| Founder(s) | Ambassador David M. Walters |
|---|---|
| Type | Not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Location | Miami, Florida |
| Key people | Lucy Morillo, President |
| Area served | Global |
| Focus | Healthcare |
| Method | Donations |
| Motto | "Funding World Class Care" |
| Website | http://www.mchf.org/ |
Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation (MCHF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the sole purpose of supporting Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH).
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The mission of Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation is to create awareness and generate philanthropic support for Miami Children's Hospital, a licensed specialty hospital in South Florida exclusively for children.[1] The Foundation’s guiding principle is to ensure that all children have access to state-of-the-art pediatric care.
Following the loss of his six-year old granddaughter Shannon from leukemia, Ambassador David M. Walters vowed that no child ever need leave South Florida to receive the quality medical care. In 1982, Ambassador Walters activated Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation to meet that pledge.[2]
Ambassador Walters’ commitment to children’s health and pediatric care for all children, led to the Foundation becoming one of the largest single donors to Miami Children’s Hospital.[3] Through the Foundation’s contributions MCH has grown and established a reputation as a leader in pediatric care. Miami Children’s Hospital, a 289-bed freestanding facility,[4] offers family-centered care and has been recognized for excellence in pediatric medicine with several specialty programs ranked among the best in the nation during 2008 by U.S. News & World Report (June 2009).[5]
Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation hosts various events each year to keep donors, patients, families and the community in touch with the Foundation and the Hospital. While many are grassroots programs conducted throughout the year, the Foundation focuses on two major fundraising events each year: its Diamond Ball & Private Concert[6] and Hugs & Kisses Children’s Fashion Show hosted by the Foundation’s Community Council [7]
Throughout the year, Foundation volunteers create positive grassroots fundraising events to benefit the Foundation and the Hospital, such as toy drives, flower sales, carnivals, bike races, walkathons, paper icon sales, wiffleball tournaments, chess tournaments, restaurant openings, penny jars and fountain coins. The Foundation welcomes all types of fundraising events.[8]
Every year since 1968 the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation Auxiliary host the Queen of Hearts luncheon, where they recognize and crown an individual in the community who has demonstrated philanthropy and concern for children’s organizations, in particular Miami Children's Hospital.[9]
The Miami Children’s Hospital Corporate Golf Invitational is held annually at the Biltmore Golf Courseto benefit Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation.ref>http://www.communitynewspapers.com/coral/2008/071508/images/14.pdf</ref>
In addition to fundraising tied to events, the Foundation supports the mission of MCH by building and maintaining strong relationships with community and business leaders in an effort to involve them in the sustainability of the Hospital’s expertise.