A lot happens in a year at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation. Special events are produced, thank you letters are written, toy donations are sorted, corporations become our partners, board members and committees meet and plan, and caring individuals who care about pediatric health become our hospital’s ambassadors in the community.
Collectively, these undertakings allow us to further our mission of providing the best care to every child. Because of your generosity this year, we are able to change outcomes, provide lifesaving treatments, and give children what they need to reach life’s important milestones.
The year 2017 was one of peaks for our foundation. We received a $7 million contribution from Sanford Health in support of the Personalized Medicine Initiative at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, allowing us to more effectively diagnose and treat children with unexplained illnesses. In her estate plans, Mrs. Rita Auerbach Wallach left our patients a $2.5 million gift, and Mr. Carlos Arboleya gave our children $1 million in memory of his beloved wife and son.
Our special events including Wine, Women and Shoes, the Nico’s Promise Fashion Show, Fashion Gives Back, the annual 5K race, and our Diamond Ball raised well over $4 million. Families across our community set up bake stands as part of Bake a Difference, raising funds and awareness for our Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, and our revamped Spread Joy Holiday Toy Drive saw more participants and brought in more donations for our patients than ever before.
The year was capped off when we changed our name from Miami Children’s Health Foundation to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation, in recognition of the continued support from the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and its founders, golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara.
As I said at the start of this letter, a lot happens in a year at the foundation. All that we have accomplished in 2017 fills us with renewed enthusiasm to do even more for our children.
On behalf of all the children we serve, please accept my deepest gratitude.
Sincerely,
Tim Birkenstock
Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation 2017 Highlights
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation initiatives range from its signature event gala to local grassroots projects. Each event caters to a different audience, but they all share the same common goal; bringing the community together to help support the patients and families of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Major Gifts
Sanford Health and Personalized Medicine Initiative
Businessman and philanthropist Thomas Denny Sanford along with Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the nation with 45 hospitals and nearly 300 clinics in nine states and four countries, donated $7 million to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in support of the Personalized Medicine Initiative (PMI). In collaboration with Rady Children’s Institute, Nicklaus Children’s has launched two genomic medicine research protocols to more effectively diagnose and treat children with unexplained illnesses.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is proud to be one of the seven hospitals that forms part of the Sanford Children’s Genomic Medicine Consortium, which is committed to advancing children’s medicine through integration of genomics into pediatric care. The goal of genomic medicine is to develop a precision care plan for each child based on determining an underlying genetic diagnosis.
Rita Auerbach Wallach Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion Lobby
Rita Auerbach Wallach, was born in New York and grew up in Miami where she attended the University of Miami. She raised two children, who, sadly, predeceased her as adults. She was also a very active member of the region’s music and arts communities throughout her lifetime.
When Mrs. Wallach established her trust and will, she left everything equally to five organizations, including Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which she selected for a very special reason. She determined that since she was not blessed with grandchildren during her lifetime, she could still show her love and concern for children by leaving Nicklaus Children’s Hospital an unrestricted, $2.5 million gift.
In honor of her donation, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital named the ground floor of its critical care tower, The Rita Auerbach Wallach Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion Lobby.
The Marta & Carlos J. Arboleya, Jr., Pediatric Intensive Care Floor
Having been a banker in Cuba and arriving in the United States with his wife Marta and son Carlos, Jr.in 1959, Carlos Arboleya, Sr., took a job as a shoe store inventory clerk, eventually rising to company vice president. Eventually, Arboleya became the first naturalized Cuban-American president of a U.S. national bank.
In addition to his successful banking career, Mr. Arboleya dedicated his energies to supporting the children of the South Florida community, including the Boy Scouts and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. In 2017, he donated $1 million in honor of his late son, Carlos Jr., and his wife, Marta, to benefit the patients and families treated at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. In return, the hospital dedicated the Pediatric Intensive Care floor to his family.
