A GIFT FOR A GROWING COMMUNITY, - 2017 | Aspirelewis e. brazelton iii ben a. brollier o. holcombe crosswell donald p. dewalch robert l. gerry iii ben b. mcandrew iii william k. mcgee

ISSUE 2 - 2015

THE WOODLANDS WELCOMES A NEW NEIGHBOR, p. 27

A GIFT FOR A GROWING COMMUNITY, p. 7

THE CAMPAIGN FOR TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, p. 8

CONTINUING THE MISSION OF THE BLUE BIRD CIRCLE, p. 22

PHILANTHROPY AND FUN FOR AMBASSADORS, p . 30

To know that every child is extraordinary.

texaschildrens.org/promise

What’s your promise?

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JOHN SCALES, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONSLAURA SHUFORD, VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENTSTACEY COOK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANN SAYE, MANAGING EDITORMICHAEL COTHRAN, MANAGING EDITORREGINA WHEELER, PHOTOGRAPHY COORDINATORADCETERA, DESIGN AND CONTRIBUTING WRITINGJENNY ANTILL, ALLEN KRAMER, PAUL KUNTZ, WILL LEBLANC, JOHN LEWIS, CHINH PHAN, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

OFFICERS

JOEL V. STAFFCHAIRMAN

ANN LENTSPRESIDENT

KEVIN C. KINGVICE PRESIDENT

FREDA WILKERSON BASSVICE PRESIDENT

MICHAEL C. LINNVICE PRESIDENT

C. PARK SHAPERTREASURER

SUSAN BELL BOYKINSECRETARY

DACE REINHOLDSASSISTANT SECRETARY (non-trustee)

EMERITUS TRUSTEE

JOSEPHINE E. ABERCROMBIE

ADVISORY BOARD

EDUARDO AGUIRRE JR.KIRBY ATTWELL LEWIS E. BRAZELTON IIIBEN A. BROLLIERO. HOLCOMBE CROSSWELLDONALD P. DEWALCH ROBERT L. GERRY IIIBEN B. McANDREW IIIWILLIAM K. McGEE JR.DARRELL C. MORROWGEORGE A. PETERKIN JR.TOWNES G. PRESSLER

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

WILLIE J. ALEXANDERMERRELL A. ATHONTHOMAS G. BACONFREDA WILKERSON BASSSUSAN BELL BOYKINJAN ELLIS DUNCANJENNY ELKINSNANCY R. GORDONVICTOR E. HARRISRONALD C. HULMEJODIE LEE JILESKEVIN C. KINGANN LENTSMICHAEL C. LINNBARRY H. MARGOLISWILLIAM N. MATHISEDWARD S. McCULLOUGHROBERT E. MEADOWSDAVID L. MENDEZSUZANNE NIMOCKSANTHONY G. PETRELLOGARY L. ROSENTHALTONY SANCHEZC. PARK SHAPERL.E. SIMMONSJOEL V. STAFFY. PING SUNCINDY B. TAYLORBRAD TUCKERMARK A. WALLACEPETER S. WAREINGMAX P. WATSONSCOTT N. WULFE

2015 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PROMISE CAMPAIGNCOMMITTEE LEADERSHIP

CONTRIBUTORS

Start making a difference today.

Give onlinetexaschildrens.org/give

Give over the phone832-824-2945

Give via mailTexas Children’s HospitalOffice of Development1919 South Braeswood Boulevard Suite 5214Houston, Texas 77030

IN THIS ISSUE ...

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06

27

18

20

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33

30

2015 Calendar of Events

The Forum LuncheonThe Woodlands

The Woodlands Welcomes Nordstrom to the Neighborhood

Models of Courage

Launching Toward the Future

Betting Big on Texas Children’s

An Enduring Gift

Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital

What’s New, What’s Next

Expertise in infectious diseases

Celebration of Champions

Toss for Texas Children’s

Casino Night

Alexander James Moll

The Dunn Family

ExxonMobil

The Leadership of the Promise Campaign

The Blue Bird Circle

Bad Pants Open

A HOME RUN FORTHE COMMUNITY

SUPPORTING HEALTH CARE, BUILDING COMMUNITY

STEPPING UP

THE 19TH ANNUAL “WHAT’S UP, DOC?”

WITH SELFLESS PURPOSE

PROMISE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

NO BOGEYS FOR BAD PANTS

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26

16

34

22

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07A Hometown CommitmentWoodforest National Bank

JAMES JONESMARY C. JONESELISE JOSEPHMELISSA AND BRAD JUNEAUNICOLE KATZCRAIG KINSELJOHN KOTTSHEATHER LACKDUNCAN LAMMEJENNIFER LAPORTEWILLIAM G. LEEDAVID LUMMISROSALYN AND BARRY MARGOLISRODNEY MARGOLISCHRISTIANA McCONNKIRBY AND SCOTT McCOOLANDREW McCULLOUGHANNA McCULLOUGHTRINIDAD MENDENHALLMICHAEL MORGANMEG AND NELSON MURRAYPHOEBE MUZZYCYNTHIA PETRELLOTOWNES PRESSLERSALLIE RAINERRISHER RANDALLCARROLL RAYISLA AND THOMAS RECKLINGJOHN REEDVICKI RICHMONDALEXANDER ROBISONEDUARDO SANCHEZCOURTNEY AND CHRISTOPHER B. SAROFIMLESLIE SASSERDOUGLAS SCHNITZERAMY AND PETER SHAPERMICHELLE SMITHMICHAEL SOPERLAUREN CAMILLO SULLIVANLAURA AND ROBERT WALLSW. TEMPLE WEBBERLINDA WEBSTERMARY WHALLEYPAM AND GARY WHITLOCKJULIA AND CARL WILLIAMSBARBARA AND ROBERT ZORICH

RALPH ALEXANDERTHURMON ANDRESSLAURA AND JOHN ARNOLDCARIN BARTHTODD BINETEVA BISSOKELLI AND EDDY BLANTONLESLIE BLANTONJENNIFER BROWNDAVID BUCKSTANLEY BUNTINGMARTIAL BURGUIERESGEORGIA CARTERLAWRENCE CATUZZICLARENCE CAZALOTALBERT CHAOLYDIA CHAOEMILY DALICANDROCAROLYN DAVISCOLE DAWSONANTHONY DELUCAPATRICIA DEWHURSTSUSIE DILGCAROLYN DORROSNEIL DUFFINLYLE EASTHAMASHLEY EDENSMARY ERWINZEINA FARESLESLIE AND MICHAEL FERTITTAANISSA AND REID FRIEDMANJOHN GAYLORDDANIEL GILBANECLARE GLASSELLROBERT GRAHAMJAY GREERCARI AND JOHN GRIGGSJOHN GUNNSCOTT GUTTERMANANNE HAMMANANN LENTS AND DAVID HEANEYBRANDON HOLCOMBLINDSAY AND RAND HOLSTEADCOURTNEY HOPSONTERRY HUFFINGTONANA LEE JACOBSJILL JEWETTHELENA AND TOM JOHNSON

NANCY GORDONJUDY AND GLENN SMITH

Promise Campaign Chairs

CAROL AND MICHAEL C. LINN

Promise Campaign Co-Chairs

O. HOLCOMBE CROSSWELLCAROL AND PHIL GARNER

Promise Campaign Leadership Cabinet

aspire.texaschildrens.org 3

NOV17NOV11Nearly 800 guests attended the last Forum Luncheon in The Woodlands. Be sure to save the date for the next exciting gathering.

Don’t miss the 20th annual “What’s Up, Doc?” dinner. Guests will hear about the most exciting hospital developments directly from Texas Children’s experts and scientists.

OCT22Join us for an unforgettable day of fun where the worse the fashion, the greater the reward. This popular event benefits the amazing work of Texas Children’s Newborn Center.

BAD PANTS OPEN THE FORUM LUNCHEON THE WOODLANDS

“WHAT’S UP, DOC?”

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

On the go? No problem! Catch up on all the exciting news in Aspire wherever you are — all from your tablet, PC or mobile device!

To view this issue, or for access to the previous issue of Aspire, visit aspire.texaschildrens.org.

IS ONLINE!

Visit aspire.texaschildrens.org

In addition to articles, you can access:

more photos

the latest videos

4 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

The doorbell rings at the Dunn residence. Excited yells echo from across the house.

Three blurs race past: a boy, a princess and one pint-sized Ninja Turtle, all fueled by

the prospect of pizza. Rachel and Adam Dunn are raising the classic, all-American

family — a family that includes a child who needs specialized care.

A H O M E R U N F O R T H E C O M M U N I T YT H E D U N N F A M I L Y

HEAR MORE FROM RACHEL AND ADAM AT aspire.texaschildrens.org/dunnfamily

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TEXAS CHILDREN’S

HOSPITAL THE WOODLANDS, TURN TO PAGE 10.

“Our promise is to support the mission of Texas Children’s Hospital and also to challenge and encourage other families to do the same.”

Rachel and Adam Dunn

P R O F I L E S I N P H I L A N T H R O P Y

Adam Dunn was known for swinging for the fences during his 14 seasons in the major leagues. He retired from professional baseball after the 2014 season but set some incredible career milestones as only the 50th player to hit 400 home runs and ending his career with 462.

In 2006, Adam married Rachel Brown of Kentucky, and three beautiful children followed. When Adam was still an active player, the Dunn family’s was a life on the road. Off-seasons were spent in his home state of Texas. The family lived in The Woodlands for four years, just recently moving to Houston.

When Rachel and Adam heard that Texas Children’s was coming to The Woodlands, they immediately felt inspired to give a very generous gift, and they are encouraging others to do the same.

The one thing that has always been a constant for the Dunns is Texas Children’s Hospital. Even when traveling, if their son’s health became cause for concern, they would return to Houston for the expert treatment he needed.

While they lived in The Woodlands, the Dunns witnessed many changes and watched more and more people move into the area. Rachel and Adam personally encountered the world-class care that Texas Children’s provides at the Texas Medical Center Campus. They also experienced how difficult it was to make the 35-mile, sometimes two-hour commute from The Woodlands.

That is simply too far for families to go, especially in times of crisis. But things will soon be different. One of the main priorities of Promise: The Campaign for Texas Children’s Hospital is the construction of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. The outpatient tower will open in 2016, and the inpatient tower in 2017. It will be the only dedicated pediatric hospital — including a specialty pediatric Emergency Center and critical care units — serving communities north of Houston.

For thousands of patients and families, the new hospital will mean being able to get the right care, at the right time, and in the right place — close to home.

I think what I would tell people to encourage them to give to Texas Children’s

would be to think about the children. That, to me, is all that needs to be said. The

things they do just for children are special.Adam Dunn, Donor


Texas Children’s Hospital Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark Kline returned as special guest speaker on November 20, 2014, for The Forum Luncheon The Woodlands, held once again at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. The Forum topic was one

of international importance and intrigue — infectious diseases.

Dr. Kline presented an informative overview of the most critical historical instances of infectious diseases, from the Plague of Justinian in the 6th Century A.D. to the HIV virus and most recently the Ebola virus.

