S p r i n g 2 0 0 6 Foundation News A Q u a r t e r l y N e w s l e t t e r o f t h e L e e M e m o r i a l H e a l t h S y s t e m F o u n d a t i o n Funding Tomorrow’s Healthcare Today BOSTON RED SOX STILL NUMBER ONE FOR The 13th edition of the Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic turned out to be anything but unlucky as the 2004 World Series Champs once again hit the long ball for patients at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The beautiful Forest Country Club was the setting on February 24 as members of the Red Sox joined local golfers to raise more funds to save the lives of babies treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). LOCAL KIDS! Tournament co-chairs Marilyn Qunell and Helen Clemente, joined by their erstwhile committee members, made sure everything from the first tee shot to the final putt went off without a hitch. It’s safe to say there were at least as many smiles on the course as there were mulligans as all players enjoyed the beautiful weather in their camaraderie of caring. While fun was out in full force, even for those whose shots found the occasional hazard, there was no mistaking the serious cause at hand. Brett Borham, now age 9 and a former NICU patient served as living proof of the excellent and vital care provided at The Children’s Hospital. Boston great “El Tiante” – Luis Tiant, takes time out for Most Valuable Patients Anthony Nicolosi (left) and Brett Borham. The committee would like to thank the following “starters” whose support will make future NICU miracles possible: Jack and Shelley Blais Sports Adventures Bank of America Scanlon Auto Group Galloway Family of Dealerships The Suter Family Joe Walton Boston pitcher David Wells signs autographs for swarming fans before teeing off at the 13th annual Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic. Boston Red Sox Foundation Twin City Heroes Help Local Cancer Patients A hale and hearty gang of Minnesota Twins stars took time out from their busy spring training schedule to help local cancer patients by playing in the 8th Annual Minnesota Twins Celebrity Golf Classic. Held at beautiful Pelican Preserve Golf Club on February 23, the afternoon event raised more than $60,000 for Lee Cancer Care at Lee Memorial Health System. Current and former Twins players including Johan Santana, Torii Hunter and Bert Blyleven joined Manager Ron Gardenhire and others as they showed they are equally adept at swinging golf clubs as they are at swinging bats. Twins representatives delighted their golfing partners and the entire tournament crowd with their first-hand baseball experiences. While none of the players seems to be a shoo in to win The Masters anytime soon, we’re sure they’ll have a better chance at World Series fame once they return to “The Show” in April. Lee Memorial Health System looks toward building a freestanding Lee Cancer Care Center on Colonial Clockwise from top left: Volunteers braved the warm afternoon sun to be sure celebrity and player registration went smoothly; Jan Anderson, Oncology Outreach Education Coordinator, thanks participants for their support of Lee Cancer Care; Pat Creem of The Minnesota Twins reviews the event schedule with players and fans. Boulevard in 2007. Proceeds from the Twins event and other donors will help the facility take shape. We offer special thanks to the tournament’s major sponsor, Centex Construction – Healthcare Group along with our host, Pelican Preserve, and, of course, the fantastic Minnesota Twins. Please consider remembering Lee Memorial Health System Foundation in your will. The Lighthouse Café Serves Up Help For Kids! Since 2002, Michael Billheimer and Melinda Roy, of The Lighthouse Café, have helped host celebrity bartending events in Sanibel to raise funds and awareness for The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Michael Billheimer regularly hosts celebrity events at The Lighthouse Cafe’ on Sanibel. Proceeds benefit The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Local celebrities raise money through tips earned waiting on customers and other creative and somewhat flexible means. For example, former Prima Ballerina Melinda Roy garnered tips by demonstrating leg extensions and flawless pirouettes. This community event generated $2,120 to help kids. Michael Billheimer emphasizes his dedication to the cause, “No one realizes the impact of these programs and services until you have a sick child yourself. We are fortunate to have The Children’s Hospital right here in Southwest Florida.” Special thanks to The Lighthouse Café and to all the celebrities who participated in this exciting event. Dream Home Proceeds To Enhance Cape Coral Hospital Emergency Services Balloons fluttered in the late morning breeze as scores of hopeful drawing participants waited for Cape Coral Mayor Eric Feichthaler to draw their ticket from the more than 2,700 cascading in the drawing drum. This was no ordinary