Philanthropic Events
6th Annual Wine, Women & Shoes Presented by Faena Rose & Christina Getty
More than 600 women slipped into their stilettos to be a part of the 6
th Annual
Wine, Women & Shoes Presented by Faena Rose and Christina Getty. The sold-out event took place at Soho Studios in Wynwood and generated nearly $700,000 to benefit the children and families at
Nicklaus Children's Hospital. This sophisticated gathering was emceed by Emmy award-winning journalist Belkys Nerey and included a fashion show by Neiman Marcus of Coral Gables which presented its 2017 collections and latest avant-garde designs.
One of the event’s special moments included an emotional and touching speech by Milagros, a Nicklaus Children’s patient and the guest of honor. Milagros shared the story about her lupus diagnosis and the health and emotional challenges that followed including kidney failure, dialysis and the death of her father in 2016. She closed her speech with a reminder that events like Wine, Women & Shoes give patients like her a chance to lead a healthier life.
A Celebration of Life - 3rd Annual Nico’s Promise Fashion Show
Fashion got a whole lot cuter at the 3
rd Annual Nico’s Promise Fashion Show, where the community came together in suppor
t of Nico’s Promise: A Journey of Hope and Healing, the bereavement program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Founded by Alina Hernandez and Carolina Exposito, Nico’s Promise provides services to families who have lost loved ones at Nicklaus Children’s. In the same spirit, the fashion show is a celebration of life, featuring kids of all ages modeling the latest trends in children’s fashion in front of families and supporters. Guests were also able to enjoy a cocktail reception, silent auction and gourmet luncheon at the Hilton Miami Downtown. During the event, they heard from the founders of the event and from Cesar Pizarro, who spoke on behalf of families who have been impacted by Nico’s Promise. The Nico’s Promise Fashion Show continues to grow, and this year it raised over $233,000. Thank you to all supporters and sponsors for helping make this event possible!
Bake a Difference
Bake a Difference is a community wide effort in support of raising awareness and funds for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and its Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Since 2014, community members have come together for a day of baking and selling goods in the Miami-Dade and Broward communities, and in that time have raised over $100,000 to fund new equipment and less invasive surgery techniques such as a concentrated MRI. Founded by the Hirschhorn family, Amy, Doug, Evie and Samantha all saw a need and desire to give back after Samantha was diagnosed at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for epilepsy. They wanted to give anyone the opportunity to make a difference and participate in an event that was inclusive of the entire family. Last year alone, Bake a Difference raised over $32,000 and we are so excited to be able to host this event again in 2018 to spread even more awareness and continue to raise funds for this important program.
6th Annual Fashion Gives Back
Created in 2012 by members Ricky Patel and Wesley Farrell, partners of Farrell and Patel, Attorneys at Law, Nicklaus Children’s Young Ambassadors (NCYA) has raised over $1.3 million for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
NCYA’s largest event of the year, Fashion Gives Back, brought together the best in fashion and philanthropy for an incredible night benefiting the patients and families of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Nearly 400 of Miami’s most fashionable young professionals attended the event, which took place in Miami’s Design District.
This year’s Fashion Gives Back featured exciting surprises, including a Best Dressed contest judged by Brickellista Files creator, Evelyn Torres, chiropractor and recent winner of The Bachelorette, Bryan Abasolo, celebrity stylist Elysze Held and Miami Modern Luxury Magazine’s resident fashionista, Nirvana Jewell.
7th Annual MCHF5K Run / Walk
Our largest annual community event, the Miami Children’s Health Foundation 5K Run / Walk (MCHF5K), now known as Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation (NCHF) Super Duper Fun Day Walk and Family Festival, gathered over 3,000 people from the South Florida community – including runners, walkers and spectators.
The race began and ended at Coral Gables City Hall, winding through the streets of downtown Gables. Aside from the main run / walk, the event also featured the always-popular Kids Race, a Kids Fun Zone, and the Vendor Village, with various booths representing local businesses, organizations and clubs.
