Recent and upcoming events supporting Phoenix Children’s patients and their families. 6 4 7 18 19
The Brain Game
Dr. Jason Hauptman, division chief of pediatric neurological surgery, is pushing the boundaries of precision-based care while keeping compassion at the center of his work.
Robotics: Redefining Pediatric Neurosurgery
Funded by the Norton Foundation, the ROSA ONE Brain makes brain surgery more accurate and less invasive.
The Happiest Place in the Hospital
In the heart of Phoenix Children’s, amid the buzz of medical care, lies a sanctuary where laughter heals and kids thrive. The Child Life Zone awaits.
Common Cause
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When Everything Changes
Life can change in an instant— through a diagnosis, a decision or a spark of hope. These are the moments that define Phoenix Children’s.
A Grateful Mother’s Gift
Paula Campbell’s daughter received lifesaving care at Phoenix Children’s decades ago. Today, she’s showing her appreciation with a generous legacy gift.
Driven by Love
Fueled by a father’s passion, Wheelz That Heal funds Phoenix Children’s Integrative Medicine program, which helps kids thrive by treating the whole child—not just their diagnosis.
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
Brian Cousins Rainy Partners
EMERITUS
Larry Clemmensen Community Volunteer
EMERITUS
Michael Bill The MJ Companies
EMERITUS
Kevin Czerwinski Merit Partners, Inc.
DEAR FRIENDS,
Since the day we first opened our doors 42 years ago, I’ve dedicated my career to Phoenix Children’s and our mission. I’ve never once considered leaving to pursue other professional opportunities.
Why? Because of the moments.
There’s the moment I see a parent overwhelmed with worry. The moment a child rings the bell after completing cancer treatment, filling the room with hope. These moments, both heart-wrenching and uplifting, reaffirm my purpose—to find new ways to make an even greater impact with the support of generous people like you.
Speaking of impact, I want to take a moment to recognize a leader whose vision has shaped Phoenix Children’s into what it is today. After 22 years at the helm, Bob Meyer, our president and CEO, is retiring. Under his guidance, we’ve grown from a single hospital into one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems. Bob’s impact will be felt for generations to come.
As we look ahead, we know there are more moments to create—groundbreaking discoveries, milestones in patient care and continued expansion to ensure every child has access to world-class health care. None of this would be possible without you. Philanthropy fuels our vision—it allows us to invest in cutting-edge technology, recruit world-class physicians and provide the best care possible.
Fundraising for pediatric health care isn’t easy. But when I see the unwavering dedication of our doctors, nurses and staff, I’m reminded of why we do this work. I call it the “buoyancy factor”— no matter how tough the challenges, these moments lift us up and push us forward.
As we embark on this next chapter, I ask that you continue supporting our mission to provide world-class care to every child who needs it—because they deserve nothing less. Together, we will create more moments of healing and hope.
Sincerely,
STEVE SCHNALL Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
Teen Council Celebrates 10 Years
A decade of leadership, teamwork and community development
Fostered by generous supporters, the Phoenix Children’s Foundation Teen Council brings together driven, compassionate young minds empowered to drive positive change in their community—from advocating for pediatric health care initiatives to organizing impactful fundraising events. And in 2024, the council celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Over the past decade, these passionate teens have raised thousands of dollars and inspired a new generation of dedicated philanthropic leaders.
The Healing Power of Play
For patients facing long days of treatment, a little play can go a long way. Thanks to a generous donation from Children’s Museum of Phoenix, young patients at the Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s and the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders can get free tickets to explore, imagine and play. Whether they’re zigzagging through a noodle forest, pedaling through a “car wash” or scaling a treehouse built from found objects, these joyful adventures offer a welcome escape—and a reminder that healing isn’t only about medicine.
