CMN awards 19 new clinical, research grants
Nineteen grants totaling $509,872 have been awarded by Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis in spring of 2024 to clinicians and researchers at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. Eighteen grants will enhance the clinical care of children, while one grant was awarded for research directly improving the health and welfare of children.
Spirit Halloween donations top $1 million for patients
Since 2011 funds have been raised for UC Davis Children’s Hospital’s Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, which supports the emotional needs of pediatric patients and families. Annual donations from Spirit Halloween’s Spirit of Children Foundation fund the UC Davis child life fellowship program, which provides additional training and supervision to aspiring certified child life specialists. Over the 13 year partnership, donations have made it possible for child life services to grow and expand into the Children’s Surgery Center, Radiology Department and the Pediatric Infusion Center.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital receives $8 million estate gift
Thanks to a transformational gift through the estate of local residents Victor and Phela Vesci, four children’s hospital programs will be supported with the philanthropic donation, including: the NICU’s small baby unit; the Pediatric and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Heart Center; the division of pediatric gastroenterology to support the growth of its neurogastroenterology, motility, and inflammatory bowel disease programs; and the division of pediatric pulmonology to start comprehensive pulmonary function testing and sleep apnea testing programs.
Hospital playroom named after local Donut Dash fundraiser
This year, our playroom unveiled a new sign “Powered by Donut Dash” in honor of the work and dedication of Donut Dash founder, Zack Wandell. The Donut Dash fun run was created in 2016 and raises funds for the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. Each year, proceeds have helped purchase video games, iPads, art supplies, music instruments, games, toys and more for our hospitalized children.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Child Champion
UC Davis Children’s Hospital is a proud member of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN), an international nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for, and awareness of, children’s hospitals. Donations create miracles by funding medical care, research, equipment and programs that save and improve the lives of our children including this year’s local Children’s Miracle Network child champion Isaac Franco.
Isaac was a toddler when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a common childhood cancer. He was hospitalized at UC Davis Children’s Hospital and then began chemotherapy treatment at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center for three years. In November 2019, he completed his last treatment and is now cancer-free. Now 9-years-old, Isaac loves playing football, watching the NFL Raiders, and going to the ocean. Every year, 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals identify a “champion” in each of their communities to serve as the face for children treated at their local children’s hospital.