He recounted the history of the Ebola virus, from its mysterious origins in the Ebola River region in what is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo to its identification by the World Health Organization as the worst public health emergency in modern times. Though it is more difficult to contract than the flu, it takes only one microorganism of the Ebola virus for the disease to be transmitted. And as with other infectious diseases, increased access to transportation — especially air travel — has made the virus’s spread worse.

The audience learned that even though contracting Ebola in the United States is less likely than being struck by lightning, Texas Children’s Hospital will be prepared no matter what the scenario. “We have the greatest researchers in the world studying some of the least understood diseases,” said Dr. Kline.

Dr. Kline highlighted Texas Children’s rapid response team of experts, ready to deal with any possible infectious disease emergency. He noted that the hospital’s protocols currently in place to treat infected patients — from state-of-the-art equipment to highly specialized

Expertise in infectious diseases highlighted

FORUM THE

LUNCHEONT H E W O O D L A N D S

training — have garnered praise from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). He also announced the construction of an eight-bed advanced isolation unit at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. The unit, designed in collaboration with the CDC, will be fully equipped to care for children with highly contagious infectious diseases, making Texas Children’s the first line of defense against these illnesses.

Dr. Kline closed by stating that initiatives such as the construction of this special unit and of the new Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands mark further steps that Texas Children’s is taking to ensure that world-class pediatric health care will be available in every part of this city, the region and the country.

SEE MORE EVENT PHOTOS ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/woodlandsforum2014

The new eight-bed advanced isolation unit will feature the

latest advancements in biocontainment. It will be staffed by experienced infectious disease specialists and equipped for pediatric intensive care.

We have the greatest researchers in the world studying some of the least understood diseases.

— Dr. Mark W. Kline

6 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

Whether taking a drive among the stately homes overlooking Lake Woodlands

or sampling the wares on Market Street, it’s clear that great pains were taken to

make The Woodlands one of the best master-planned communities in the country.

A H O M E T O W N C O M M I T M E N TW O O D F O R E S T N A T I O N A L B A N K

The Woodlands was established in 1974 and by 1980 had 4,800 residents, with major developmental escalation occurring with the construction of the Hardy Toll Road and the regional mall. Today, the number of residents has grown to over 100,000.

Woodforest National Bank originated in 1980, and though it now has a national presence, its roots have always been in The Woodlands. “Many companies have chosen to make this area their home — companies like Woodforest — and we’re just thrilled to see this area grow and prosper,” said Vicki Richmond, Treasurer of the Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

In conjunction with sound business practice, Woodforest has consistently demonstrated an inherent sense of philanthropic responsibility and community involvement, formalizing its giving through the formation of the Woodforest Charitable Foundation in 2005. “One of the key components of our philanthropy and our strategic plan is to help children,” said Michael Richmond, Chief Financial Officer of Woodforest National Bank.

This spring, Woodforest made a very generous $1 million gift to Texas Children’s Hospital to support the construction of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. First to open will be the outpatient tower in 2016 — and when the inpatient tower opens in 2017, it will have the area’s first and only dedicated pediatric emergency center.

“What we’ve experienced in our organization is a culture — that derives from the top — of giving back to various organizations and causes,” said

Robert Marling, Chairman of Woodforest National Bank. “And our job is to support those folks and help those causes move forward.”

Woodforest’s leadership was recently struck by one glaring problem: the lack of dedicated pediatric health care facilities. With the pediatric population of The Woodlands and surrounding areas expected to bloom to over 380,000 in the next three years, families are currently forced to travel — often in horrendous traffic — 30, 40, even 50 miles to seek out specialty health care for children.

In a community always intended to be self-sufficient, this problem needed solving — and Woodforest was honored to be part of the solution. “As a mother, I have firsthand experience with having to handle a traumatic incident with a child,” said Kim Marling, Executive Director of the Woodforest Charitable Foundation. “Our son was in an accident when he was younger, and we didn’t have a facility here in The Woodlands that could treat him. So I think the addition of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands is so critical.”

“What inspired Woodforest to make this gift was going down to look at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus and the Texas Medical Center Campus and visiting with the leadership,” Robert said. “We were impressed with the organization and impressed with the fact that Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands will make a difference to families in this community.”


“Our promise is to leave a legacy for our family and our community by giving a gift to Texas Children’s Hospital.”Michael Richmond Chief Financial Officer, Woodforest National Bank.

Vicki Richmond Treasurer, Woodforest Charitable Foundation

HEAR THE FULL STORY ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/woodforest

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TEXAS CHILDREN’S

HOSPITAL THE WOODLANDS, TURN TO PAGE 10.


C A M PA I G N P R I O R I T Y

Critical, Surgical and Emergency Care Texas Medical Center Campus

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Texas Children’s Hospital’s promise to provide the highest quality care to all those who come to us for help hasn’t changed, but our community is ever-changing. Houston is now the fourth-largest city in the nation, with a fast-growing pediatric population that naturally has a diverse range of health care needs.

It’s the middle of the night in Arizona, and three-year-old Angie has been rushed to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at a children’s hospital. Born with chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension, she has reached a crisis point, and her condition is deteriorating rapidly. Time is running out.

That’s when her parents heard these words: “Your daughter needs a double lung transplant.” There aren’t many places in the United States to go for that. Her doctors want her at Texas Children’s Hospital. They tell her parents that they have been in contact with physicians in the PICU there, but her condition needs to stabilize before they can transfer her.

For 30 harrowing hours, it is touch and go. And then there is a glimmer of hope. Angie’s condition has improved enough for her to be transported via Texas Children’s Kangaroo Crew air ambulance.

The journey has really just begun. Now, the waiting game begins, and it is a long one. Her parents juggle their schedules and rearrange their lives so that one of them can be with Angie and one of them back in Arizona with their other children.

It is four months before the organs become available. When Angie does receive the double lung transplant, everyone is overjoyed. It’s a success! Still, her recovery is long and slow.

It is another two-and-a-half months at Texas Children’s — some of it spent in the PICU and some in a step-down unit — before Angie can go home, but today she is happy, healthy and thriving.

M O R E T H A N 6 0 Y E A R S A G O ,

T E X A S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I T A L

WA S B U I L T O N A P R O M I S E :

Promise: The Campaign for

Texas Children’s Hospital, is a

comprehensive $475 million

fundraising effort that will focus

on five key initiatives, helping

the hospital address current

challenges and anticipate patients’

needs now and in the future.

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P R O M I S E : The Campaign for Texas Children’s Hospital

9

C R I T I C A L C A R E

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) often operate beyond capacity. Rooms that once functioned very well can no longer comfortably accommodate patients along with the equipment they require, nor can they give families the space and privacy they need and deserve.

S U R G I C A L C A R E

Every year, we treat the most critically ill patients who require extremely complex surgery. We need larger operating rooms, and more of them, all equipped with the most up-to-date technology and equipment.

E M E R G E N C Y C A R E In the last two years, visits to the Emergency Center (EC) have increased by more than 25 percent. Texas Children’s receives 50 percent of all trauma-related 911 and EMS transports.

This is our promise ...Funds raised through the Promise Campaign will provide support for the construction of a new, 19-floor Pediatric Tower.

• We will build new and larger PICUs and CVICUs, moving them from their current location in the West Tower, which will significantly increase the total number of critical care beds available. These rooms will be specially designed and configured so that parents can stay with their children overnight and so that all necessary equipment is easily accessible to caregivers.

• We will add more operating rooms (ORs) that are larger and more flexibly designed to accommodate patients who require the most complex procedures. These, too, will be moved from the West Tower.

• Relocating the PICUs, CVICUs and ORs will free up space in the West Tower, where the EC is located, to completely redesign the EC so that patients can be triaged and treated more quickly and efficiently.

At Texas Children’s, we are committed to taking care of every critically ill child who comes to us for help. The time to grow and expand is now.

LEARN MORE AND SEE THE NEW PROMISE CAMPAIGN VIDEO ONLINE AT aspire.texaschildrens.org/promise

“… for this hospital shall live and abide within the resolution that any child in the State of Texas in need of medical

care and attention — regardless of race, color, creed, or capacity to pay — shall find in Texas Children’s Hospital a

refuge from the ravages of disease and illness and the hope for health and happiness.”

— Leopold L. Meyer, Founder. Groundbreaking Ceremony, May 23, 1951

More and more families are coming to Texas Children’s for life-saving care. We treat the sickest patients — children like Angie whose conditions are so serious and so complex that they simply cannot receive the care they need, even at other good children’s hospitals.

Add to that the fact that our facilities were built for a different time and are no longer large enough. Thirty years ago, they were state-of-the art. Equipment was smaller. Texas Children’s didn’t have as many patients. Today, there is so much more technology and equipment, and it is larger and more complex. In addition, the number of patients who come to us for the most specialized care is growing every single day.

Texas Children’s Hospital has arrived at a critical moment in its history. Bottom line: We have outgrown the space we currently have at the Texas Medical Center Campus.

These are our challenges ...

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The ChallengeWhen he was less than a year old, Bennett was diagnosed with asthma. One day, he was struggling to breathe, and his parents took him to a local hospital near their home in The Woodlands. But his diagnosis of adenoviral pneumonia meant that he was in dire need of more specialized care. Barely breathing and with a temperature of 104 degrees, Bennett was rushed to Texas Children’s campus at the Texas Medical Center — more than 30 miles away.

But what if the ambulance hadn’t arrived in time?

There are too many stories like Bennett’s — stories of families who

were faced with a literal race against time to get the care they needed.

When a crisis strikes, every second counts, and lives are at risk.

The pediatric population in The Woodlands and surrounding areas will

grow to nearly 380,000 in the next three years. No family should have to

drive 30, 40 or 50 miles for dedicated pediatric care. That’s too far.

“This community deserves advanced, seamlessly coordinated care. We are committed to meeting the needs

of the people we serve, and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands has been designed from top to bottom

with these children and families in mind.”

— Michelle Riley-Brown, President, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands


Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands

Sitting in gridlocked traffic is no place to be when a child’s life is hanging in the balance. The communities north of Houston deserve the same quality, dedicated pediatric care that families experience downtown.

Our PromiseTo meet the growing needs of a sprawling community, the Promise Campaign will support the construction of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, bringing world-class care where it’s needed most — close to home.

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands will include:

• An outpatient tower opening in 2016 with specialty medical services including cancer, cardiology, allergy/immunology/rheumatology, and diabetes/endocrinology.

• An inpatient tower opening in 2017 with the only dedicated pediatric emergency center and PICU in the region.

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A Q&A with the Leadership of

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands

MICHELLE RILEY-BROWN

CHARLES HANKINS, M.D.• Chief Medical Officer, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands

• Chief Medical Officer, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, 2011–2014

• M.D., University of Tennessee

• Fellowship in neonatology/perinatal medicine, Walter Reed Medical Center

• M.B.A, University of Tennessee

• Board Member, March of Dimes Board of Directors/Houston area

• Native of East Tennessee

What are you most excited about for Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands?

