Before his opening night concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on February 27, legendary country music singer Garth Brooks visited the Child Life Zone at Texas Children’s Hospital. He spent time talking with patients and their families, posing for photos and enjoying the rodeo-themed event. Funded through the Teammates for Kids foundation, which Brooks co-founded in 1999, the Zone provides a fun, safe and procedure-free environment for Texas Children’s patients and their families.
On February 9, more than 350 guests joined event chairs Sidney Faust, Judi McGee, Elsie Eckert and Scott Basinger for the 10th annual Celebration of Champions fashion show and luncheon at the River Oaks Country Club.
The event featured a fashion show with pediatric cancer survivors from Texas Children’s Cancer Center walking the runway with this year’s Community Champions, a group of notable Houstonians who do so much to help children battling cancer and make the community a better place.
More than your typical fashion show, it was a “look at me now” moment for children who have seen some dark days early in their lives in their fight with cancer. View a gallery of photos from the event below.
In addition to showcasing the latest fashion trends from Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillard’s, the event also featured a special appearance by the honorary event chairs Jeff Bagwell and Mary Lou Retton. Bagwell and Retton kicked off the event with the lighting of the Torch of Hope and later took the runway alongside patient champions.
Since its inception, the event has raised more than $1.5 million for the Long Term Cancer Survivor Program at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, which monitors patients for delayed side effects and complications caused by previous cancer therapies. Not every pediatric cancer treatment center continues to care for its patients into adulthood however, caregivers at Texas Children’s Cancer Center recognize that health concerns for childhood cancer patients do not end when their cancer treatment is successfully completed.
The program currently has 25,000 long-term pediatric cancer survivors nationwide enrolled in Passport for Care®, an online resource guide developed at Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine that provides individualized health care information to guide physicians’ care for late risks and effects from childhood cancer treatment. It has developed an international reputation as a leader in the field and has attracted a world-renowned faculty involved in local, national and international research that benefits today’s pediatric cancer patients and future survivors.
The event’s Community Champions included Jeff and Rachel Bagwell, Mary Lou Retton, Dr. David Poplack, Lisa McCoy, Linda and Mark Evans, Winell and Doug Herron, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Christie and Billy McCartney, Kathi and Bill Rovere, Tena and Tyson Faust, Hannah and Cal McNair, Penny and John Butler, Mary and John Eads, Diane and John Riley, Courtney and Christopher Sarofim. Among the event’s other medically-minded supporters were Flo Crady, Emily Crosswell, Bo Butler, Scott Butler, Megan Cushing, Bethany Hibbetts, Caroline Walter, Joanna and Brad Marks, Lisa and Mike O’Leary, Carmen and Butch Mach.
Texas Children’s Cancer Center’s Making A Mark art exhibition is showing on The Auxiliary Bridge until Friday, October 27. Sponsored by the Periwinkle Foundation, this exhibit showcases more than 300 pieces of art created by young patients as well as larger-than-life pieces made in collaboration with local artist Jon Clark. The exhibit is in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month in September.
Patients worked with Jon Clark over the spring and summer while receiving treatment to create this year’s collaborative piece “Flourish” using repurposed medical supplies. Each year, Periwinkle invites a guest artist guides and curates a final piece of art for display. Clark joins a distinguished group of past guest artists, including Elaine Bradford, John Palmer, Kelly Gale Amen, Anat Ronen and Reginald Adams.
As a special feature of this year’s Making A Mark exhibit, select artwork has been paired with songs from Periwinkle Arts In Medicine partner, Purple Songs Can Fly. The songs were written by patients and siblings from Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Hematology Centers and can be found throughout the exhibit. Just look for a purple musical note!
How ‘bout them ‘Stros! With their pride, passion, and perseverance, our Houston Astros are in the 2017 American League Division Series (ADLS). During a very difficult time in Houston with Hurricane Harvey, our professional sports teams were a ray of hope on and off the field. Like Texas Children’s, our hometown heroes were STURDY during the storm and volunteered their time while they continued to win.
Now, let’s show the Astros our gratitude and one-of-a-kind Texas Children’s spirit and “Orange Out Houston” by wearing the color orange tomorrow, October 5, and Friday, October 6. They will be facing the Red Sox in Houston before heading to Boston for game three.