drawing… the winner, after all, would receive title to a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Cape Coral. The event, made possible through the generosity of LMHS Foundation Trustee Barbara Watt-Biggs and her husband Bob Biggs, was certainly unique. The house – transported to its new triple-lot site on Southwest 5th Place in Cape Coral after being donated by Newcom Real Properties – had undergone a “sprucing up” worthy of any television home improvement show. New paint, carpet, a kitchen remodel, air conditioner, sod, and sprinkler system – to name just a few of the improvements – helped to ensure the house truly was in “move in” condition. As Donna Giannuzzi, RN, Chief Patient Care Officer for Lee Memorial Health System outlined the enhancements that would be made possible through the project, the anticipation continued to build. The question on everyone’s mind… will I be the lucky winner? As the morning sun rose and morning turned into high noon, the drum holding the lucky ticket was given one final spin and Mayor Feichthaler reached in to pull out the winning ticket. The crowd hushed as Olayinka Akingbade was announced as the proud new owner of the home. Not present at the drawing, an ecstatic Akingbade was contacted later in the day and outlined her plans to use her good fortune to help African orphans. While congratulations are certainly in order to Olayinka, special thanks are also due to all those who purchased tickets, provided major donations and worked tirelessly to make this very special fundraiser a wonderful success for all those who will use Cape Coral Hospital’s Emergency Department in the future. Olayinka Akingbade, winner of the Dream Home drawing, will use house proceeds for charitable works. Making a dream come true. Those taking part in the day’s festivities included (from left) Steve & Jill Newcom of Newcom Real Properties; Barbara Watt-Biggs & Bob Biggs of Century 21 Sunbelt Realty; Cape Coral Mayor Eric Feichthaler; Donna Giannuzzi, RN, LMHS Chief Patient Care Officer; and Richard Durling of Marvin Development. Special Thanks to: Barbara Watt-Biggs and Bob Biggs of Century 21 Sunbelt Realty for making The Dream Home project a reality through their donations and leadership. The following also deserve recognition for making this project possible: Lee Memorial Health System’s Chief Patient Care Officer and longtime Cape Coral resident, Donna Giannuzzi, RN, outlines plans for Cape Coral Hospital improvements. Realmark Development B & D Design Cape Coral Plumbing, Inc. D & D Air Conditioning, Inc. Acra Electric, Inc. The Cape Light House A & R Concrete, Inc. Florida Rock Industries, Inc. R.C. Casey, Inc. Sprinklers by Jack Schell Guy Gudvangen Plastering, Inc. Gary J. Smith Painting, Inc. Gerwitz Construction Corporation D. Peck Roofing, Inc. Twin Oaks Construction, Inc. D & D Garage Doors Rotary’s Fort Myers Wine Fest… A Vintage Success! Dr. Steve Machiz presents an $85,000 check from The Rotary Club of Fort Myers to The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, represented by Sharon MacDonald of Lee Memorial Health System Foundation. Funds were raised through the second annual Fort Myers Wine Fest held this past November at The Club at Renaissance. The Rotary Club of Fort Myers was established in 1922 and is affiliated with Rotary International – one of the most successful community service organizations in the world. Thank you Rotary Club of Fort Myers, for helping to build better hospital care for children throughout Southwest Florida! Steve Machiz, MD presents an $85,000 check from The Rotary Club of Fort Myers to The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, represented by Sharon MacDonald of Lee Memorial Health System Foundation. Funds and Fun from Bank of America! Smiles and giggles abounded as Gerri Moll, President of Bank of America, Southwest Florida, took time out from her busy schedule to brighten the day of several kids at The Children’s Hospital. Moll joined the kids at a vivid pint-sized table flanked by colorful murals of the sea to read the melodious rhymes of Dr. Seuss. “As a mother, I truly appreciate all of the extra effort from the team at The Children’s Hospital to create some normalcy,” said Moll. “I was happy to share in that— just a regular morning of story time with these great kids.” Along with brightening the day of some children, Moll’s visit had a dual purpose in that she was announcing a grant of $100,000 from Bank of America, which will help underwrite the costs associated with a palliative care room in The Children’s Hospital. The room will provide special medical and support services for children with chronic life-limiting conditions and their families. “Bank of America is pleased to partner with The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. We appreciate how important it is to provide the finest possible hospital care for our children,” said Moll. Hurricane Katrina Victims Receive