RAISED SINCE 2014: $295,000 PROGRAMS SUPPORTED:
• Camp Rainbow
• Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
• Child Life
• Homeless Youth Outreach (Crews’n Healthmobiles)
• Therapeutic Arts
• Toyland
• Volunteer Services (Family Care Cart)
SKILLS CULTIVATED:
• Advocacy
• Collaboration
• Community Development
• Leadership
Phoenix Children’s patient Christopher enjoys a day of fun at Children’s Museum of Phoenix.
The Brain Game
Jason Hauptman, MD, PhD, is pushing the boundaries of precision-based care while keeping compassion at the center of his work.
Dr. Jason Hauptman’s path to pediatric neurosurgery wasn’t a straight line. His father—an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. by boat at 8 and worked in his dad’s Brooklyn bodega—instilled in him the value of hard work and education. Working through school as a firefighterparamedic, Hauptman was initially drawn to trauma surgery. But then came a pivotal moment: a neuroscience course that changed everything. “It brought me into the brain game,” he says. Now a renowned pediatric neurosurgeon leading Phoenix Children’s neurosurgery program, he’s ensuring every child receives cutting-edge care with compassion.
What are your goals at Phoenix Children’s?
I want to make sure we have a neurosurgical program that offers the absolute best solutions for all surgical neurological problems. The longterm goals: How do we invent the future of neurosurgery? How will we be treating disease five, eight or 10 years from now, and what do we need to train our next generation of neurosurgical leaders?
What’s one thing you’re particularly proud of in your career? I’m proud to have so many incredible patients and families who have allowed me to help in their most vulnerable times. It keeps me going every single day and is at the center of every decision I make.
What neurosurgical advancements excite you most?
One is expanding our ability to perform precision-based, minimally invasive surgeries, with tools like the ROSA robot. We can now do complex brain surgeries with high accuracy through small incisions. Using this technology, we can implant brain pacemakers that alter brain function in disease states ranging from epilepsy to movement disorders. It’s a complete game changer for affected children.
In the next 10 years, gene therapy will likely change the landscape of neurological disease, offering cures we never anticipated. Many treatments will require surgical delivery—whether directly into the brain or through cerebrospinal fluid—shifting the focus to surgery on a molecular DNA level.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Love the patient more than you hate the disease.” Just doing an operation and having a perfect outcome is not enough. The patient also needs to feel heard and loved every single time.
When Everything Changes
A diagnosis. A decision. A spark of hope. These are the moments that define Phoenix Children’s.
Phoenix Children’s bears witness to life’s ups and downs every day. The joys and sorrows, the dark times and hopeful turns. These moments impact everyone, from patients and families to doctors, nurses and donors.
And though the experiences differ from person to person, there’s one thing they all have in common—finding a path to healing.
Hope and healing happen in moments—both big and small—at Phoenix Children’s.
For one young patient, Molly, visits from therapy dogs brought comfort, joy and a renewed sense of strength.
A heart WAKES UP
IDANIEL VELEZ, PHYSICIAN
’ve always had an interest in cardiac surgery. During my general surgery training days, our call room was one floor above the cardiac unit. In my free time, I’d go down to see what was happening in the ICU. One day, I heard there would be a heart transplant happening. I knew I had to see it.
The donor was in the room adjacent to the recipient’s room, so I got to see the heart come out of the donor. I’ll never forget the wave of emotions and hope that overtook me when I saw the recipient reading the newspaper shortly after the transplant was complete, even though he was in heart failure not too long before.
“I still get emotional at that moment when we bring an organ back from a donor, implant it in the patient and hear that first heartbeat.”
To this day—and I’m going on 20 years of doing this—I still get emotional at that moment when we bring an organ back from a donor, implant it in the patient and hear that first heartbeat. The feeling that overcomes me is almost too much to put into words. After we allow blood flow back to the heart, that’s what I’m waiting for—that first beat.
WHEN PARENTS COME IN FOR A PRENATAL ultrasound, most are expecting the results to reveal a normal, healthy baby with a perfectly normal heart. Unfortunately, sometimes that’s not the case.