Sponsored by IberiaBank and presented by AON, the 7
th Annual Miami Children’s Health Foundation 5K Run / Walk raised over $280,000 to benefit the children and families who depend on Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s lifesaving care.
11th Annual Diamond Ball
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation held its 11
th Annual Diamond Ball with over 600 of South Florida’s most philanthropic community members in attendance. Known as one of the most anticipated galas of the year in South Florida, the event raised $2.8 million to benefit the children and families cared for at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
This year’s event kicked off with an opening act performance by Sydney Harcourt, one of the stars from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical,
Hamilton. The event’s Master of Ceremonies, award-winning journalist, Beatriz Canals, then welcomed the night’s special guests, including celebrities and dignitaries like Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, actor Christina de la Fuente, Angelica Castro, Federico Diaz y Zuleika.
During the event, world-renowned photographer, Anne Geddes, and highly successful racecar driver, Hélio Castroneves, were inducted into the Ambassador David M. Walters International Pediatric Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by the foundation. The honorees were recognized for their lifelong commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of children around the world.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: Making a Difference One Dollar at a Time
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is the exclusive Children’s Miracle Network Hospital® in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals) raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Its core philosophy is to keep 100 percent of donations in the local community in which they are raised. Funds for CMN Hospitals are raised year-round by national and local partners. In 2017, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ partners soared to new heights with fundraising campaigns and events throughout the year.
Miracle Icon Campaigns
- Publix Super Markets raised an unprecedented $1,100,854 during its three-week campaign.
- Costco raised $510,769 during its month-long campaign, an increase of nearly 10.03 percent.
- Sunshine Gasoline raised $31,450 in its fourth annual campaign.
- Walmart and Sam’s Clubs raised $305,416.
- Speedway raised $39,019 during its annual campaign in South Florida.
Events and Promotions
- IHOP Restaurants hosted its annual National Pancake Day and two icon campaigns, raising $100,379.
- Dairy Queen hosted Miracle Treat Day, in which 24 local Dairy Queen locations participated in the annual campaign and donated a portion of the sale of every Blizzard® treat.
- The 17th Annual Marriott / CMN Hospitals golf tournament raised $63,566.
- The Annual Hardware Conference (organized by Ace Hardware dealers) raised $14,080.
- Elegant Beauty Supplies hosted an icon campaign and raised $442,628, an increase of 77.62 percent.
- Through a partnership with Costco, Newman’s Own donated $21,537 to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Student Involvement
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Miami raised $36,571 during its Paddy Murphy Week.
- Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity at Florida International University, the University of Miami, Ross University in Dominica West Indies and American University in Antigua raised $14,944.
- Phi Mu Fraternity at Florida International University raised $11,088.
- The CANESdm, the University of Miami’s Dance Marathon, raised $12,730.
- Florida International University hosted its annual Dance Marathon and raised $96,018.
Local Partnerships
In 2017, CMN Hospitals partnered locally with the following:
- YouFit was a Pink Sponsor at the $10,000 level at the MCHF5K.
New local partners included:
- Milam’s Supermarkets hosted a point-of-sale campaign and raised $20,000.
- CVS / Navarro partnered with us for a $10,000 sponsorship at the MCHF5K.
- Party City stores in Florida and five other states hosted a point-of-sale campaign and raised $86,600.
- Hasbro hosted its annual Global Day of Joy at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. This also resulted in an award of a $20,000 grant for the Sibling Management Program in the hospital’s Emergency Department.
Year-Round
- Local credit unions raised $22,153 through the Credit Unions for Kids Program, including a golf tournament.
- Participating RE/MAX offices continued to support CMN Hospitals through the Miracle Home Program and special events, raising $26,069.
- Tom Thumb Food Stores raised $2,483 through the CMN Hospitals canister program.
- Panda Restaurant Group raised $35,918 through icon campaigns and the CMN Hospitals canister program.