Michelle: I’m thrilled about really being part of that community. Building this hospital gives us the opportunity to bring Texas Children’s world-class pediatric care to more children who need our help and the level of expertise we can provide.

Dr. Hankins: I’m excited about the chance to get involved in building a team and selling our vision of what we want this hospital to be. We have the opportunity to get new health care providers as enthused about what we’re doing here as we already are. I’m also excited about introducing our care team to the community and the community to them.

If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?

Michelle: There are so many, but I’m going to say Oprah — not because she’s such a celebrity, but because she’s presented so many inspirational people to the world. I think that’s a wonderful gift.

Dr. Hankins: If I could go back in time, I would love to meet the signers of the Constitution. I would love to listen to them and ask if they had any concept of the government we have today. Is it exactly what they envisioned, or is it something completely different?

What was your “aha” moment in terms of your career?

Michelle: My “aha” moment really came when I decided on my second career. I spent seven years with Aetna as a liability/bodily injury claims adjustor. But I come from a medical family — my father is a surgeon, my brother is a physician, I have two sisters who are nurses and one who is a hospital administrator. Health care is in my blood — it just took me a little while to realize how passionate I am about it!

Dr. Hankins: My “aha” moment didn’t really have anything to do with my becoming a doctor, but with deciding what kind of doctor I was going to be. I remember driving home after my first day on the pediatrics rotation and thinking, “That was fun.” And then choosing neonatology — it wasn’t even just the babies, it was watching everyone work together as a well-coordinated team.

What is your promise?

Michelle: My promise is to always keep patients and families at the front of every decision we make.

Dr. Hankins: My promise is that each and every day, we will roll up our sleeves and dig in to make health care in this community better than it was the day before.

• President, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands

• President, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, 2012–2014

• Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives

• B.A., Tulane University

• M.H.A., Health Administration, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

• Native of New Orleans, Louisiana

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What’s your

promise?

Help us keep our promises to the children

of this community and the people who love

them by supporting our vision with

a promise of your own.

Donate today.Visit texaschildrens.org/promise

or call 832-824-2945.

More than 50 percent of Texas Children’s patients get their health care coverage from Medicaid or CHIP, while some have no insurance at all. Texas Children’s provides more than $150 million in charity care and community benefits each year. This investment on the part of the hospital truly serves its core community: The majority of children who receive this assistance live in Harris County or one of the seven surrounding counties at the time of their treatment.

The Parker Family

Tracey had been laid off and Xavius had recently started a new job, so neither had health insurance when their daughter Skylin (pictured at right) needed surgery for a ruptured appendix. But the charity care program at Texas Children’s Hospital covered the cost of her treatment and helped the family through a difficult time.

Texas Children’s has some of the most talented physicians, surgeons and researchers in the world — and patients and their families deserve nothing less. But not a day goes by when one of Texas Children’s most notable experts isn’t being recruited by another leading children’s hospital, some of which have been in existence for a century longer than Texas Children’s and have at least twice as many endowed chairs.

When it comes to recruiting the best and brightest — and keeping them long term — endowed chairs are the most powerful tool. With support from the Promise Campaign, our goal is to double the current number of endowed chairs, providing significant funds to begin innovative research projects or launch new programs.

Larry D. Hollier, Jr., M.D.S. Baron Hardy Chair in Plastic Surgery


Endowed Chairs


Divisions and Centers of Excellence


Charity Care

From its world-class neurology and cardiology departments to a comprehensive Fetal Center that is one of only a few in the world, Texas Children’s offers specialty services for children who require complex care. Philanthropic support for these programs helps bring comfort and healing to children from this community and from across the world.

Texas Children’s Hospital:

• implanted a temporary artificial heart into a young boy awaiting transplant — a first for a pediatric hospital.

• treats more children with cancer than any other organization in the country.

• is home to the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, the first of its kind in the world dedicated to finding cures and treatments for neurological illnesses from autism and epilepsy to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

It is because of these accomplishments — and the many miracles performed here every day — that Texas Children’s is consistently ranked among the nation’s top five children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

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P R O M I S E C A M P A I G N D O N O R S (as of July 10, 2015)

$10,000,000 – $24,999,999

Chevron The Howard Hughes Corporation

$5,000,000 – $9,999,999

ExxonMobilThe Hildebrand FamilyEstate of Kenneth W. McBrydeMr. and Mrs. Charif Souki

$1,000,000 – $4,999,999

Anonymous (2)Anadarko Petroleum CorporationBeyond Batten Disease FoundationThe Blue Bird CircleThe Brown Foundation, Inc.The Gordon & Mary Cain Pediatric Neurology Research FoundationLauren and Lara Camillo Family TrustsThe Cullen Trust for Health CareSidney and Don FaustMichelle and Dave FeavelMary Rodes Gibson Hemostasis- Thrombosis FoundationGR8 Hope FoundationMaureen and Jim HackettHuffington FoundationHyundai Motor AmericaJLH Foundation, Inc. Jerold B. Katz FamilyRobert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg FoundationKohl’s Department Stores, Inc.Angela B. and Louis E. MagneRobert and Janice McNair FoundationCarol and Mike LinnRalph S. O’ConnorEstate of Mary Beth PawelekDawn and Richard RawsonThe Sarofim FoundationThe Lester and Sue Smith FoundationSterling-Turner FoundationT.L.L. Temple FoundationUNICEF Asha and Farid ViraniWalmart and Sam’s ClubWoodforest National Bank

$500,000 – $999,999

Alex’s Lemonade Stand FoundationJulio CardenalConocoPhillipsCuring Kids’ CancerJohn S. Dunn FoundationClare A. GlassellThe Hamill FoundationThe Histio Cure FoundationJohn Knox, Jr.Leopold L. Meyer TrustJeffrey Modell FoundationMothers Against CancerThe Pin Oak Charity Horse ShowRE/MAXThe Rise SchoolScurlock FoundationVirginia & L.E. Simmons Family FoundationThe Simons FoundationVivian L. Smith FoundationSpencer GiftsTeammates for Kids FoundationTellepsen FamilyTexas Oilman’s Bass CharitiesThrasher Research FundThe Vale-Asche FoundationElizabeth and Peter Wareing

$100,000 – $499,999

Anonymous (4)Ace Hardware Acute Respiratory Illness AssociationBarbara and Roy AdamsAicardi Syndrome FoundationJ. R. Albert Charitable TrustJoan and Stanford AlexanderAmerican Association of Drilling EngineersCarl C. Anderson, Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable FoundationThe Andras FoundationAssociation of Program Directors in RadiologyMr. and Mrs. Merrell A. AthonThe Auxiliary to Texas Children’s HospitalCharlotte and Jamil Azzam FoundationJanet BatesBB&T Corporation BBVA Compass BankBioGaia ABBosarge Family FoundationThe Boyd Morse FoundationBroesche Family FoundationJeanie and Tommy CarterAnn and Clarence CazalotCenterPoint EnergyEstate of Sandra Sue ChapmanChevron Phillips Chemical Co., LPCity of McAllenThe Cockrell Family FundNancy and Brady CookMark and Judith Cook Foundation

Caneila CookCostco WholesaleThe Crain FoundationAlan DaleDavid Elementary, P.T.O.Maria I. Torrallardona Mata and Javier De Pedro EspinolaEstate of Merle DoniganRachel and Adam DunnMarvy Finger Family FoundationFKP Architects, Inc.The Fondren FoundationThe Jacob and Louise Gabbay FoundationGallery FurnitureThe George FoundationJudy and Bobby GerryGolfers Against CancerMaria de las Nieves Fernandez GonzalezEstate of Tobi GordonGrant-A-Starr FoundationGreater Houston Builders AssociationTanya and Andrew GreenwoodCharlotte and Howard HarpsterRosemary and Dan J. Harrison III – Mary Alice Smith Foundation Becky and Kevin HostlerHouston Credit UnionsHouston Junior Woman’s ClubJKJ Charitable FoundationYvonne and Walter JohnsonDoris and James JonesGeorge JosephMelissa and Brad JuneauThe Junior League of Houston, Inc.Kappa Alpha Theta AlumnaeKLS Martin, L.P.Carolyn and David Light IIIJack H. and William M. Light Charitable TrustJennifer and Jeb LigumsLinn EnergyGillson Longenbaugh FoundationCynthia and Larry LueckemeyerM-A-C AIDS Fund/MAC CosmeticsCora Sue and Harry MachEstate of Patricia F. MansingerMarch of Dimes FoundationMarriott International, Inc.Bailey and Pete McCarthyFlo and Bill McGeeM. D. Anderson FoundationMen of Distinction of Greater Houston, Inc.Jan and Arnie MillerLaura and Lew MoormanMorgan Stanley FoundationMusket CorporationNational Multiple Sclerosis SocietyMary NaylorNoble CorporationSydnor and Olga Oden FoundationThe John M. O’Quinn FoundationSuh-Yun L. OuJennifer Pate, M.D.Cynthia and Anthony PetrelloThe Rancher’s Ride Inc.Randalls FoundationRawley FoundationLeigh Anne and John RaymondRBC Capital MarketsRBC Wealth ManagementReady or Not FoundationGeorge A. Robinson IV FoundationRonald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/GalvestonSybil RoosSuzanne and Mike RoseRotary Club of Houston Foundation, Inc.Leslie and Shannon Sasser Family FundMelissa and Doug SchnitzerShell Oil Company FoundationStephen Y. ShingSnowdrop Foundation, Inc.The Harry and Estelle Soicher FoundationThe Stargel FamilyLindsay and Trent StoutSarah and Terry StuckeyCalvin H. Sugg, Jr.Swing For A CureThe TeamConnor Childhood Cancer FoundationMarianne and George ThomasTorch Relay for Children’s Miracle Network, Inc.Toyota North America, Inc.Vidara Therapeutics Research, Ltd.Karen and Brock WagnerWells FargoSue and David WilliamsRyan Batman Williams FoundationKristen and Matt WilseyWipe Out Kids’ CancerWolff Family FoundationDr. Edward and Brenda YosowitzBarbara and Robert ZorichErla and Harry Zuber