When it’s determined that a patient has a heart defect, parents meet with a team of specialists. I’m one of them.
AS ONE OF MANY SPECIALISTS INVOLVED in a patient’s care, I’m lucky to be part of a team. From cardiologists to intensivists, support staff to nutritionists, pharmacists to nurse practitioners, we’re an army ready to help our young patients. Parents and families get to see that teamwork aligned in action even before the baby’s born.
It’s philanthropic efforts that keep this well-oiled machine humming. Over the decades, medical science has vastly improved—better techniques, better approaches and a better understanding of physiology, plus closer monitoring of patients between operations. Thanks to donors aiding our work at Phoenix Children’s, we can be on the frontlines of new technology and new information, moving forward as the field moves forward.
At the end of the day, I’m here to provide hope—to show parents that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Hearing that first heartbeat is a privilege I take very, very seriously.
Daniel Velez, MD, is co-director of Phoenix Children’s Center for Heart Care, division chief of cardiothoracic surgery and the Joseph and Shawn Lampe Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery.
I decided to GIVE BACK
Three years ago, my husband and I moved to Phoenix. I’d lived in California for 41 years working at an auction house—a job I love and still do, traveling back to my office in Beverly Hills a few days a month—but we wanted to be closer to grandchildren. I have a grown child of my own, two stepchildren, a wonderful daughter-in-law and four amazing grandkids.
In many ways, I feel so blessed. But I’ve had my challenges. My husband had a stroke within weeks of our arrival in Arizona. My sister, Janet, was terribly ill. For months, I spent every day at the hospital. I’d work from lobbies and hospital rooms. It was a difficult time. Little wins like finding a parking spot close to the hospital entrance made life manageable. When my sister passed away, she left me a generous gift in her estate. I knew I wanted to do something to honor her and give back to this new community that had become my home. I just wasn’t sure how.
“It really came down to my heartfelt belief that this donation will truly make a difference in people’s lives.”
CAROLYN MANI, DONOR
JANET AND I GREW UP IN A FAMILY THAT deeply believed in philanthropy. As a child, I remember my mother’s involvement in an organization for children with cerebral palsy. My sister and I were both blessed with healthy kids, and our grandkids have always been healthy and well-adjusted. But a lot of families don’t have this experience.
So when I attended an event co-hosted by Phoenix Children’s Foundation and Arizona Charitable Gift Planners, a nonprofit that supports the state’s charitable gift planning professionals, I discovered how to leave a lasting legacy—one that would be meaningful not only to my sister but also to our whole family. That was the moment I knew how I wanted to give back to my new community.
Impressed by the mission of the hospital and having experienced firsthand what compassionate care can—and should—be, I decided to contribute to Phoenix Children’s through a donor-advised fund (DAF).
I SET UP THE DAF IN 2024. A DAF IS AN investment account created for the sole purpose of supporting a charitable organization. I love knowing the funds directly benefit Phoenix Children’s, but there are other benefits, too.
For one, you get an immediate tax deduction. The funds in the DAF are invested for tax-free growth, meaning the money grows while in the DAF—thus, the final gift to Phoenix Children’s may be even greater than my original investment.
But it really came down to my heartfelt belief that this donation will truly make a difference in people’s lives. The families that arrive at Phoenix Children’s have an urgent need—one that I want to support.
As for how Phoenix Children’s uses my gift, I have no preference. Wherever it’s most helpful. If that’s a new parking lot close to the hospital entrance—well, that’s just fine by me.
Carolyn Mani is building a living legacy at Phoenix Children’s. Her donor-advised fund is just the start of her impact as she explores options for investing in the health of future generations, such as an estate gift.
I
knew
my
job makes a DIFFERENCE
LISA RAMIREZ, CHILD LIFE ASSISTANT
Istudied psychology in college, but after my mother told me about Child Life, I geared my education to focus on that. Upon graduation, I began work as a Child Life specialist, doing so for more than 10 years before deciding to retire and raise my family.
