Inside this Issue - Connecticut Children`s Medical Center Foundation

JAN/FEB 2015
F R O M C O N N E C T I C U T C H I L D R E N ’ S M E D I C A L C E N T E R F O U N D AT I O N
Inside this Issue
Another Successful Year............. 2
• State Police Toy Drive
• Kidscard
Building Partnerships . . .
LEGO Systems, Inc., Brings Smiles, Support to
Connecticut’s Children
Upcoming Events....................... 3
• QTHON
• Hearts for Kids
• National Pancake Day
• HuskyTHON
• Miracle Ride
Be a Partner in Caring................ 4
We hope you enjoy Partners in
Caring, a bimonthly publication
of Connecticut Children’s
Medical Center Foundation,
prepared especially for
friends and patient families of
Connecticut Children’s. Read
on to learn more about the
many programs and services the
hospital provides and about our
generous friends and donors who
help make it happen.
From golf tournaments to galas to corporate grants, LEGO Systems, Inc., of Enfield has
raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit care for children throughout the state.
Above, golfers at last year’s LEGO® Children’s Charity Golf Tournament celebrate with
CJ Gibbs, 9, of Bristol.
S
ince 1932, the LEGO Group,
based in Billund, Denmark, has
brought delight to children with
LEGO® toys while helping them develop
creativity through learning and play.
HuskyTHON & More, Page 3
DIABETES &
ENDOCRINOLOGY
UROLOGY
Locally, LEGO Systems, Inc., of Enfield,
Connecticut, has carried on that
tradition of stimulating the imagination
through play while supporting the health
and well-being of children throughout
the region. For the past several years,
LEGO Systems – the U.S. division of the
maker of the popular LEGO bricks – has
been a strong supporter of Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center and its
initiatives to help provide children with
the care they deserve.
From golf tournaments to galas to
corporate grants, the company has
raised hundreds of thousands of dollars
to benefit care for children throughout
the state.
“As corporate citizens of the Hartford
area, we place great priority on
giving back to the local community
through charitable contributions and
volunteerism to organizations that
closely align with our values and
mission,” said Søren Torp Laursen,
President of LEGO Systems and a
member of Connecticut Children’s
Board of Directors since April 2009.
“Our focus on children and their overall
well-being is naturally and perfectly
mirrored in the work that happens at
Connecticut Children’s, making this a
truly synergistic partnership.”
CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
On the golf course, the company has
hosted the LEGO Children’s Charity
Golf Tournament in collaboration with
the Travelers Championship Foundation
for the past three years. Coordinated
by LEGO employees Vince Rubino and
Continued on page 2.
Event Wrap-Up . . .
Connecticut State Police
Toy Drive a Success
Kidscard Campaign
Raises $40,000
With more than
70 stores and
restaurants in
West Hartford
Center and Blue
Back Square
participating,
the 2014 West Hartford Center Kidscard
campaign raised $40,000 for Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center.
The outpouring of generosity from area residents would have made Santa proud.
Thousands of toys were donated and approximately $22,000 was raised
through the 18th annual Connecticut State Police Troop H Toy Drive held
Dec. 18 through 21 at Toys “R” Us locations in Newington, West Hartford
and Manchester.
The Ambulance Service of Manchester and Aetna Ambulance Service partnered
with Troop H to collect and deliver the toys to Connecticut Children’s Dec. 22nd
for distribution to children who are seen in the Emergency Department during the
holidays and throughout the year.
During the 10-day shopping and dining
extravaganza, held Oct. 23 through Nov. 1,
shoppers enjoyed discounts at their favorite
businesses, while supporting Connecticut
Children’s through the $50 purchase
price of the Kidscard. Proceeds from this
year’s fundraiser will benefit Connecticut
Children’s new Ambulatory Surgery Center
at Farmington.
Under the leadership of Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center Board Member
Lauren Zeligson, the annual program has
generated nearly $300,000 for the Medical
Center in nine years.
LEGO Systems, Inc., Brings Smiles, Support to Connecticut’s Children, continued from page 1.
Steve Turco, the annual event held at TPC
River Highlands in Cromwell has raised
more than $225,000 for Connecticut
Children’s Farmington Surgery Center
and its new Cardiovascular Care Center
to be housed at the Medical Center’s
main campus in Hartford.
STORYBOOK GALA SUPPORT
LEGO Systems has also been a “Partner
Sponsor” of the Friends Storybook
Gala for the past several years. In
addition to its sponsorship of the
signature fundraising event, which raised
$800,000 for the Medical Center in
October, LEGO Systems has donated
a Golden Ticket auction item that has
received more than $19,000 in bids for
the Gala’s live auction.
2.
Highlights of the LEGO Golden Ticket
experience included a tour of the LEGO
facility in Enfield for the child and his
or her immediate family and a friend,
lunch, and a visit to the LEGO Model
Shop for a one-on-one building session
with a LEGO Master Builder, among
other special experiences.
OTHER GIFTS
A wall mural at the Medical Center
made entirely from LEGO bricks
represents a very special in-kind gift
presented by LEGO Systems. The
mural, which depicts a jungle scene, is
located along the perimeter of the walls
in the space formerly occupied by the
Primary Care Center, soon to be part
of the renovated Center of Procedural
Excellence.