$50,000 – $99,99

Anonymous (1)Agar Corporation, Inc.Ascende Charitable TrustCarol Baker

Balfour Beatty ConstructionBank of Nova ScotiaW. S. Bellows Construction CorporationMelony and B.J. BergeronEva and Beau BissoBlue Cross and Blue Shield of TexasSuzanne BradenHenry T. BrooksThe Cade R. Alpard Foundation for Pediatric Liver DiseaseShirley and Monte CaubleCook Children’s Medical CenterCredit Agricole Corporate and Investment BankCredit Suisse First Boston CorporationBobby L. CrossleyCuring Children’s Cancer FundClayton Dabney FoundationCypress Ace HardwareDec My RoomDeutsche Bank Securities, Inc.The Charles M. Dina FoundationAndrea and Larry ElliottThe Ellwood FoundationEpic Systems CorporationRebecca and Lonnie FedrickFriends for HopeFundacion TeletonSally and Frank GoldbergGoldman, Sachs & Co.Aileen GordonThe Greentree FundGeorge and Mary Josephine Hamman FoundationHLH McAllen VentureThe Holthouse Foundation for KidsHope Help Heal Foundation, Inc.Houston G-Man ClassicHouston Pi Beta Phi FoundationMr. and Mrs. Ronald C. HulmeHouston Family FoundationHouston Texas Fire Fighters Federal Credit UnionIBM Business SolutionsIntermountain HealthcareLinda S. KnoxLet The Fashions Begin, Inc.Susan MacDonaldMacDonald-Peterson FoundationThe Mailman Foundation, Inc.MainStreet AmericaMake Some Noise 4 KidsJoyce and Fred McCauleyMcCoy Workplace Solutions, Inc.McKesson FoundationMedtronic, Inc.Janie MillerEstate of Alexander James MollMustang CatNational Oilwell VarcoOil States International Inc.Susan and Mike PadonC. N. and Maria Papadopoulos Charitable FoundationPetroleum Wholesale L.P.Porsche of North HoustonJ Newton Rayzor FoundationRobbins Institute for Health Policy and LeadershipRoxanne and Kolja RockovThe Royal Bank of ScotlandJudy and Henry SauerJoan and John ScalesSchlumberger Technology CorporationRoberta and Lee SchwartzLynn Des Prez and Bill ShearerSilver Eagle Distributors, L.P.Amy and Kyle SimsonDr. Paul SirbaughBob and Vivian Smith FoundationJudy and Glenn SmithLois and George StarkStrake FoundationStripes LLCThe Sutton FoundationTexas Food Bank NetworkRaul Tijerina Jr. FoundationUniversity of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc.Vanessa’s Big Heart FoundationJim M. Vaughn FoundationDavid Weekley HomesPam and Gary WhitlockThe Winston Foundation, Inc.The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention CenterWorldwide Oilfield Machine Inc.Young Texans Against Cancer

$25,000 – $49,999

The Abercrombie FoundationAnonymousAble FoundationJulie and Drew AlexanderAlspaughs Ace HardwareSteven ArnoldAscende, Inc.The H.G. Ash FoundationLaura and Tom BaconNadine and Tim BalombinBank of AmericaBarclays CapitalChrista Ziegler and Lance BarnesBarton Family FoundationBates Family Foundation

Baxalta US, Inc.Baxter Healthcare CorporationBaxter TrustBear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Inc.Sheryl and Douglas BechGayle Storey and Anthony BenedettoDonna and Steve BenottiTina BentsenBH-EH FoundationBinet Family FoundationDeana and Larry BlackburnSusan and Gary BlackieBMC SoftwareBMO Nesbitt Burns, Inc.BNP ParibasMeg Goodman and Michael BoniniSusan and Bob BoykinBP America, Inc.BP Foundation, Inc.Bracewell & Giuliani, L.L.P.Braly Family Limited PartnershipShelley and Lew BrazeltonBristol-Myers Squibb FoundationBristow Group Inc.Lilia Khakimova and C. Robert BunchPatrick and Greggory BurkCalpine CorporationKeely and Carl CarterCastleRock CommunitiesCaterpillar Inc.Charity Guild of Catholic WomenCIBC World Markets Corp. USACitizens United for Research in Epilepsy, Inc.CO-OP Financial ServicesFranci and Jim CraneCSE W-IndustriesSusie and Bucky CunninghamHilda and Greg CurranMary-Kathryn and Chris D’AgostinoDC23 Hot ShotsMelissa and Emilio DeAyalaDeloitte & Touche LLPJulie and Casey DohertyDonald Driver FoundationLisa and Richard DuncanAndrea and Lyle EasthamPepper and Ashley EdensJohnna and Ryan EdoneMorven Edwards, M.D.Entergy Texas, Inc.Mary and Doug ErwinEZCORP FoundationZeina and Nijad FaresFaust Distributing Company, Inc.Sheri FeldmanLeslie and Michael FertittaMyrna FischLauren and Don FornesCarolyn and Bill ForneyFoundation for Women and Girls with Blood DisordersCarol and Jim FrankelLiz and Clint FreelandGBM International Inc.Carrie and Timothy GilletteErin and Brian GilmoreGiving Rocks FoundationsLauren Catuzzi Grandcolas FoundationGratis FoundationDr. David Sr. and Nell T. Greer TrustJennifer and Paul GregoryGretchen Swanson Family Foundation, Inc.Beth and Douglas GrijalvaCindy and John HagemanHalliburton Halliburton Energy ServicesCamille HankamerDottie and John HarrisMargie and Mark HarrisAnn and Billy HarrisonPat and Mike HartmanHCC Service Company, Inc.Ann Lents and David HeaneyDrs. Frank and Dale HillMarian and Timothy HilpertHIS Grace FoundationJannah HodgesHouston EndowmentImproveCareNow, Inc.InsperityCathy and Mel JodeitLinda and Gary JohnsonJunior League of The WoodlandsKristie and Kyle KafkaKBR Masu and Badar KhanWilliam S. and Lora Jean Kilroy FoundationMarie Louise and David KinderMonica and Kevin KingDebbie and Bobby KnappKnapp ChevroletSaranne and Livingston KosbergEstate of Claire LampardLaura and Donald LehmanJean and Richard LewellenSusan and David Light IVLiam’s Lighthouse FoundationAnn and John LigumsSara H. and John H. Lindsey FoundationAntoinette and Joe ListengartLove’s Travel Shops and Country StoresThe Lupus Foundation of AmericaMacquarie Bank Limited

Roberta and Leonard MartinJill and Clarence MayerB.D. and Mac McAndrewJohn P. McGovern FoundationWilliam McKenneyMcLane FoodserviceMcRee FordCorinne and Michael McVayMarlene Nathan Meyerson Family FoundationSuzanne and Arnold MillerWalter P Moore & Associates, Inc.Morgan Stanley Private Wealth ManagementThe Nanninga Family Living TrustNational Association of Children’s Hospitals & Related InstitutionsBobbie and John NauCeline and Randy NelsonAnita and Rolf NelsonJan and Joe NetherlandEstate of Philip Ross NeuhausNoble EnergyNorth Houston Pole Line, LPAmy and David NovelliHeidi and Tobin O’DonnellKristi and Mike OldhamThe Robert R. and Kay M. Onstead FoundationRuth OppenheimDiane and Jeff PaulGervaise and Gary PetersenPenland FoundationBrenda and Larry PetruPhillips Family FoundationPlains Marketing, L.P.Suzanne and Bob PotterPricewaterhouseCoopers LLPPrimary Children’s Medical CenterBunny and Perry RadoffHolly and Steve RadomAmelia and Walter RallsIsla and T.R. RecklingNoelle and Eric ReedAmy and Michael ReevesKrissi and Taylor ReidRobert RickettsJean and Glynn RobertsSheila and Jon RodermundAnne and Joe RomanoRobin Rothman and John StevensonAmy and Thomas RyanSafeway, Inc.Saint Arnold Brewing Co.Norma and Pete SanchezLuz SaucedoJudith & Henry Sauer Charitable FoundationMaryann T. SeamanJordan and Dylan SeffCathy and Dennis SeithThe Shackouls Family FoundationElise de Compiegne ShattoJulia and Russell ShepardDanielle and Christopher ShieldSignMeUp.comEdward B. Singleton, M.D.Sherry and Vincent SinisiSmith & Associates InternationalAnne and Stephen SmithNorma and Harvey SmithSusie and Tommy SmithSociete GeneraleSpindletop Charities, Inc.St. Jude MedicalMary Martha and Joel StaffCindy and Larry SteinLeslie and Chad StevensRobyn Rothman and John StevensonStuckey’s Specialty ToolsDebbie and Steve SukinGretchen Swanson Family Foundation, Inc.Swift Energy CompanyTracy and Don TandyMargery and Dennis TanjeloffCindy and Allan TaylorRachael and Mark TerryTexla KCC, Inc.TGS-NOPEC Geophysical CompanyCarl C. & Lily C. Thrift Charitable TrustMatthew TitusCandie and Steven TramonteUBS Financial ServicesUnion BankWilma W. VossMarilyn and Larry WagnerLaura and Rob WallsWeatherford U.S., L.P.Krista and Robby WhiteWildHorse ResourcesTracy and Richard WilkenWilliam and Marie Wise Family FoundationAngela and John WisenbakerThe Woodell Family FoundationWoodforest Charitable FoundationBrenda and Randy WrightJennifer and Daniel Yoder

13

AGAINSTALL ODDS

A family’s struggle between life and death

Tanea Bailey’s pregnancy had been an uneventful one, so when she went in for a regular OB/GYN appointment in Austin, she didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. But with no prior incidence or complications, her high blood pressure that

day was a cause for concern for doctors. A routine check-up quickly escalated into something else altogether. As they took her blood pressure again, the nurses asked her if she was stressed and if she was feeling all right. Tanea’s blood pressure was 200 over 130. Her son, Jordan, Jr. was coming.

14

Tanea and her husband, Jordan Gadison, drove

to the hospital. “We just couldn’t believe he was

coming. We didn’t feel like we were ready!”

Tanea laughed.

Jordan, Jr. was delivered on April 10, 2013, in

Austin. His dutiful (and a little sleep-deprived)

father was there to receive his son.

“I was excited. I had my camera ready to go,

and as soon as they pulled him up, I was taking

pictures,” Jordan said. “They wrapped him up

and handed him to me and, I mean, it just lit up

my heart.”

Tanea remembered Jordan, Jr. being lifted up so

cried only momentarily before stopping and

quietly and attentively looking around the room.

It seemed he was a perfect, healthy baby.

Within 36 hours, the new family’s life would

change forever. But it wasn’t the doctors who

“They tell you about parent intuition, and we just knew that something was wrong,” Tanea said. “He was cold. He didn’t want to eat. His jaws were tight.”

The medical team in Austin was unable to raise Jordan, Jr.’s body temperature, and he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for testing. Doctors eventually diagnosed the child with CPS1, carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1. This extremely rare genetic disorder causes toxic levels of ammonia to accumulate in the bloodstream, often resulting in irreversible brain damage, coma and death.

“The doctor in the NICU basically said that they’d never seen this before,” Tanea said. “This was something people only read about in books.”

Jordan, Jr.’s prognosis was grim.

14


HEAR MORE FROM TANEA AND JORDAN AT

aspire.texaschildrens.org/jordan

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

THE PROMISE CAMPAIGN,

TURN TO PAGE 8.

Texas Children’s Hospital is where you go when you want something done.

15

“When the doctor told us that my son could die, it was scary,” Jordan said. “All through Tanea’s pregnancy, I prayed over and over again that he wouldn’t have an illness and that he would be healthy. It was upsetting and emotional, and I didn’t really know how to handle it.”

Though his physicians in Austin were initially optimistic, Jordan, Jr.’s condition began to deteriorate rapidly. Soon after, it was determined nothing more could be done. With no other alternatives, Tanea and Jordan made a decision no parent should ever have to make.