When my daughter was a teenager, she got sick very unexpectedly. Doctors found a tumor and moved her immediately to Phoenix Children’s for care. Her outcome was the best we could have hoped for, thank goodness—with surgery, she healed. But our experience as a patient family brought it home for me—it was in that moment that I saw just how valuable the services I had provided years ago as a Child Life specialist really are for parents and patients.
THE GOAL OF CHILD LIFE IS TO HELP CHILDREN feel comfortable, to bring normalcy to hospitalization. We do that in many ways, much of it through play. When parents have had their world turned upside down, and the child doesn’t know what’s going on, everything feels new and terrifying for them.
Then they enter our playroom. Things look safe; things look normal. They recognize the toys, they find their favorite video games, they dive into familiar activities like arts and crafts. We see relief wash over the family, and we watch the anxiety of the unknown melt from their faces.
That’s one goal—easing fears for parents and patients—but it’s also educating children on what to expect. Kids learn through play, so everything we do in Child Life looks like play. But it’s actually teaching them what goes on in the hospital and prepping them for what they’ll experience, and in a language they understand.
Everybody’s experience at Phoenix Children’s is unique. Collectively, we want to make it the best it
“ When parents have had their world turned upside down, and the child doesn’t know what’s going on, everything feels new and terrifying for them.”
can be. I saw that firsthand when we were here with my daughter. I noticed it right away, in fact, in the elevator! Everybody smiled, offered to help us find our way, cared for us at every turn. I knew I had to return to the job.
AS A CHILD LIFE ASSISTANT TODAY, I LOVE THE impact I have on families. Kids who are here for long treatments can get sad and become withdrawn, so it brings joy to see them return to play and show interest in activities they used to love. Our jobs in Child Life are funded by generous donors like you, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the support of this community that lets me do this work. It’s where my heart is.
Lisa Ramirez is a Child Life assistant at Phoenix Children’s.
A Grateful
Mother’s Gift
Paula Campbell's daughter received lifesaving care at Phoenix Children’s decades ago. Today, she’s showing her appreciation with a generous legacy gift.
Paula Campbell has held a place in her heart for Phoenix Children’s since it saved her daughter Ashley’s life 31 years ago. “I have such love and respect for the nurses and doctors who not only cared for Ashley, but also cared for me,” she says.
Their care was so meaningful to her that, in April 2024, Paula reached out to Phoenix Children’s Foundation, requesting information so she could name Phoenix Children’s as a beneficiary of her retirement account.
Paula Campbell's daughter, Ashley (left), was treated at Phoenix Children's as an infant. Now, Ashley serves as a pediatric audiologist at Phoenix Children's.
Photo Credit: Erin Ashlee
Full-Circle Care: The Beginning of Ashley's Journey
More than 30 years ago, Ashley's care team at Phoenix Children's saved her life. Now, Ashley cares for kids at Phoenix Children's—the same way she was cared for as an infant.
Von Petersen, senior philanthropy officer at Phoenix Children’s, spoke with Paula. “She said she was updating her estate plans, and although the charitable beneficiaries she named for her retirement account were good causes, she said, ‘Why not give to the hospital that literally saved my child’s life?!’”
Paula shared the ordeal her family faced, and why she is so grateful to the health care team at Phoenix Children’s.
A LIFE-THREATENING DIAGNOSIS
When Ashley was just 3 weeks old, she wouldn’t eat. “She would try to suck on her bottle, but she just couldn’t,” Paula says. In an emergency room in Mesa, Ashley began to have trouble breathing. Her condition was critical, and the team prepared to transfer her to Phoenix Children’s by air ambulance.
“I said, ‘Is she going to live?’ And the doctor said, ‘I don’t know.’ A nurse came out and asked if we had called clergy. It was just such a whirlwind. Life was falling apart,” Paula says.