The Houston Astros have amazing leaders, but it is through Amplifying Unity as a team they made it to the ALDS. Let’s help the ‘Stros “Earn It” by wearing orange and helping Orange Out Houston!
Play Ball!
For our 5th annual Help Kids be Kids online fundraiser we are raising funds to help support and enhance our Therapy Dog Program!
Our patients’ faces light up when Elsa walks through the halls. She is incredibly gentle and affectionate whether she’s helping a patient deal with a long-term illness, cope with chronic pain or get through physical therapy.
Elsa is in high demand. There are more patients who would benefit from spending time with her, but she only has so many hours in the day. This campaign will support Therapy Dog Program and help us get closer to giving her a four-legged brother or sister in the future!
Here’s how employees can help:
Together we can make a difference for our patients!
On May 10, Direct Energy, one of Texas Children’s faithful supporters, generously donated about 200 toiletry kits to the hospital. The kits will be distributed to families in an effort to make their stay at the hospital easier and to ensure their focus stays on their child.
About 80 Direct Energy leaders assembled the toiletry kits during a team building activity benefitting the community. The kits are packed with items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, antibacterial lotion, soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream and more.
“Direct Energy is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, and one way we are doing that is through our partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital,” said Jessica Mahaffey, vice president of external affairs for Direct Energy. “Our employees find volunteering and supporting the mission of Texas Children’s Hospital a very meaningful way to give back to the community by helping children and their families when they need it most.”
In 2015, Direct Energy committed $5million to the expansion of Texas Children’s Heart Center, the largest corporate commitment ever made to a Texas Children’s campaign. In addition, Direct Energy and one of its family brands, One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating, have volunteered in many activities in support of the hospital.
To date, more than 500 Direct Energy employees have volunteered over 1,188 hours at both the hospital and at Direct Energy offices, assembling various craft packets for patients and families. Twice a month employees volunteer at the hospital, either creating themed crafts with the children in The Zone or making snow cones for patients and families, delivering tea and cookies to parents and delivering games, craft, toys, and smiles with the Direct Energy Fun Cart on patient floors.
Employees also collect toiletry items from Direct Energy colleagues, which are then delivered monthly to the Ronald McDonald House at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Direct Energy is also a proud partner and philanthropic supporter of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Funds raised for this network of 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada, including Texas Children’s Hospital, are used to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care-all to save and improved the lives of children.
“Texas Children’s Hospital is so fortunate to have Direct Energy as a community partner. Volunteerism is a core value at Direct Energy and is modeled at every level of the organization,” Director of Patient Support Services Paige Schulz. “In just two short years, the employees at Direct Energy have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the patients, families and staff of Texas Children’s.”
About Direct Energy
Direct Energy is one of North America’s largest energy and energy-related services providers with nearly five million residential and commercial customers. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and four provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, please visit www.directenergy.com.
About One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating
About One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating® is currently ranked as the #1 HVAC franchise in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual Franchise 500 (January 2017) and #30 overall. One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating puts an emphasis on trust, customer service and courtesy. Franchised One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning locations are independently owned and operated businesses. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is part of the Direct Energy family of brands. ©2017 Clockwork IP, LLC
For the second year in a row we are bring spring directly to our patients through our May Flowers fundraising drive.
Here’s the plan: We’re going to hang spring flowers, personalized by our donors, on the doors of our patients’ rooms to brighten their days. Donors that give to Texas Children’s as part of the campaign can personalize one of those flowers with their name and location.
It’s a great way for our community to show our patients they are thinking of them and at the same time help Texas Children’s continue to provide the very best care.
Here are two things that you can do to help today:
Let your friends and family know they can join you and help bring some spring fun to our patients.
Send a flower to one of our patients, and we’ll decorate their door with a personalized flower from you. texaschildrens.org/flowers.
These flowers won’t just help bring some spring cheer inside our walls. More important, they will help us ensure that children in need of advanced critical, surgical and emergency care can always find it here when they need it most.
We are well on our way to being able to decorate all our patients’ doors with colorful spring flowers that show them just how much people care. Soon our hallways will be in full bloom.
The last day of the campaign is Friday, May 12. Flowers will be hung in late May and stay up through the spring season.
To personalize one with your name, give today: texaschildrens.org/flowers.