“We had prepared the house for him,” Tanea said. “We decided that instead of letting him pass in a hospital bed, we wanted him to be home with people that he loved.”

As they made arrangements for end-of-life care, a geneticist at the hospital in Austin approached Tanea and Jordan with one last option: Texas Children’s Hospital and a liver transplant.

“He told us that specialists at Texas Children’s believed they could treat Jordan, Jr. until he was big enough for a liver transplant,” Tanea recalled. “We knew there could be complications, so it was basically a decision for a chance at life or

Time was precious, and Jordan, Jr. had to be transported from Austin to Texas Children’s Hospital via Kangaroo Crew air ambulance.

Because of the severe nature of his case, he was moved up on the liver transplant list. It was then a matter of waiting.

“We knew we wanted the transplant at Texas Children’s — they’re the best,” Tanea explained.

“In preparation for the transplant, they always tell you to be ready and to be by the phone.” And

on September 8, 2013. Jordan, Jr. had received an organ offer — and then the surgery was a success.

Today, Jordan, Jr. is a happy, healthy little boy, and according to Dr. David H. Leung, attending physician at Texas Children’s Liver Center, “Jordan, Jr. is thriving.”

Texas Children’s Hospital treats the most critically ill patients, providing an elite level of specialty pediatric health care. For many families, Texas Children’s Hospital is the only hope, the last chance when other attempts have failed. This past year, Texas Children’s Hospital launched the Promise Campaign, a monumental endeavor in the hospital’s history, to ensure that all children who come for help and healing always have the best quality care available — just like Jordan, Jr. did.

“Texas Children’s Hospital is where you go when you want something done,” Tanea said.

The care we received was awesome. It always felt like we were visiting family.”

“My promise is to raise

Jordan to be a man, to teach

him what’s right and what’s

wrong, and to let him know

that life is a blessing he

shouldn’t take lightly.”

— Jordan Gadison

15

It was a meeting in 2008 that opened Michael Linn’s eyes to the enormous and positive impact

philanthropy can make. Texas Children’s received a $1 million commitment to establish the

Matthew Linn Endowed Fund in Congenital Heart Surgery, and a wonderful partnership began.

After Mike moved his company, LINN Energy, to Houston, it was not long before a friend of Texas Children’s offered to introduce him to Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., chief of Congenital Heart Surgery and now surgeon-in-chief at the hospital.

The friend knew of the heartbreaking loss Mike had experienced in 1989 when his son Matthew died at the age of seven after undergoing surgery in Boston to repair a congenital heart defect. But she also knew that Dr. Fraser could show Mike something amazing.

Dr. Fraser invited him to visit the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital. There, Mike saw children who only the day before had undergone successful Fontan procedures — the same procedure his son had 19 years earlier — and who were on their way home the next day.

This is what inspired that first gift to Texas Children’s. Since then, Mike and his wife Carol have actively and tirelessly championed the hospital’s mission, making additional gifts themselves, serving as incredible advocates for the hospital, building relationships in the community, and encouraging others to give generously as well.

Mike has served on Texas Children’s Board of Trustees for several years, and he and Carol have recently accepted the invitation to serve as chairs of Promise: The Campaign for Texas Children’s Hospital.

The Promise Campaign is Texas Children’s answer to the growing need for dedicated, specialized pediatric health care in Houston and surrounding communities.

At its campus in the Texas Medical Center, Texas Children’s has outgrown the space it has to serve patients and their families. In 2014, it was unable to accept 253 transfers from other hospitals because there was simply no room. For Carol and Mike — and for everyone at Texas Children’s — turning away patients just isn’t an option.

“When you add 8,000 families a month to the population base, we have to grow with it,” Mike said. “We take the sickest kids, and we should not ever turn anybody away because we don’t have any room. We can’t say ‘No’ — that’s not who we are. We’ve got to step it up and do something so we don’t turn these kids away.”

Stepping it up is something that comes naturally for Carol and Mike, and that’s why they are chairing the Promise Campaign. Two primary areas of focus are the construction of a new Pediatric Tower at the hospital’s Texas Medical Center Campus — which will house additional and larger critical care units and operating rooms, freeing up space to expand the Emergency Center — and the construction of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, soon to be the only dedicated pediatric hospital serving communities north of Houston.


S T E P P I N G U PT H E L E A D E R S H I P O F T H E P R O M I S E C A M P A I G N

“Our promise is to devote ourselves to raising the necessary funds that will make it possible for Texas Children’s Hospital to always have the capacity to accept critically ill children who need our help.”

Carol and Michael Linn Promise Campaign Chairs

HEAR MORE FROM MIKE ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/promiseleadership

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEPROMISE CAMPAIGN, TURN TO PG. 8.

16 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

PROMISE CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS

O. HOLCOMBE CROSSWELLCAROL AND PHIL GARNER

NANCY GORDONJUDY AND GLENN SMITH

We are honored to serve as chairs for Promise: The Campaign for Texas Children’s

Hospital at a very critical time in the hospital’s history, but we are not alone in making

a commitment to serve children and families. Each member of an outstanding group

of community leaders has also made a promise to help us raise the funds necessary to

achieve the Campaign’s goals, and we are so grateful for their support and generosity.

Carol and Michael LinnPromise Campaign Chairs

RALPH ALEXANDER

THURMON ANDRESS

LAURA AND JOHN ARNOLD

CARIN BARTH

TODD BINET

EVA BISSO

KELLI AND EDDY BLANTON

LESLIE BLANTON

JENNIFER BROWN

DAVID BUCK

STANLEY BUNTING

MARTIAL BURGUIERES

GEORGIA CARTER

LAWRENCE CATUZZI

CLARENCE CAZALOT

ALBERT CHAO

LYDIA CHAO

EMILY DALICANDRO

CAROLYN DAVIS

COLE DAWSON

ANTHONY DELUCA

PATRICIA DEWHURST

SUSIE DILG

CAROLYN DORROS

NEIL DUFFIN

LYLE EASTHAM

ASHLEY EDENS

MARY ERWIN

ZEINA FARES

LESLIE AND MICHAEL FERTITTA

ANISSA AND REID FRIEDMAN

JOHN GAYLORD

DANIEL GILBANE

CLARE GLASSELL

ROBERT GRAHAM

JAY GREER

CARI AND JOHN GRIGGS

JOHN GUNN

SCOTT GUTTERMAN

ANNE HAMMAN

ANN LENTS AND DAVID HEANEY

BRANDON HOLCOMB

LINDSAY AND RAND HOLSTEAD

COURTNEY HOPSON

TERRY HUFFINGTON

ANA LEE JACOBS

JILL JEWETT

HELENA AND TOM JOHNSON

JAMES JONES

MARY C. JONES

ELISE JOSEPH

MELISSA AND BRAD JUNEAU

NICOLE KATZ

CRAIG KINSEL

JOHN KOTTS

HEATHER LACK

DUNCAN LAMME

JENNIFER LAPORTE

WILLIAM G. LEE

DAVID LUMMIS

ROSALYN AND BARRY MARGOLIS

RODNEY MARGOLIS

CHRISTIANA McCONN

KIRBY AND SCOTT McCOOL

ANDREW McCULLOUGH

ANNA McCULLOUGH

TRINIDAD MENDENHALL

MICHAEL MORGAN

MEG AND NELSON MURRAY

PHOEBE MUZZY

CYNTHIA PETRELLO

TOWNES PRESSLER

SALLIE RAINER

RISHER RANDALL

CARROLL RAY

ISLA AND THOMAS RECKLING

JOHN REED

VICKI RICHMOND

ALEXANDER ROBISON

EDUARDO SANCHEZ

COURTNEY AND CHRISTOPHER B.

SAROFIM

LESLIE SASSER

DOUGLAS SCHNITZER

AMY AND PETER SHAPER

MICHELLE SMITH

MICHAEL SOPER

LAUREN CAMILLO SULLIVAN

LAURA AND ROBERT WALLS

W. TEMPLE WEBBER

LINDA WEBSTER

MARY WHALLEY

PAM AND GARY WHITLOCK

JULIA AND CARL WILLIAMS

BARBARA AND ROBERT ZORICH

DAVE AARDSMA

SUE AND JIM ADAMS

PATTY AND HENRY AGER III

ARDETH ALCORN

SHIRLEY AND RALPH ALEXANDER

RON AND CAROL BALLSCHMIEDE

ROB AND ANGELA BANZHAF

GINGER AND BYRON BERTRAND

KY BISHOP

EVA AND BEAU BISSO

STACEY AND STEPHEN BOURQUE

HENRY BROOKS AND BARBARA LOWRIE

JOHN AND JENNIFER BULOVAS

MICHELLE AND GORDY BUNCH

PETER AND KAROLYN CELLA

DERRYL W. CLEAVELAND

WANDA AND JIM COCHRAN

MACK ELBERT COKER, DDS, MS

AND PEGGY JO COKER

SARAH AND MARIO COLL

COOPER COLLINS

DAVID AND NANCY COOK

MARCHITA COOK

MARK AND JUDY COOK

ELIAS AND CONNIE CORTINA

RICK AND MARGIE CRUMP

STEPHEN AND JULIA DELL

CAROL ANN DEMARET

LAURA DOERRE

JOHNNA AND RYAN EDONE

ANDREA AND JIM GARRITY

RON AND PEGGY GENTZLER

DR. JIMMY AND POONAM GILL

CANDI AND GERALD GLENN

VIJAY AND MARIE GORADIA

JOHN AND CINDY HAGEMAN

AMY AND CHARLES HANKINS

RENEE AND JOHN HARKINS

MARLON HARRISON

DAVID B. HENDRICKS

WAYNE AND MISSY HERNDON

DENNY AND CATHY HOUSTON

GERALD IRONS

RUTH AND BILL JACKSON

NOELLE AND DAVIS JAHNCKE

NATHANIEL KARP

TAWNA H. KINGSLEY

ATUL KUMAR

SUSAN AND MIKE LARSON

MARK AND LAURIE LASHIER

PENNY AND PAUL LAYNE

AMY LECRONE

DONALD R. LEHMAN

JEAN AND RICHARD LEWELLEN

LARRY AND BECKY LITTLE

LARRY AND CYNTHIA LUECKEMEYER

JOANN AND WAYNE MALIK

AMYTHYST AND PATRICK MANNING

ROBERT AND KIM MARLING

DRS. JEFY AND MORGANNE MATHEW

PATTI MATOCHA

EMILY AND H.N. McELROY

DR. MARK AND MARISSA METTAUER

KEITH MEYER

PENELOPE AND MATTHEW MIGGINS

SHANNON AND JASON MILLS

WILL AND NICOLE MURPHY

STEVE AND ELAINE NANCE

JAN AND JOE NETHERLAND

MICHAEL E. AND BROOK O. NOVELLI

JAY AND DEBBIE NUTT

GARY AND DEBORAH PACKER

JEFF AND DIANE PAUL

MR. AND MRS. PATRICK PERUGINI

LORRI AND BRIAN PETRAUSKAS

DR. HENNA MALIK AND TOM PISULA

SALLIE T. RAINER

DAWN AND RICHARD RAWSON

MICHAEL AND VICKI RICHMOND

PAT AND JACKIE RILEY

DR. LAMAR AND THERESA ROEMER

SHELLY AND JON SAUER

BARBARA AND RUSTY SCHLATTMAN

MARYANN SEAMAN

JOHN AND KRISTY SEXTON

DR. PETER AND MEGAN SHEDDEN

VINNY AND SHERRY SINISI

DR. ANN SNYDER

BRUCE E. STEIMLE

KATHLEEN STOVER

MR. PHILIP L. AND DR. MISSY THOMAS

REX AND HONEY TUCKER

SHARON AND SHAHID ULLAH

LYNN WALSH

MICHAEL WATFORD

PAM AND GARY WHITLOCK

TRACY AND RICHARD WILKEN

SHANNON AND BRIAN WING

HANK AND SHERYL WOOD

TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL THE WOODLANDS ADVISORY COUNCIL

PROMISE CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP CABINET


Founding chairs Sidney Faust, Judi

McGee, Elsie Eckert and Scott

Basinger welcomed an enthusiastic

audience to the 7th annual

Celebration of Champions on October 10,

2014. Nearly 450 guests gathered at the River

Oaks Country Club for the event benefiting

Texas Children’s Cancer Center and honoring

some truly inspirational young patients who

have been fierce in their fight against cancer

and showed what it means to be “fierce”

on the runway that day.