While the family was rushing to Phoenix Children’s, Ashley’s health care team contacted Paul Liu, MD, a pediatric critical care specialist. Over the phone, after asking where they lived and what Ashley’s symptoms were, he reached a diagnosis: infantile botulism, a rare condition caused by airborne spores near the family’s home.
Ashley’s young immune system wasn’t strong enough to fight off the germs. Infantile botulism was slowly paralyzing her.
Knowing the diagnosis didn’t mean Ashley’s struggles were over. At the time, there was no treatment for the infection. All the health care team could do was support Ashley while she
Make Your Legacy Count
tried to clear the toxin from her system. She was intubated so she could breathe, plus she had an IV and a feeding tube. The doctors were worried that she might get pneumonia, which could be fatal.
CARING FOR A SICK BABY— AND A DISTRAUGHT MOTHER
Ashley was in the pediatric intensive care unit for nearly seven weeks. Paula spent every day with her. She says, “The nurses were amazing. They would help me through my crying and let me hold Ashley and rock her.”
It was devastating for Paula to leave Ashley every evening and go home. “Our house seemed so empty after having a baby there,” she says. Over time, Ashley started to make small movements—signs that she was recovering the use of her muscles. They removed her ventilator and moved her to a regular room in the hospital. After two days there, she was able to go home.
A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY AFTER MONTHS OF CARE
Today, Ashley Geske is a healthy adult, with no long-lasting effects from her illness. She says she grew up dreaming of working at Phoenix Children’s someday. That dream came true, and now she’s a pediatric audiologist, caring for children who have hearing loss.
Recognizing Ashley’s love for her job and the children she works with, Paula has earmarked her gift for the audiology department at Phoenix Children’s. “Her legacy gift and future annual gifts will benefit the wonderful care the audiology program provides at Phoenix Children’s,” Petersen says.
One of the easiest ways to make a legacy gift is to name Phoenix Children’s as a beneficiary of your retirement account. Because distributions from inherited retirement plans are taxable as ordinary income for your children or other heirs, this retirement asset is a good choice for charity. Contact your retirement account manager for a beneficiary form or scan the QR code.
During a collaborative design session, Scott Bindley joins young patients from Phoenix Children’s Integrative Medicine program to help reimagine a one-of-a-kind Wheelz That Heal car.
SEEING THE DIFFERENCE INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE CAN MAKE
Integrative medicine focuses on treating the whole child, not just a diagnosis. It addresses lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, activities and stressors to improve a child’s overall health and wellness.
Bindley’s appreciation for integrative medicine began when his identical twin daughters were diagnosed with an autoimmune disease at 12 years old. “We thought, ‘What if—along with managing this disease—we focused on maximizing their baseline health?’” he says.
Inspired by Scott’s wife, Polly, the Bindley family took a proactive approach. “Polly researched holistic treatments, practitioners and especially clean, healthy diets—and soon we all became passionate about it,” Bindley says.
Today, his daughters are thriving college seniors at Purdue University and the Savannah College of Art and Design. “They’re managing their own health and feel as well as they ever have,” Bindley says.
BRINGING WHOLE-CHILD CARE TO PHOENIX CHILDREN’S
When Bindley’s daughters were diagnosed, there was no integrative medicine program for guidance and support. Now, Phoenix Children’s has an Integrative Medicine program that welcomes families looking to approach their child’s care from multiple angles. The team works with children with allergies, asthma, ADHD, chronic pain, gastrointestinal conditions, obesity, metabolic syndrome and more.
According to Sarjita Shukla, MD, the medical director of Integrative Medicine at Phoenix Children’s, the program isn’t an alternative to conventional medicine—it’s a complement.
“It’s about empowering children and families to become ambassadors for their own health,” Dr. Shukla says. “And as patients transition into adulthood, we want them to be able to speak for themselves, identify health concerns and be involved in their care plan.”
“We want to make this into something that can impact more people and change the course of their health.”