Healthy Start After Hurricane Katrina’s rising flood waters forced expectant mother Virginia Sanchez and fiancé Nathan Lamar from their apartment in Biloxi, Mississippi this past September, Lee Memorial Healthy Start made sure her unborn baby had the best possible chance at a healthy start in life. Fleeing to Fort Myers to escape Katrina’s wrath, Virginia and Nathan moved in with family members but were certainly at a loss as to what they should do next. That is, until volunteers from Lee Memorial Healthy Start crossed her path at a Red Cross relief center one Saturday. After helping Virginia complete a request for assistance, she was enrolled in Healthy Start. Nathan soon found a job and the couple set about rebuilding their lives. Having escaped with just the clothes on her back, and forced to leave her home, job and personal belongings along with baby furniture and items recently purchased for her new arrival (due in December 2005), Virginia was in dire need of prenatal care and other services. Lee Memorial Healthy Start quickly linked her with FEMA and made sure she Baby Jazmin got a “Healthy Start!” registered for other assistance to help her and her baby. Lee OB/ GYN and Associates made sure Virginia received the finest possible prenatal care. From September to December, Healthy Start staff provided prenatal health education and linked Virginia with the Healthy Start Medical Team when she began having medical complications. Home visits and educational information helped safeguard Virginia and her expected bundle of joy. Lee Memorial was also able to obtain maternity clothes, baby clothes and other essential baby items for Virginia. In early December, Virginia and Nathan “I’m glad Lee Memorial Healthy Start was here for us. They helped with so many things and I thank God for everything they did.” – Virginia Sanchez. moved into their own apartment but had no furnishings. Once again, Lee about infant safety, infant Memorial Healthy Start – with the development, age appropriate assistance of Lee Memorial Home milestones and proper nutrition. Health – stepped forward as staff Healthy Start services at Lee members personally donated living Memorial wouldn’t be possible room furniture, kitchen supplies, without the financial support made bedding, towels, food, a TV and available by the Healthy Start more to help the expectant parents. Coalition of Southwest Florida. The A member of the Lee Memorial program recognizes that it is far Hospital Auxiliary added some more economical to help mothers “flavor” by donating a large steak have healthy babies rather than for the couple to prepare and enjoy waiting until a mother delivers a in their new home. low birth weight baby or one with On December 27, 2005, Virginia other serious medical gave birth to Jazmin – a beautiful complications. Over the past year, and healthy 6 lb.-5 oz. baby girl. the coalition provided more than Both Mom and baby are doing fine $350,000 to Lee Memorial Health and just to make sure things stay System to make sure babies receive that way, Lee Memorial Healthy a “healthy start.” If you’d like to Start continues to help by providing support Lee Memorial Healthy Virginia with vital information Start, please call 239-985-3550. The Donor Next Door The Marinello Family Impossible situations can become possible miracles. Robert H. Schuller This miraculous story has a very unlikely beginning... It all started with the Marinello family returning from a muchneeded vacation to find their home reduced to burning embers. How would you react? Would this tragedy destroy you, define you, strengthen you? For the Marinello family, that flaming home represented miracles in the making. Soon after, the Marinello family of three, Heidi, Mark and their daughter, Michelle, learned that their prayers had been answered and their family was growing. Making a new home became an even more urgent priority as they made plans to welcome their son, Matthew. The Marinello family moved into a new home and in spite of recent events was grateful for their blessings. Michelle relished her new role as big sister. And the family was complete. Michelle and Matthew with two furry members of the Marinello family – cat, Lilly, and dog, Cody. Then at 11:30 pm on an average Saturday night, three-month-old Matthew, nestled in his snuggly, suddenly stopped breathing. Little Matthew was rushed to The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma. “If we had been in our old house, we wouldn’t have made it to The Children’s Hospital in time. Our house fire turned out to be a miracle,” explains Mark. The Children’s Hospital’s close proximity was critical for the Marinello family. “We’re so grateful we didn’t have to relocate our family to another city to receive medical care,” says Heidi. She continues, “We practically lived at The Children’s Hospital. Michelle had her eighth grade dance photos taken there in the lobby. We also had a great network of friends