These 19 pediatric cancer survivors looked

chic in fall fashions alongside their runway

partners, the 2014 Community Champions,

who were recognized for their outstanding

service in the community.

Emceed by 93Q Morning Zoo host Kevin

Kline, the sold-out event raised more than

$250,000 to support cancer research and

programs benefitting patients and their

families — specifically the Cancer Center’s

Long-Term Survivor Program. In addition,

the 2014 Torch of Champions Award was

presented to Candlelighters Childhood Cancer

Family Alliance, which works with the Cancer

Center to support the needs of families facing

pediatric cancer.

A champion can be defined as “a person who

fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of

someone else.” Texas Children’s champions

are too numerous to count — but many of them

can be found year after year celebrating the

successes we have made in the battle against

cancer and continuing to fight for the victories

we know are to come.

MODELS OF COURAGE

A Tribute to Cancer Survivors and Community Leaders

BENEFITING: Texas Children’s Cancer Center

18 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

SEE MORE EVENT PHOTOS ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/champions2014

Event Chairs Sidney FaustJudi McGeeScott BasingerElsie Eckert

2014 Community Champions

Lilly and Thurmon AndressSusan and Daniel BoggioMaria and Neil BushGina and Jon CarrollLiz and Brian ChingSoraya and Scott McClellandLisa and Michael O’LearyLauren Freeman and Dr. Forrest RothDr. Jennifer Segal and Justin SegalDr. Stephen SimkoLisa and Jerry SimonPhoebe and Bobby TudorPhyllis and Cornel Williams


It’s a game known by many names, a few of them rather strange — Corn Toss, Bags, Indiana Horseshoes. But regardless of what you call it, it

remains one of the best loved of all backyard contests. It was here in Houston that two families combined their love for friendly bean bag competition with their appreciation for the world-class care at Texas Children’s Hospital and launched the Toss for

Texas Children’s event.

More than 350 guests gathered at the beautiful Houston Polo Club for the Toss for Texas Children’s event on October 16, 2014. Two-person teams rolled up their sleeves and took aim in the special bean bag tournament that benefits Texas Children’s Heart Center. Funds raised supported cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and surgical outcomes.

The event was born out of the extraordinary bond between two families, the Andersons and the Fertittas, whose sons suffered from the same congenital heart defect. But both boys were saved when they received world-class care at Texas Children’s, including operations performed by Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr.

LAUNCHING TOWARD THE FUTURE

Toss for Texas Children’s

SEE MORE EVENT PHOTOS ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/toss2014

Leia and Michael Anderson Kelly and Carl BeelerDeborah and Barrett BrownMarlo and David BruceKelly and Jay CliburnAshley and Sam CruseElizabeth and Gardner DudleyJulie and Anthony FritscheKatherine and Doug GeorgeJennie and Doug GettenAshley and Scott GoforthCari and John GriggsMary and Carter GrovesAshley and Michael HannaCaroline and Torrey HawkinsLizzie and Charles HermesShelley and Billy IglesiasFranny and Bobby JonesIsla and Joseph JornayvazKristie and Kyle KafkaAnnie and Spencer KerrAlicia and Robert Kimmel Catherine and Asheley Kinsey

Angela and Jamie LeeAynsley and Palmer LetzerichAlison and Charlie MeyerMolly and Andrew MontgomeryLauren and Brad MorganSusan and Charlie NeuhausKatie and Kenny O’DonnellMissy and Sam PittsLacy and Philip PriceSarah and Richard PunchesWinifred and Carleton RiserCourtney and James RobertsonMelanie and Danny SavitzBeezie and Hanley SayersLaurel and Penn ShaperAnne and Stephen SmithMeredith and John StilwellSandy and Tim SturmChay and Tory TaylorMaggie and Rob VermillionKate and Logan Walters

HOST COMMITTEE________________________________________________

BENEFITING: Texas Children’s Heart Center

Dr. Fraser, along with Dr. Daniel J. Penny, chief of Pediatric Cardiology, both attended the event as special guest speakers. They praised Toss for Texas Children’s attendees both for their financial support and for their active community involvement.

20 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

The generous support from our

friends in the community is

absolutely essential to the work

we do at Texas Children’s Hospital.

We couldn’t do it without them,

and we are most sincerely grateful.Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., Surgeon-in-Chief

When it comes to caring for

patients, there’s nothing more

important than teamwork. It’s a

cooperation that extends beyond

the walls of the hospital and

out into our community.Dr. Daniel J. Penny, Chief, Pediatric Cardiology

AT THE HEART OF FRIENDSHIPReagan Farrow and Annette Walter were born three days apart, one in Texas and the other in Tennessee. But both girls were diagnosed with alarming and life-threatening heart conditions at birth. Their mothers, Suzanne and Jen, could not have suspected at the time how their families’ lives would become linked through Texas Children’s Hospital.

Both children were immediately transferred via Kangaroo Crew air ambulance to the Texas Children’s Hospital Texas Medical Center Campus where Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr. performed hours-long operations on both Reagan and Annette, only a few days apart. After surgery, the girls were put in neonatal intensive care rooms next door to each other, and each mother noticed how frightened and worried the other was.

Weeks later, as their daughters were preparing for discharge, Jen and Suzanne exchanged information and began keeping in contact with one another, regularly speaking on the phone and bonding over their shared experiences. After the Walters relocated to Houston, the two families became even closer and have been friends ever since.

Now happy and healthy 11-year-old girls, Reagan and Annette have celebrated all their birthdays together, attended dance camps and traveled to Disney World. As for Jen and Suzanne, what began as conversations about the challenges and experiences of caring for newborns with serious heart conditions have become celebrations of their daughters’ milestones, accomplishments and joyful lives.

Philanthropic support for Texas Children’s Heart Center helps make miracles like these possible.

CAROLYN AND DAVID ANDERSON LESLIE AND MICHAEL FERTITTA

EVENT FOUNDERS


“To be a Blue Bird is a gift you give yourself,” said Pat Edwards, former president of The Blue Bird Circle. “When you join the Blue Birds, you become a member of a very loving and caring group of women of all ages.”

In early January 1923, 15 young women formed a local charity organization and named it The Blue Bird Circle. Early on, the group undertook small projects: a day nursery for working mothers, knitting and crocheting baby blankets and tea towels, and creating beautiful hand-made Easter baskets. More active community involvement followed shortly thereafter as Blue Birds hosted rummage sales, staged musicals and events for veterans, and aided disadvantaged families. But the Blue Birds realized their true calling in 1949.

“We focused our efforts on neurology because of the great need in the community,” said Maggie Austin, board member and former president of The Blue Bird Circle. “The Blue Birds responded favorably and decided that this was our mission.”

Over the nearly 50 years that followed, The Blue Bird Circle worked closely with several Houston-based medical institutions, providing valuable funding for the research and treatment of pediatric neurological disorders. After decades of devoted service to the

W I T H S E L F L E S S P U R P O S EC O N T I N U I N G T H E V I S I O N O F T H E B L U E B I R D C I R C L E

Fifteen flappers walk into a pastor’s office.

Out of context, that statement sounds almost comedic, like the setup of an old joke.

But after meeting the amazing women of The Blue Bird Circle, it at once becomes

clear that only a spirited beginning like this one would do.

children of Houston, the Blue Birds joined efforts with a leader in pediatric medicine — Texas Children’s Hospital. In 2001, the neurological clinic at Texas Children’s was renamed The Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology. Today, more than 25,000 children are seen in the clinic each year.

In 2010, the Blue Birds united again, voting to support the founding of The Blue Bird Circle Clinical Research Center, the largest pediatric neurology clinic in the United States.

“We were approached with the idea by two physicians in the Neurology department, Dr. Robert Zeller and Dr. Gary Clark,” Maggie said. “We eagerly rallied behind it, knowing that the most important thing for these families is research — having the answers that these families need.”

But more recently, the Blue Birds unveiled one of their most astonishing gifts: the sponsorship of an endowed chair in pediatric neurology for Dr. Gary Clark. He is chief of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience at Texas Children’s Hospital, and his work has been instrumental in Texas Children’s efforts in the areas of pediatric neurological research and treatment.


“Our promise is to continue to support Texas Children’s Hospital through the works of The Blue Bird Circle.”

Maggie Austin and Pat Edwards Former presidents, The Blue Bird Circle

HEAR THE FULL STORY ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/bluebirds

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROMISE

CAMPAIGN AND ENDOWED CHAIRS,

TURN TO PAGE 12.

22 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

“The gift was a little seed planted by Dr. Zeller,” said Pat. “He approached us and we just decided that this was a wonderful idea and we should present it to our Blue Birds. It finally came to fruition around the time that we were having our recruitment party.”

When the announcement of the $2 million endowment was made, the Blue Birds were overjoyed — and Dr. Clark was flabbergasted. “I wish we had a recording of Dr. Clark’s face, because he was surprised!” Pat said.

For Dr. Clark, the endowment means fewer constraints on vital research endeavors. “This gift is a chance for Dr. Clark to have the funding he needs and with additional flexibility,” Maggie said. “When you look at these children, many of whom are suffering from these severe disorders, you know that their treatment is often a race against time. And with gifts such as this, possible cures are now within our grasp.”

The Blue Bird Circle is still thriving, still vibrant and still working as hard as ever to support the community and its people, especially children with

neurological disorders. Their successful resale shop at 615 West Alabama in Houston raises in excess of $2 million every year, which goes directly to Texas Children’s Hospital.