— SCOTT BINDLEY, WHEELZ THAT HEAL FOUNDER
CONNECTING A HOBBY WITH A PASSION
Bindley, who’s also a Phoenix Children’s Foundation board member, launched Wheelz That Heal—a program that restores donated or discounted vehicles and sells them to fund the Integrative Medicine program.
He initially planned to modify and auction just one car and donate the money to Phoenix Children’s, but after securing donations from mechanics and suppliers, he realized he could do so much more.
“Nobody said no,” he says.
Bindley started a Facebook page to document the restoration process and thank donors. “It grew into Wheelz That Heal. We’ve done more than 20 cars,” he says. One car they’re restoring is even being designed entirely by patients in the Integrative Medicine program.
So far, Wheelz That Heal has donated more than $1.6 million to Phoenix Children’s—and Bindley aims to raise $500,000 in 2025 alone. He’s been reaching out to dealerships, suggesting they showcase cars from which proceeds benefit Phoenix Children’s. Beyond that, he’s tapping into the collector car community in the greater Phoenix area, as well as auto enthusiasts of all kinds.
“I think we’re just scratching the surface on this,” he says. “We want to make this into something that can impact more people and change the course of their health.”
The Happiest Place in the Hospital
In the heart of Phoenix Children’s, amid the buzz of medical care, lies a sanctuary where laughter heals and childhood thrives. The Child Life Zone awaits.
Nestled within the bustling corridors of Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Thomas Campus, there’s a therapeutic space unlike any other—a vibrant retreat where the laughter of children mingles with the whirl of arcade games and the hum of creativity. Opened in 2012 and recently revamped through an endowment from Garth Brooks’ Teammates for Kids Foundation, the 3,800-square-foot space caters to the diverse interests of its visitors. This is The Child Life Zone, affectionately known simply as “The Zone,” a haven designed to whisk young patients and their families away from the rigors of hospital life. Here, we offer an insider’s look at The Zone.
1
CENTER STAGE
A broadcast studio allows children to participate in interactive shows and performances, while a music studio complete with instruments provides a place to lose themselves in a jam session.
2
GAMES GALORE
A gaming area beckons with digital entertainment, drawing kids into a world of fun and distraction. Nearby, an arcade-style basketball hoop, pool and air hockey tables, and nostalgic pinball and classic arcade games spark friendly competition and plenty of smiles.
3 4
CRAFTS CENTRAL
A dedicated craft center invites budding artists to explore their imaginations through various projects, providing a therapeutic outlet that complements medical treatment.
FOR FAMILIES
The Zone provides families with comfort and community, where laughter and play offer moments of pure childhood, even amid challenging treatments.
Events That Make Moments Possible
Recent and upcoming events supporting Phoenix Children’s patients and their families.
Beach Ball Royale
More than 500 community and industry leaders gathered for a night of resort-style sophistication, raising over $1.2 million in critical funds for Phoenix Children’s.
UPCOMING EVENTS
GIVE-A-THON
August 2025
Tune in to KTAR News
92.3 FM and Arizona
Sports 98.7 FM for the Give-A-Thon, the nation’s largest radiothon for a children’s hospital. GiveAThonForPCH.org
Team Taylor Family Fun Run
More than 800 runners gathered for the 13th annual Team Taylor Family Fun Run, raising valuable funds for the Home Safety and Safe Sleep Program.
SPOOKTACULAR
SPRINT & 5K
October 25, 2025
Join over 2,000 fitness enthusiasts and families in downtown Phoenix for a Halloween-themed 5K benefiting Phoenix Children’s. PhoenixChildrens5K.org
Concours in the Hills
The “greatest car show on grass” featured over 1,000 vehicles and raised more than $430,000 to fund Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Fund.
GOLF TOURNAMENT
November 21, 2025
Hit the green with 300+ community leaders and philanthropists at Phoenix Children’s 26th annual Golf Tournament. PCHGolf.com
IGNITE HOPE
December 13, 2025
Help raise funds for Phoenix Children’s while showing patients and their families they’re not alone during the holidays. PCHIgniteHope.org
