Through the Eyes of: The CHOC Children's Vision

Fulfilling CHOC Children’s mission “To nurture, advance, and protect the health and well-being of children” is a team effort. From the courage of our young patients, to the expertise of our medical and nursing staff and associates, to the efforts of our Foundation and Board, to the generosity of our donors and volunteers – every single individual makes a difference. We invite you to see how some of these truly shining stars view CHOC Children’s. Without a doubt, you will be inspired by their “Through the eyes of…” stories.

DEAR FRIENDS,

CHOC Children’s doesn’t operate alone. Our success is due to a community of stakeholders who together support our organization in countless ways. From our outstanding associates, medical staff and boards of directors to our tremendous donors, patients and families, every single individual makes an enormous impact.

Why has CHOC attracted such a loyal and enthusiastic community of support, both within our walls and throughout the region and even nationwide? We devoted the 2017 Annual Report to finding out.

Our goal with the Annual Report theme “Through the eyes of…” was to discover how a variety of individuals—and even a therapy dog—view CHOC. How has CHOC touched them? What motivates them to become deeply involved in the organization? Every story sheds light on what makes CHOC truly inspiring.

All of this, of course, leads me to reflect on how I view CHOC. Without a doubt, 2016-2017 has been a tremendous year. There are so many highlights—from opening our new, private-room neonatal intensive care unit in July, to pediatric orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Afshin Aminian being awarded $1 million from CHOC Children’s Foundation’s innovative Philanthropic Venture Funding Program, to continued progress on building our mental health inpatient center.

Through my eyes, I see a selfless community ready to go the distance to advance pediatric care. This includes the thousands of walkers who participated in last year’s CHOC Walk in the Park, presented by Disneyland® Resort, donating close to $3.2 million, to the volunteers who spend hours upon hours improving the lives of patients and families.

I see CHOC Children’s Network—a health system that includes 1,500 pediatric primary care and specialty providers in the region—deliver seamless, quality care to patients. And I see an active Board of Directors and Foundation work together to raise crucial funds, design innovative projects and ensure that children, adolescents and young adults receive the highest quality care in a compassionate, pediatric-centered environment.

I see our precious patients battle diseases day in and day out, supported by a tremendous team of physicians, nurses and associates who are devoted to the health of young people. I feel the energy every day I walk through the doors; the energy of diverse people coming together for a common goal.

Through my eyes, I see a bright future for CHOC Children’s as we continue on our path of excellence in clinical care, innovative research and training the next generation of medical professionals. I am excited for what the next few years will bring.

Kimberly Chavalas Cripe
President and Chief Executive Officer
CHOC Children’s

DEAR FRIENDS,

The CHOC Children’s Foundation just completed an unparalleled year of fundraising success and innovative initiatives, continuing a tradition of compassion and caring that defines all who support CHOC Children’s mission. Without a doubt, this extraordinary success is due in large part to a vibrant community of donors who understand and support CHOC’s mission of providing excellence in clinical care, research and training.

A culture of philanthropy runs deep at CHOC. For a vivid example, you need look no further than 9-year-old Jordin Jackson, who, along with her dedicated family, made it their mission to single-handedly improve care for patients with sickle cell disease. When just 3 years old, Jordin was admitted to CHOC for complications due to her painful and life-threatening condition. With technology constraints at the time, her specialized laboratory tests had to be analyzed offsite, resulting in stressful delays waiting for results. Determined to resolve this problem, Jordin’s mother, Karen, recruited family and friends to raise $32,000 to purchase the sickle cell testing equipment needed to provide results faster, greatly improving the clinical experience for these patients and their families. On August 27, 2017 Jordin fulfilled a personal dream to serve as the CHOC Walk in the Park Ambassador, beautifully representing the unique stories of thousands of participants who have a deep personal attachment to CHOC.

The past year was a record setting one for our community-based fundraising, showcasing the tremendous generosity of the CHOC community. The Gala raised $5.2 million, the largest ever in Orange County, and the CHOC Follies celebrated its 20th season by raising more than $1.2 million secured to support CHOC’s mission.

The Cherese Mari Laulhere Foundation donated $5 million to the CHOC Child Life Department, which has been named the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Department. According to Chris and Larry Laulhere, the family-centered mission of the department eloquently aligns with their late daughter’s dreams for helping children in need.

Fundraising efforts also supported the CHOC Children’s Foundation’s new Philanthropic Venture Funding Program, for which the Foundation was nominated for the Orange County Business Journal’s Innovator of the Year award. CHOC orthopaedic surgeon Afshin Aminian, MD, and a team of researchers from Chapman University were awarded $1 million to implement a series of novel research projects to address movement challenges in children. The first involves placing wearable sensors on patients to collect data that will eventually lead to the production of smart, wearable customized orthotics.

From our grassroots fundraising led by our Guilds and the partners and programs of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, to record-setting signature events, to generous endowments for innovative programs and research, the CHOC Foundation is reinforcing a culture of philanthropy that continues to advance the care of children.

Thank you for your role in helping CHOC Children’s vision become reality.

Dennis K. McClellan
Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer
CHOC Children’s Foundation