Gala benefits team centers
Eighth annual Loma Linda University Children's
Hospital Foundation gala, ‘Under the Sea'
 Patients and staff members from the Children's Hospital Specialty Team Center are introduced to LLUCH Foundation gala guests. |
Guests at the eighth annual Loma Linda University Children's Hospital Foundation gala had the feeling of slipping beneath the waves of a tropical sea as they entered Drayson Center on Sunday evening, February 4.
Large fish suspended from the ceiling "swam" over the heads of the guests, and bright orange coral and other sea plants grew up from among the tables. A jazz band played during dinner.
This year's gala proceeds benefited the 12 specialty team centers
at the Children's Hospital. Children who receive care at the centers
struggle through the hardships of overcoming health conditions such as
being fed through an IV or gastronomy tube, enduring daily seizures, extreme
breathing difficulties, or juvenile arthritis.
Some face the daily challenge of living with HIV or AIDS. Some are born prematurely or with cleft lip and/or palate, or with part of their spinal cord exposed. In addition, many are on ventilators, in wheelchairs, or have diseases such as cystic fibrosis or diabetes. Many children may also have metabolic disorders in which their bodies cannot process nutritional ingredients easily. These children need frequent follow-up and often receive care at the centers well into adulthood.
 Eight-year-old Lorelei Sinco, who has become a regular at Children's Hospital events, sings the song "Under the Sea" and amazed the audience with her vocal talent. |
The concept of the specialty team centers was developed to ease the difficulty for patients and their families as they visit various specialists' offices. With this "one stop location" format, the patient stays in one exam room during a regularly scheduled visit and an entire team of specialists and clinicians take turns performing individualized treatments and diagnoses.
John Mace, MD, chair of the department of pediatrics, introduced several families whose children have been treated at the various clinics.
Sally Contreras and her daughter, Marianna, expressed their thanks to the craniofacial team center. Marianna was born with a cleft lip and palate and has been through nearly 21 years of reconstructive surgery.
"To the devoted doctors who took an incomplete puzzle and with
time put it back together again, thank you," Marianna told the audience.
Chris Norris described the devastation of learning that his 10-year-old daughter Katie had diabetes.
"[The staff at the diabetes team center] have taken us from knowing
nothing to being able to take care of Katie with confidence," Mr.
Norris says. "Now they're teaching Katie to take care of herself."
 Congressman Jerry Lewis receives this year's Shirley N. Pettis Award for his long-time dedication to furthering the work of the Children's Hospital. |
Katie, who for some time had to prick her finger several times a day and inject herself with insulin, now wears an insulin pump.
"People at school are jealous because they think she has a beeper," Dr. Mace quipped.
Nancy Varner, chair of the LLUCH Foundation Board, and Dixie Watkins, past president of the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guild, presented Dr. Mace with a check for $142,000 that will be used to fund programs and equipment at the specialty team centers.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Shirley N. Pettis Award to Congressman Jerry Lewis by the Honorable Shirley N. Pettis Roberson and Ms. Varner.
Congressman Lewis is a lifelong resident of San Bernardino County and
represents the 40th Congressional District of California that includes
most of San Bernardino and Inyo counties.
Congressman Lewis is the third-ranking Republican on the house appropriations committee, which is responsible for funding all federal programs. He is chair of the defense appropriations subcommittee, the panel with jurisdiction over all national security matters including the entire Pentagon budget--nearly half of all funds appropriated by Congress.
In this capacity, he is a forceful advocate of critical defense and aerospace jobs in California. Congressman Lewis serves on the foreign appropriations subcommittee and the legislative branch appropriations subcommittee. He is also vice chair of the house permanent select committee on intelligence. In this capacity, he is responsible for legislative oversight and budget review of all classified U.S. intelligence and national security activities.
Congressman Lewis has been a long-time supporter of Loma Linda University,
Loma Linda University Medical Center, and Loma Linda University Children's
Hospital. He serves as an honorary Children's Hospital Foundation
Board member and his devotion to the institution contributed to the development
of the Proton Treatment Center. The Center's A-level floor is named
in honor of Congressman Lewis.
 Six individuals were honored this year as Hometown Heroes--people who exhibit a special dedication to improving the lives of children. From left are Patricia Negus, Jodee Palmer, Larry Kositsin, Hilda Garcia, and Tom Rivera, EdD. Not pictured is Jerry Negas. |
Throughout his career, Congressman Lewis has played a critical role in creating a safe and healthy environment for children and their families. He authored the Child Development Act of 1972, which has since become a national model for innovative childcare. He has pursued tough federal clean air standards, fashioned effective crime and drug legislation, and secured emergency funding for earthquake, flood, fire, and drought relief for California.
In her introduction of Congressman Lewis, Ms. Pettis Roberson shared the story of meeting him at a political campaign 37 years ago. From the beginning she sensed his talent and told her boss that the "cream" would rise all the way to the top.
"Little did I dream 37 years ago that the cream would rise quite so high," she added.