on Sanibel Island who helped give Michelle’s life some normalcy.” Today, Matthew is cancer free and recently celebrated a very happy sixth birthday. And, he continues to inspire. His story has been the catalyst that united a group of island mothers on both Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The Sanibel moms banned together initially to donate a nursing chair to The Children’s Hospital in honor of Heidi and Mark. The group, quite appropriately named Sanibel Captiva Cares, has grown over the years and to date they have raised over The Marinello family: Mark, Heidi, Michelle and Matthew (pictured front). $1 million to benefit The Children’s Hospital. “It’s got a life of its own now. People are involved and the branches are expanding. The tree has grown,” says Heidi of the support. “What’s happening at The Children’s Hospital is a reflection of the best part of our communitypeople are coming together in the most dire of circumstances,” says Mark. He continues, “The fact that this hospital even existed is amazing to us. Someone before us took it upon themselves to fundraise and build this hospital, which has been a miracle for our family. Continuing to support the hospital is the least we can do for the parents who will follow us.” If you would like to be a part of this growing tree, please call 239-9853550 today to support Sanibel Captiva Cares and help other families like the Marinello’s. Together, we’re making miracles possible for children today and tomorrow in Southwest Florida. Planned Giving… Choose The Option Right For You Charitable gift annuities… wills and bequests… trusts… life income gifts… terms that may – at first blush – overwhelm and confuse. Don’t be “scared” off from supporting Lee Memorial Health System Foundation by what, on the surface, seem to be complex terms. Instead, get the information you need to make an informed decision when it comes time to make your own planned gift. Your planned gift may be as simple as donating appreciated stock… a “win-win” situation for you (if doing so helps to avoid capital gains tax) and Lee Memorial Health System Foundation (who can then use your gift to provide lifesaving hospital care). Or, your donation may take the form of naming our organization in your will… again, a simple matter. If you have questions about planned giving, Lee Memorial Health System Foundation is pleased to offer you a complimentary copy of our new publication – “Planned Giving Opportunities.” This brochure provides basic information about the major gift vehicles used to make planned gifts – in language and terms easy to understand. For your own free copy of “Planned Giving Opportunities,” be sure to call the LMHS Foundation office at 239-985-3550 today. Lee Memorial Health System Foundation invites you to make a donation to support our lifesaving mission and at the same time receive income for life with a Charitable Gift Annuity. If you are 65 years of age or older and donate a minimum of $10,000, Lee Memorial Health System Foundation will pay you (and a survivor, if you wish) a fixed annuity rate for life. Your charitable gift will help ensure residents of Southwest Florida have access to the finest possible hospital care. Why a charitable gift annuity? In exchange for your donation, you may receive: Income for Life Charitable Tax Deduction S A M P Gift Annuity Rates* For One Life AGE RATE 65 6.0% 70 6.5% 75 7.1% Learn More: 80 8.0% Find out how you can secure future income by calling the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation office at 239-985-3550. There is no obligation and your inquiry will be treated in the utmost confidence. 85 9.5% 90+ 11.3% Tax-Free Payout Capital Gains Savings Satisfaction knowing you are supporting lifesaving health care. L *As of 2/28/06. Actual rates based on periodic determination by American Council on Gift Annuities. E 9800 S. HealthPark Drive, Suite 210 Fort Myers, FL 33908 239-985-3550 www.LeeMemorial.org/foundation Foundation News is a quarterly publication of the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information or to make a donation, please call the Foundation office at 239-985-3550. 2006 UPCOMING EVENTS ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Aug/Sep TBD ..... Rumrunner’s Radiothon Kick-off event Sep TBD............. Saks Fifth Avenue Key to the Cure Oct TBD ............. Jazz on the Green Oct TBD ............. 5th Annual 95.3 OLZ’s “Helping Kids with Cancer Radiothon” Nov TBD ............ Evening of Appreciation Event dates subject to change. For the latest information on these and other events, contact Lee Memorial Health System Foundation at 239-985-3550 or visit us on the web www.LeeMemorial.org/foundation. LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION MISSION: To expand and enhance the role of philanthropy and the Foundation in accomplishing the mission of Lee Memorial Health System.
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