving at a young age, having learned the art from her paternal grandmother.

“It was very soothing, very meditative,” Glasses says. “I just really enjoyed it and loved taking inspiration from nature and my culture.”

Glasses fell so in love with weaving that she wanted to make it her life’s work. Of course, she found out soon enough there wasn’t much money to be made in the artistry. “It took almost a month to make a single piece, and my parents pointed out that I’d never be able to sell my work for enough to live on,” she says. “They didn’t want me becoming a starving artist. So I decided to become a designer instead.”

Part of Something Bigger Ralph Lauren and Naiomi Glasses, inspired by her journey with a craniofacial disorder, select Phoenix Children’s Foundation to receive a portion of proceeds from their design collaboration, providing crucial aid for Native American families and cleft care.

GIVING BACK IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE A portion of the proceeds from this second collection goes to the Phoenix Children’s Foundation Patient and Family Assistance Funds for Native American Families and the Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Care. The money raised is used to alleviate financial barriers such as housing, transportation and treatment costs for Indigenous families seeking care for children with cleft lips and palates.

“I’m just so happy I can give back,” Glasses says. “I feel like I’m part of something bigger, and that means everything to me.”

Glasses’ collaboration with Polo Ralph Lauren is about more than fundraising to her. It’s about representation, not only as a Diné but also as someone who was born with a cleft lip and palate.

“I just think it’s really important to have the representation I wanted to see as a kid,” she says.

“If I had seen someone like me going out there

HER INSPIRATION

doing these things as a kid, I think I would’ve had

Glasses worked with Lauren and his design team

more confidence to feel accepted in these places.”

for two years on three separate Polo Ralph Lauren

Drop three, “Denim Daydream,” launched

x Naiomi Glasses collections, the first of which

in August 2024, rounds out the three-part

dropped in December 2023. With the theme of

collaboration and celebrates Glasses’ longtime

“Love of the Land,” it celebrates her homeland.

love of rodeo on an all-indigo color palette.

FA L L 2 0 24 M O MENT S

17

I N N O V AT I O N

A Nourishing Path Forward A monitoring program for infants with cleft lip and palate puts babies on a course for happy, healthy lives.

PMS

A

PMS

few hours after giving birth to baby girl

lay ahead—keeping Emery fed and nourished.

Emery, Sharlin knew something wasn’t right.

Children born with cleft lip and palate (CL/P) are at high risk of malnutrition due to feeding

“It seemed she was eating OK,” Sharlin recalls,

challenges. Though the risk can be mitigated by

“but then she’d arch [her back], hold her breath and turn blue. We couldn’t figure out what was going on.”

To learn more about CMYK

close feeding and weight monitoring by a cleft care CMYK

Innovation Circle

team, frequent visits to the hospital often pose

cleft palate and Pierre Robin sequence, a birth

and how its funding

significant burdens for caregivers.

defect characterized by an underdeveloped jaw,

helps accelerate

This was certainly true for Emery’s parents.

a backward displacement of the tongue and an

advancements

Exhausted from sleeping in shifts to make sure

obstructed airway. Emery and her family were

that improve the

Emery’s airways stayed open, and from the near-

health of children

constant feedings, Sharlin and her husband were

everywhere, visit

in no condition to manage the drive to Phoenix

It was a diagnosis that rocked Sharlin and her

GiveToPCH.org/

Children’s from their home in the San Tan Valley.

husband’s world. Sharlin knew the struggle that

Innovation-Circle.

So when Emery’s care team introduced the

The next morning, Emery was diagnosed with

referred to Phoenix Children’s within the first week of Emery’s life.

Knockout White

Knockout White

family to the hospital’s groundbreaking new program, the Infant Growth NutrITion fEeding (IGNITE) Home Monitoring Program, it changed Knockout Black A groundbreaking new program has allowed Emery’s parents to connect with her care team through realtime data, all without leaving home.

Knockout Black everything. A digital health-tracking app tailored

to infants with CL/P, IGNITE enables real-time tracking of infant feeding and weight. Each week, the baby’s health care team reviews the data, connecting with caregivers when an infant’s feeding or weight gain falls outside the desired parameters.

The best part: IGNITE is accessible from home via smartphones and tablets given to each family enrolled in the program—no more long drives back and forth to the hospital.

IGNITE is funded by Innovation Circle, a giving group that invests in high-impact projects. It was co-developed by Thomas Sitzman, MD, associate professor of plastic surgery at Phoenix Children’s, in collaboration with Children’s Mercy Kansas City.

Prior to IGNITE, one in four children with CL/P at Phoenix Children’s was severely malnourished at 4 months of age. In the first six months after IGNITE launched, not a single child was malnourished.

Emery is now 6 months old, a joyful kid who loves meeting new people. She’s on track to reach 20 pounds—the goal weight for her CL/P surgery, scheduled for four days after her first birthday.

18

M OM ENTS FA L L 20 24

COMMON C AUSE

Events That Make Moments Possible Recent and upcoming events supporting Phoenix Children’s patients and their families.

Give-A-Thon | Aug. 19-23, 2024 The 2024 KTAR News and Arizona Sports Give-A-Thon, presented by Valley Hyundai Dealers and the Ak-Chin Indian Community, raised a record $2.38 million in its 16th year.

At One Yoga Festival | Sept. 14, 2024 During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, yogis supported children facing cancer at Phoenix Children’s. The event raised over $90,000, benefiting the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

5K & Kids Dash | Oct. 5, 2024 Participants raised money for their chosen area of care at Phoenix Children’s during our 2024 5K & Kids Dash, brought to you by RSM US LLP and presented by AutoNation.

UPCOMING EVENTS OFF THE RECORD Nov. 2, 2024 Enjoy a concert by country star Chase Rice and delicious food from Phoenix’s top restaurants at this boot-stomping concert hosted by PCH 50.

OffTheRecordPCH.com

GOLF TOURNAMENT Nov. 22, 2024 Our 25th annual Golf Tournament, presented

by CBRE and The MJ Companies, tees off at Troon North Golf Club.

The event has raised over $10 million all-time.

PCHGolf.com

IGNITE HOPE Dec. 14, 2024 This holiday tradition raises funds for Phoenix Children’s while showing patients and their families they’re not alone during the holidays.

PCHIgniteHope.org

CONCOURS IN THE HILLS Feb. 15, 2025 Come to Fountain Park for a day of cars, food and music at this oneof-a-kind showcase of high-performance and collector vehicles.

ConcoursInTheHills.org

BEACH BALL ROYALE March 8, 2025 Don your best resort wear and dance the night away at this exclusive beachthemed cocktail party held at the W Hotel in Scottsdale.

PCHBeachBall.com

FA L L 2 0 24 M O MENT S

19

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION 2929 E. Camelback Road, Suite 122 Phoenix, AZ 85016

PHOENIX AZ PERMIT NO. 961

can’t wait.

Give the gift of hope to patients like Iris.

GiveToPCH.org/Hope