After 92 years, their course has remained constant. “Our mission is to provide all the support we can to our volunteers in The Blue Bird Circle, to our customers at the resale shop and also to Texas Children’s Hospital,” said Maggie.

Echoing that sentiment, Pat smiled radiantly when she added: “We want to help our community, to grow and preserve the humanity around us, and also to perhaps hang in there another 92 years.”

With the spirit of generosity and resilience that is so apparent in the members of The Blue Bird Circle, that shouldn’t be too difficult a feat.


Corporate partners of LINN Energy and supporters of Texas Children’s Cancer Center raised the stakes and bet big at the 6th annual Casino Night held

at Wynn | Encore in Las Vegas on November 6, 2014. Nearly 200 guests gathered for poolside “gambling” and Vegas-style fun. By the end of the weekend, they cashed out to the tune of $491,000 in funds raised for Texas Children’s Cancer Center.

Far more than just a fun getaway, Casino Night provides annual funding for future advances in cancer patient care and research that will hopefully one day lead to a cure. Envisioned in 2009 by Kolja Rockov, Casino Night has consistently provided guests with a night of entertainment that truly is a party with a purpose.

ON TEXAS CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTERBETTING BIG

SEE MORE EVENT PHOTOS ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/casino2014

BENEFITING: Texas Children’s Cancer Center

24 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

$491,000 RAISED IN 2014

NEARLY

$2M SINCE 2009

MORE THANTexas Children’s

Cancer Center

supporters go all in

TEXAS CHILDREN’S CANCER AND HEMATOLOGY CENTERS

• The largest pediatric cancer center in the U.S., and No. 1 in Texas

• Patients from 35 states and 26 countries

• More than 73,700 annual outpatient clinic visits

• 200 current therapeutic clinical trials, more than any center in the nation

Laurel Batchelder is like any active eight-year-old girl — she’s into tumbling, running, jumping and just being a normal kid.

But five years ago, Laurel’s chance at a normal life seemed impossible.

One day, Laurel’s parent took her to the hospital after she had complained of stomach pain. Following an ultrasound, doctors diagnosed Laurel with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma — a soft tissue tumor. After months of chemotherapy to reduce the tumor’s size, doctors were finally able to operate, and Laurel’s surgery was a success. It wasn’t long before she started back to school and became involved in her normal extracurricular activities.

“I don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t live here in Houston,” Melissa said.”I just feel so blessed that we are so close to the absolute best care.”

SAVING LIVES TAKES MORE THAN LUCK


“It’s very important that the organizations we support have a clear mission,” said Neil Duffin, president of ExxonMobil Development Company. “They must work actively in communities to help improve conditions for the areas in which they work. And not only that, they must use these investments wisely and deliver positive results.”

The same can be said of the organizations with which Texas Children’s partners. And so a perfect match was made. Several years ago, ExxonMobil and Texas Children’s joined forces to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Papua New Guinea, where mortality rates for mothers and babies are very high. Texas Children’s physicians are helping teach and train local caregivers and improve clinical, public health and research programs.

Closer to home, in addition to the more than 150,000 work hours given through extensive volunteer involvement programs, ExxonMobil assists local communities through charitable giving, which supports arts organizations, educational initiatives and health care improvements.

Texas Children’s Promise Campaign had a special appeal for ExxonMobil, which made a generous $3 million gift in 2014 to support five key programs at the hospital.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Services for children with developmental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disabilities


are surprisingly limited in the Houston community. Dr. Robert Voigt, a national leader in these areas, is spearheading a dramatic expansion and reconfiguration of Texas Children’s programs that serve a large and rapidly growing population of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, autism, and behavioral and psychiatric conditions.

Liver Disease Research and Clinical Services

Texas Children’s recently recruited Dr. Ben Shneider as chief of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Service. His expertise is in pediatric liver disease, and his basic, translational and clinical research in intestinal gene expression and liver diseases has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1993. Texas Children’s goal is to establish the nation’s premier center for the care and treatment of infants and children with these often life-threatening medical conditions.

Critical Care ResearchTexas Children’s Hospital cares for thousands of children each year with critical, life-threatening medical and surgical conditions. Research is an essential part of providing the highest quality care. Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, chief of Pediatric Critical Care, is one of the world’s leading experts in the care of these desperately ill children. Her research focuses on determining how children who have received intensive care subsequently function with respect to learning, speech and language, intellectual attainment, and other outcomes.

Pediatric Heart Patient and Family Education

Dr. Daniel Penny, one of the world’s premier pediatric cardiologists and chief of Cardiology at Texas Children’s, is developing narrated and illustrated audiovisual modules to help children affected by congenital heart disease and their families understand prescribed treatments and surgical procedures. These materials will be free of charge for patients and families.

NursingTexas Children’s nurses play a vital role in ensuring the delivery of safe, patient-centered care and the best possible patient outcomes. With enhanced training and skills, they also have the opportunity to play a fundamental role in transforming the United States’ health care system. In fact, all hospitals are required to increase their percentage of baccalaureate-prepared (BSN) nurses to 80 percent by 2020. Mary Jo Andre, the hospital’s chief nursing officer, is committed to ensuring that Texas Children’s nurses who have associate degrees can go on to obtain baccalaureate degrees as well.

“Working with Texas Children’s Hospital, we’ve been able to help improve health care in Houston and overseas as well,” said Mr. Duffin.

He encourages others who are considering making a gift to Texas Children’s Hospital to spend some time at the hospital and see firsthand what is happening every day to improve the health and well-being of children in our community and beyond.

SUPPORTING HEALTH CARE, BUILDING COMMUNITYEXXONMOBIL

“Texas Children’s has a new initiative named Promise, and it resounds with all of us. Through my engagement, not only with Texas Children’s Hospital but with the greater community, I want to see the Houston area grow, be prosperous and have marvelous health care facilities.”

Neil Duffin, President, ExxonMobil Development Company

HEAR MORE FROM NEIL DUFFIN ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/exxonmobil

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

THE PROMISE CAMPAIGN,

TURN TO PG. 8.

26 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

Philanthropy never looked so fashionable than at the Nordstrom grand opening gala at The Woodlands Mall. More than 1,500 guests attended the festivities, shopped designer fall looks and dined on fare from Executive Chef Michael Northern in the sleek,

modern, new 138,000-square-foot store.

The sold-out event, chaired by Carol and Phil Garner and Judy and Glenn Smith, raised more than $200,000 for the construction of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, which will have an outpatient tower opening in 2016 and an inpatient tower in 2017. The new facility will be the only dedicated children’s hospital in the area and will also have the area’s only dedicated pediatric emergency center.

SEE MORE EVENT PHOTOS ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/nordstromgala

THE WOODLANDS WELCOMES

N O R D S T R O MT O T H E N E I G H B O R H O O D

It was an honor to partner with Nordstrom on this event and

to have their support for expanding

our expert pediatric care in this

growing community.

— Mark A. Wallace

was par

d

IttoN

in thi

k A. Wallace


FOR BAD PANTSNOT ONLY WERE THE ARGYLES BRIGHTER AND THE

HOUNDSTOOTH PATTERNS LOUDER, BUT THE KING OF ROCK AND

ROLL (SEVERAL ELVISES IN FACT) AND THE ENTIRE CAST OF THE

WIZARD OF OZ WERE ALSO AMONG THOSE WHO GATHERED FOR

TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL’S 17TH ANNUAL BAD PANTS OPEN.

The Clubs of Kingwood hosted more than 380 of Houston’s most intensely dressed golfers who took to the course to support Texas Children’s Newborn

Center. Though prizes were awarded for the hole-in-one and closest to the pin tournaments, the most coveted honor — the “Best Bad Pants” award — didn’t require an A-game … just the worst pants.

The Bad Pants Open has raised $4 million for the Newborn Center, which houses one of the largest and most experienced neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the country, providing care for more than 2,500 babies each year. The Level 4 NICU offers the highest level of neonatal care. The money raised by The Bad Pants Open helps facilitate groundbreaking research, sponsors crucial educational initiatives, and changes the lives of thousands of children and families. Event sponsorship opportunities exist at many levels, providing great publicity for a wonderful cause.

NO BOGEYS

MILLIONRAISED SINCE 1998

$4

BENEFITING: Texas Children’s Newborn Center

SEE MORE EVENT PHOTOS ATaspire.texaschildrens.org/badpants2014

THE

ND

THE

OR

EN.

28 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

The Bad Pants Open is a celebration for the tiniest babies. It’s a happy occasion made happier by stories of love and courage from families who have experienced the expertise and compassionate care provided at Texas Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Amanda and Ben Kopp shared their story at the 2014 event. The joy on their faces as they looked at their now two-year-old daughter, Cami, was in stark contrast to the fear and anxiety they felt in the weeks immediately following her birth.

Cami was born at 25 weeks and five days. She weighed only a little over two pounds and was just 12 inches long. From the moment she was born, Cami relied on the world-class care found at Texas Children’s NICU. But today, she is a happy, healthy little girl. The Kopps share their story, not only out of a sense of purpose, but also out of appreciation for every individual, family and corporation that makes The Bad Pants Open happen.

“I hope others will find comfort in knowing they are not alone and that they will be inspired by how far our precious, perfect baby girl has come,” Amanda said. “Texas Children’s saved our daughter’s life. We will forever be grateful.”

COMMITTEEChairman

Rob Cooksey

Underwriter Chairman

Gary L. Whitlock

Founders Mike ArmstrongMoose Rosenfeld Michael Wiesenthal

Tournament Committee

Mike CaseyDonald F. Cohen, D.D.S.Norma DunnWalter L. FitzgeraldLes FoxRobert L. FrankClint FreelandJoseph Garcia-Prats, M.D.Charles T. Hankins, M.D.

Mike KnappScott LesterHolly MicklerJeff MicklerAndy ShackoulsScott ShackoulsMr. Bill Spillman

BRAVERY COMES IN ALL SIZES

life. We will forever be grateful.

Amanda, Ben and Cami Kopp

BRAVERY IN ALL SIZ


The beautiful home of Lindsay and Rand Holstead provided the perfect setting for a truly memorable event. Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital held its 6th annual Holiday Party on December 4, 2014.

As always, fun and philanthropy were the themes of the party. The nearly 500 guests were encouraged to bring new white T-shirts, socks and other undergarments for donation to the hospital’s patient clothing cabinet. In addition, Ambassadors used the evening as a show of support for Promise: The Campaign for Texas Children’s Hospital.

As a grand finale, Ambassadors presented their annual check in the amount of $1,458,000 to Texas Children’s Hospital.

30

A M B A S S A D O R S L I F E T I M E M E M B E R SAs of August 20, 2015

In addition to its generous annual members, Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital includes hundreds of dedicated lifetime members.