"Awards like this only cause Arlene and I to be very grateful that you've been so kind to us," Congressman Lewis said while accepting the award.
General assignment reporter Lisa Breckenridge, of KTTV FOX 11 News in
Los Angeles, was master of ceremonies for the event. Entertainment for
the evening was provided by Josh Groban, a 19-year-old recording artist
and opera singer, and 'Nita Whitaker, who also performed at last
year's gala. Mr. Groban's first album, produced by Grammy-award-winning
composer/producer David Foster, is scheduled for release this summer.
He recently completed a world tour with Sara Brightman, performing in
50 cities across North America and Europe. Ms. Whitaker's career
has led her to roles in television and film, including "The Bodyguard"
and "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Currently, Ms. Whitaker performs
in concert with producer David Foster. Eight-year-old Lorelei Sinco also
performed several songs at the gala. Ms. Sinco has performed at the White
House for former President Bill Clinton.
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The final highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Hometown Hero awards. Committed to making a difference, these honorees have distinguished themselves by their giving to improve the lives of children.
"We want to recognize the contributions of individuals who share our passion for children and help to enrich the quality of life in our communities," says Reiner S. Roeske, director of the Children's Hospital Foundation.
As part of the Foundation's Hometown Heroes award program, heroes were nominated by individuals in the community and selected by a panel of judges composed of previous Hometown Heroes. This year's Hometown Heroes are Hilda Garcia, Larry Kositsin, Jerry and Patricia Negus, Jodee Palmer, and Tom Rivera, EdD.
Hilda Garcia has been a docent for the Inland Empire Symphony Guild's Music in the Schools program for the past nine years. As such, she has taken musical instruments into third- and fourth-grade classrooms in the San Bernardino City Unified School District, where she presents programs about the symphony and talks about each instrument. During the past three years Ms. Garcia has been the co-coordinator of the docent program, assisting in the initial training sessions and the scheduling of the presentations in the 43 elementary schools in the district. During the past year, Ms. Garcia represented almost half of the total sessions completed. Last year alone, almost 1,000 children benefited from her willingness to give of her enthusiasm, her love of children, and her commitment to share the beauty of music.
With his faith in God and his own money, Larry Kositsin cofounded The Mourning Star Center five years ago in Palm Desert to help grieving children deal with the loss of a loved one. Approximately 170 children attend the center each month and only stop when they feel ready. Not only does the center provide workshops for children and adults, it also is available for programs at schools, professional education meetings, and community outreach programs. The center's staff provides peer support and encourages children and adults to realize that they are not alone and to work through their feelings by expressing their emotions. The programs at the center provide a supportive and safe environment that encourages the sharing of feelings and information to facilitate the healing process.
During the past 23 years, Jerry and Patricia Negus have given short- and long-term shelter to more than 400 foster children. In addition to raising four children of their own, they have also adopted two children and assumed guardianship of seven foster children, providing a loving home until the children were finally able to strike out on their own at 20 to 25 years of age.
Recognized throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties for her leadership and advocacy of children's concerns in general and foster care issues in particular, Patricia has served as president of the Inland Valley Foster Parent Association for the past eight years. She has been instrumental in making positive changes in the lives of children by advocating for more and better training for foster parents, the provision of respite care and baby-sitting resources for foster parents, and supporting and participating in programs to teach teenagers the independent living skills necessary for survival once they are emancipated at age 18.
Jodee Palmer came to the YWCA of Riverside County in 1997 as a facilitator for "Choices," an after-school teen pregnancy prevention program for middle school girls. Ms. Palmer enhanced her "Choices" classes by expanding the focus from pregnancy prevention to a full self-enrichment program helping to guide young women through every aspect of healthy human development. Ms. Palmer is currently project director of the Challenges of Youth collaborative, a multi-agency community consortium dedicated to reducing teen pregnancy and promoting responsible parenting among adolescents in Riverside County. The collaborative is one of the largest, most effective programs of its kind in the state. As director, Ms. Palmer has expanded the program to include middle school boys in the pregnancy prevention effort. More than 2,000 boys and girls were touched last year by one of the many programs Ms. Palmer provides through Challenges of Youth.
For the past 16 years, Tom Rivera, EdD, has been in charge of the Inland Empire Future Leaders Program, which provides low income, at-risk youth a summer leadership development program. More than 2,000 eighth and ninth grade students from the Inland Empire have participated in the program.
The week-long session includes training in the government process, parliamentary procedure, elections, cultural awareness, college preparation, citizenship responsibilities, and public speaking. The dynamic sessions encourage students to strive for academic excellence and contribute to their schools and community through personal involvement regardless of their economic status.
Four-year follow-up surveys have shown that 99 percent of the students who attend the program graduate from high school and 89 percent attend college. Many former participants, who are now college graduates or graduate students, return yearly to assist Dr. Rivera to ensure the ongoing success of the program.
Next year's gala is planned for Sunday, February 3, 2002.
Specialty team centers benefit from eighth annual LLUCH Foundation gala
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