The LEGO Community Fund U.S.,
a nonprofit organization that issues
grants to organizations focused on
children, presented a gift in the amount
of $250,000 to Connecticut Children’s
“Brighter Hope Campaign.” This
generous gift made possible the Family
Resource Room located within the
new Care Center for Cancer and Blood
Disorders, a space where families can
obtain information about their child’s
diagnosis and treatment.
2014 GRANT AWARD
The LEGO Community Fund U.S.
most recently awarded Connecticut
Children’s Office for Community Child
Health (OCCH) a $250,000 grant to
institute a new standard of care for
children identified as being at-risk for
developmental delays.
Funding provided by the LEGO
Community Fund U.S. will enable the
OCCH to expand the availability of
Mid-Level Developmental Assessment
(MLDA) for 3- to 5-year-old children
throughout the state over the next two
years, as well as expand the model to
include children ages birth to 3 years.
“We are deeply grateful to the LEGO
Community Fund U.S. Board for
selecting Connecticut Children’s
OCCH as a recipient of its 2014 grant
award, and we are equally thankful
to LEGO Systems for its ongoing
support of Connecticut Children’s,”
said Martin Gavin, President and CEO
of Connecticut Children’s Medical
Center. “This is a company that truly
cares about children, and its dedication
to the care of children in our region is
inspiring.”
Upcoming Events . . .
Bimbo Bakeries Supports
“Hearts for Kids”
Marking its 17th year, the 2015
“Hearts for Kids” program will
run Feb. 20th through April 9th
in Stop & Shop stores throughout
northeastern, central and
southeastern Connecticut. During
that time, participating Stop &
Shop’s will donate 10 cents to Connecticut Children’s
Medical Center with the purchase of any Freihofer
Country Breads or Arnold Whole Grain Breads.
Shemar Williams (center), the 2014 Connecticut Champion
Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, was among
those participating in the 2014 QTHON.
Get Ready for “QTHON” Feb. 28
On Saturday, Feb. 28, hundreds of students at Quinnipiac
University in Hamden will come together for their 4th Annual
QTHON. That night, the students’ year-round fundraising
efforts will culminate in a six-hour dance marathon from
5-11 p.m. Since its inception in 2012, QTHON has raised
more than $65,000 for Connecticut Children’s Medical
Center. For more information, please visit www.qthon.com.
UConn Readies for HuskyTHON
Dance Marathon March 7th
Thousands of University of Connecticut (UConn)
students will come together for the annual HuskyTHON
dance marathon Saturday, March 7, at 5 p.m. This
18-hour dance marathon is one of the top fundraising
events for Connecticut Children’s and is one of the top
10 dance marathons for Children’s Miracle Network
Hospitals nationally. To learn more, please visit
www.huskython.org.
IHOP to Serve Up Short Stacks,
Support for Connecticut Children’s
You can “come hungry and
leave happy,” while supporting
Connecticut Children’s Medical
Center! On Tuesday, March 3,
area IHOP locations will be
giving away free short stacks
of pancakes while asking for
donations to Connecticut Children’s through Children’s
Miracle Network Hospitals. For more information, please
visit www.ihop.com.
20th Annual Miracle Ride to Support
“Angel Eye” Project
On Sunday, April 26th, motorcyclists from all over New
England will band together for the 20th Annual Miracle
Ride. Proceeds from this year’s event will support the
“Angel Eye” Webcam Project in the Neonatal Intensive
Care Units (NICU) at Connecticut Children’s Medical
Center in Hartford and Farmington, where a new
Internet-based camera system will help keep parents
and their babies connected 24 hours a day. Connecticut
Children’s goal is to equip each of its 72 NICU beds
with a camera system at a cost of $2,500 each.
For more information, visit www.miracleride.com.
3.
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARTFORD, CT
PERMIT NO. 3745
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
282 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
A Proud Member . . .
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is a proud member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals helps to raise funds and awareness for 170 children’s hospitals
across North America, helping more than 17 million kids each year. Funds raised through this
organization stay in the local community in which they are given. For more information,
please visit www.cmnhospitals.org.
Heartfelt Care at Connecticut Children’s
Aavah
Clahar, 13
months –
with dad,
Donald
Clahar –
undergoes
a recent
checkup with
Cardiologist
Alicia Wang,
MD. (Photo
Credit:
Michael
McCarter)
NEWSLETTER
CONTRIBUTORS:
Sharon Napolitano, Senior Editor
Kevin McMahon, Contributing Writer
Ed Jalinskas, Creative Services
Michael McCarter, Contributing
Photographer
Be a Partner in Caring
Your gift, large or small,
MAKE
makes a difference in the
A GIFT
lives of children. Donations
towards equipment,
TODAY!
technology, research,
people and programs bring hope and
health to those who entrust their care
to Connecticut Children’s. Won’t you
please consider making a tax-deductible
donation today? Your generosity helps
us provide our region’s children with the
best care possible – each and every day.
To learn more, please contact the
Foundation at 860.837.5700,
or visit our website at
www.connecticutchildrensfoundation.org.
Partners in Caring is a bimonthly publication of Connecticut Children’s Foundation, highlighting the programs
and services of Connecticut Children’s. To be added to or removed from our mailing list, please contact
Kevin McMahon at [email protected].