Debbie AdamsJoan and Stanford AlexanderPhyllis and Steven AndersonThe Andras FoundationAlisa and Jim AndrasMary and Oscar AndrasLaura and John ArnoldAscende Charitable TrustNadine and Tim BalombinLeslie L. Harris and Edward G. BaptistaShanna and Eric BassSheryl and Douglas BechDonna and Steve BenottiMelony and B.J. BergeronCarole and Bruce BilgerHeidi and Todd BinetDarlene and Cappy BissoEva and Beau BissoDeana and Larry BlackburnSusan and Gary BlackieCollier and Richard BladesSusan and Bob BoykinKatie and A.J. BrassBroesche Family FoundationKarl BroescheKelly and Kirt BroescheHenry T. BrooksChris BrownJennifer BrownKeely and Carl CarterBarbara and Larry CatuzziAnn and Clarence CazalotHolly and Kirk CoburnCockrell Family FundEstela and David CockrellStephanie and Ernie CockrellNancy and Brady CookSusie and Lloyd CunninghamHilda and Greg CurranMary-Kathryn and Chris D’AgostinoElizabeth and Anthony DeLucaJoelle and Mitch DerrickJan Ellis DuncanAndrea and Lyle EasthamPepper and Ashley Edens

Johnna and Ryan EdoneJenny ElkinsAndrea and Larry ElliottEntergy Texas, Inc.Mary and Doug ErwinGenna and Jon EvansMarita and J.B. FairbanksZeina and Nijad FaresCarolyn FaulkJudy FeiginBarbara and Michael FeiginLeslie and Michael FertittaFKP Architects, Inc.Sally and Rigo FloresLauren and Don FornesTobey and Billy ForneyCarolyn and Bill Forney, Jr.Katie and John ForneyAnn and Randy FowlerFrank Lockwood Family FoundationFrankel Family FoundationCarol and Jim Frankel and FamilyKristina and Kevin FrankelLisa FrankelDara and Scott FrankelElizabeth and Clint FreelandJulianne and J GautHelen and Terry GebertErin and Brian GilmoreClare A. GlassellMargaret and Benjamin GoJackie and John GodboldMaureen and John GrafClaire and Joe GreenbergWindi and David GrimesCarol and John GunnCindy and John HagemanPat and Mike HartmanMia and Joseph HeilAnn Lents and David HeaneyCaroline and Bill HelanderMindy and Jeff HildebrandMarian and Tim Hilpert/Air Texas Mechanical, Inc.Wendy and Jeff Hines

Lisa and Michael HolthouseThe Houston Family FoundationAna Lee and Marc JacobsChristy and Webb JenningsCathy and Mel JodeitLinda W. and Gary C. JohnsonRosemarie and Matthew JohnsonVictoria and Parks JohnsonLaura and Steve JonesShelley and Gene JorgensenGeorge JosephMelissa and Brad JuneauKristie and Kyle KafkaElizabeth and Tommy KanarellisNicole and Evan KatzEmily and Rusty KelleyLilia Khakimova and C. Robert BunchMasu and Badar KhanTracey and Mike KillionThe William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy FoundationMarie Louise and David KinderDave KingDebbie and Bobby KnappSaranne and Livingston KosbergGene KurtzJenny and Justin LeonardJean and Richard LewellenJennifer and Jeb LigumsAnn and John LigumsCarol and Mike LinnJamie and Howard LorchJoella and Steven MachLouis MagneThe Mailman FoundationRosalyn and Barry MargolisHolly and Thomas MasonKirby and Scott McCoolLaura and Andrew McCulloughRebecca and Shay McGarrArnold and Suzanne Miller Charitable FundJan and Arnie MillerChristine and Shea MorenzAlice and Keith Mosing

Bobbie and John NauStephanie, Celine and Randy NelsonAmy and David NovelliHeidi and Tobin O’DonnellAlice and Billy OehmigDiane and Garry OsanGary OwensSusan and Mike PadonMrs. C.N. PapadopoulosDiane and Jeff PaulCynthia and Tony PetrelloBrenda and Larry PetruSuzanne and Bob PotterKaren PulaskiBradley RadoffThe Radoff FamilyHolly and Steve RadomAmy and Matt RallsLouise RatzCarroll and Hugh RayLeigh Anne and John RaymondNoelle and Eric ReedAmy and Mike ReevesKrissi and Taylor ReidBarbara and Corby RobertsonBrooke and Corby RobertsonLaura and Will RobertsonWendy and John RoddeySheila and Jon D. RodermundSybil RoosSuzanne and Mike RoseThe Jerry and Maury Rubenstein FoundationNancy and Bryan RuezAmy and Tom RyanVanessa and Eduardo SanchezPatricio SanchezNorma and Pete SanchezTani and Tony Sanchez, Jr.Vanessa and Tony Sanchez IIILeslie and Shannon SasserJoan and John ScalesKristi and John SchillerMaryann T. SeamanJordan and Dylan Seff

Cathy and Dennis SeithMary Eliza and Park ShaperAmy and Peter Shaper Family FundElise de Compiegne ShattoLynn Des Prez and William T. ShearerDanielle and Christopher ShieldAmy and Kyle SimsonSherry and Vincent SinisiMichelle and Alan SmithAnne and Stephen SmithSusie and Tommy SmithMary Martha and Joel StaffStargel Office SolutionsVicki and Jack StargelSlade StargelJessica and Tyson StargelCindy and Larry SteinAndy and Liz StepanianDebbie and Steve SukinCourtney and Doug SwansonChay and Tory TaylorRachael and Mark TerryMatthew R. TitusErika and John ToussaintCandie and Steven TramonteJennifer and Wil VanLohElizabeth and Peter WareingEmily and Danny WeingeistArdy and Pat WestonMary and Greg WhalleyKrista and Robby WhitePam and Gary WhitlockLeslie Frankel-Wiener and Gary WienerSue and David WilliamsWilliam and Marie Wise Family FoundationJoan WolfeElizabeth and Judson WolfeJudge Clarease Yates and Mr. Cary YatesChrista Ziegler

WE HELP CHANGELIVES EVERY DAY.

Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital is a community of socially engaged individuals who share a dedication to the hospital’s mission, serving as a voice for sick and injured children. Ambassadors support the work of the hospital through financial contributions, events and social advocacy in the philanthropic community.

To learn more or to become an Ambassador for Texas Children’s Hospital, please visit ambassadors.texaschildrens.org or call us at 832-824-6900.

31

To know courage when we see it.

What’s your promise?

texaschildrens.org/promise

32

When Alexander James Moll was 12 years old, a routine trip to the doctor for what felt like

growing pains turned into a cancer diagnosis — osteosarcoma, a brutal form of bone cancer.

With that diagnosis came the bitter likelihood that Alex would not live long into his teens.

A N E N D U R I N G G I F TA L E X A N D E R J A M E S M O L L

Where others would have been cowed or swayed by the cruel unfairness of their fate, Alex kept his spirit intact and never gave up hope. It was that hope that brought him to Houston when treatment options in his home state of North Carolina evaporated. It was hope that led Alex’s physician to recommend a new pediatric cancer study at Texas Children’s Hospital. It was hope that formed an enduring bond between an intelligent, inquisitive teenage cancer patient and a brilliant physician-scientist.

And it was hope for the future that ultimately led Alex to make a remarkable gift to Texas Children’s Hospital through his estate, leaving behind an incredible and inspirational legacy.

“I came in and found this 16-year-old young man, who simply gave you the impression from his eyes that there was a depth there,” said Dr. Nabil Ahmed, a physician-scientist at Texas Children’s Cancer Center. The ensuing discussion confirmed that he was correct.

Within a few moments, the pair began discussing the study that had been recommended for Alex. They immediately abandoned the simplified explanation of the HEROS study (named for the HER2 target molecule and osteosarcoma), inciting one another instead into a full-blown Socratic dialogue. They discussed how the study had been developed and the science behind the mechanics and reprogramming of T-cells, a special type of white blood cells.

And they discussed the truth that at this early stage, the study would do little to directly help Alex.

Alex enrolled in the study anyway. Though he was still waiting on his own miracle, he hoped that his participation would mean breakthroughs for cancer research in the future. In fact, he believed in the study so much that he asked Dr. Ahmed for a job. Dr. Ahmed knew better than to say no, and Alex became a full member of the research team.

After that summer internship in 2011, Alex went on to defy more odds. He graduated from high


school. He was accepted at the University of Pennsylvania on scholarship. He taught cello to underprivileged children. But then, just after finishing his freshman year of college, time caught up with Alex Moll.

On August 13, 2013, Alex passed away after seven years of struggle. His extraordinary life had touched so many — but he was just getting started.

In his final days, Alex left a $50,000 bequest to Texas Children’s Hospital to support future cancer research through the establishment of the Alexander James Moll Summer Scholar Fund. The fund will provide financial assistance for summer internships that will encourage other young people and foster in them a love of science and research.

As physicians and researchers continue their work to find improved treatments for patients like Alex, his legacy of hope will live on.

“Alex wanted to inspire people. I promise I’ll carry his torch and inspire people. He didn’t want people to go through what he went through. And this is our promise.”

Dr. Nabil Ahmed, Texas Children’s Cancer Center

HEAR MORE OF ALEX’S STORY AT aspire.texaschildrens.org/moll


“WHAT’S UP, DOC?”

More than 400 guests attended the 19th annual “What Up, Doc?” event at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women and saw firsthand some of the most valuable resources at Texas Children’s Hospital — the world-class doctors and scientists.

The 2014 “What’s Up, Doc?” attendees

sat at tables hosted by Texas Children’s

physicians and leaders, giving them an

opportunity to learn directly from renowned

experts about the amazing treatments the

hospital provides and the full continuum of

specialty care — for everything from food

allergies to organ transplants — available at

the hospital.

The popular event was chaired by Karla

and Jorge Goudet, who have their own

special attachment to Texas Children’s. Their

precious daughter, Mariana, spent most of

her much-too-short life in critical care units

at the hospital. During her time there, the

Goudets got to know an entire team of

specialists who were dedicated to providing

the very best care for Mariana and who

treated Karla and Jorge like family.

“What’s Up, Doc?” is held each year to

emphasize the importance of raising funds

specifically for recruiting and retaining the

finest medical talent in the world. That’s

what our patients need and deserve.

Not a day passes that the world-class

doctors and scientists at Texas Children’s

aren’t being courted by other pediatric

hospitals. Texas Children’s Hospital strives

to bring the best and brightest to Houston

and to keep them here. We are having great

success. The number of faculty members

in the Department of Pediatrics has grown

by nearly 60 percent since 2010, and the

numbers in both Surgery and Obstetrics/

Gynecology have more than doubled as

well during that time.

Our recruitment efforts never end, and

ongoing philanthropic support continues to be

one of the hospital’s most important priorities.

34 I S S U E 2 - 2 0 1 5

Event chairs Karla and Jorge Goudet with a painting by Mexico-based artist, Luis Lara.


To modify your communication preferences, or to have your name removed from our lists, call 832-824-2945 or visit texaschildrens.org/preferences

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ISSUE 2 - 2015

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A GIFT FOR A GROWING COMMUNITY, - 2017 | Aspirelewis e. brazelton iii ben a. brollier o. holcombe crosswell donald p. dewalch robert l. gerry iii ben b. mcandrew iii william k. mcgee