Dear Friends:

Summer is a time of year when we traditionally celebrate America’s independence with friends and family, revel in the paradise where we live, and enjoy time away with our loved ones. But this year, we are all mourning the tragic events that recently shattered our community in Surfside.

So many of us have been impacted, directly or indirectly, by the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo building. The stories of the lives lost – elderly couples enjoying their retirement, newlyweds just starting their life together, pregnant women, vibrant young children, entire families, everyone who went to sleep that night full of hopes and dreams – are simply heartbreaking. Yet it is heartwarming to see our community uniting to support the families touched by this unthinkable tragedy and the heroic first responders who are working around the clock in search of a miracle. Among those heroes are some of our very own University of Miami/Jackson physicians – including Ryder Trauma Center surgeons Dr. Howard Lieberman and Dr. Brandon Parker, and pediatric critical care physician, Dr. Patricia Cantwell – who have been on the scene, working alongside fire rescue personnel, as members of urban search and rescue task forces. The Jackson Health Foundation salutes them, and everyone else who has put their own life at risk to help in this Herculean, painstaking task. We join our community in prayers and hoping for a miracle.

As we look towards the coming months, we are excited to resume in-person events, beginning in the fall. This newsletter outlines some of the larger events we have planned, including our inaugural Mind Your Health Event on Sunday, October 10, a family-friendly festival focusing on mental health awareness and benefiting Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital. Also, save the date for our annual 22nd Guardians of the Children Luncheon and Fashion Show on November 23, 2021, which will be hosted at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne. 

Sincerely,
Charmaine Gatlin
Co-President & Chief Operating Officer
Flavia Llizo
Co-President & Chief Development Officer
Happy Birthday Jackson Health!
Just last week we celebrated our 103rd birthday!  Jackson Health System has a celebrated history dating back more than a century. It started on June 25, 1918, when the new Miami City Hospital, spearheaded by physician and civic leader Dr. James M. Jackson, opened its doors to the community in the midst of a deadly Spanish flu pandemic. Since then, Jackson has grown from a small hospital with 13 beds and a handful of employees to one of the nation’s largest, most comprehensive health systems.

Over the years we have expanded to six hospitals, multiple primary care clinics, and specialty care centers, two long-term care nursing facilities, and a network of behavioral health facilities and urgent care centers amounting to over 2,100 beds and more than 13,000 full-time employees. And we’re excited to soon open our newest campus, Jackson West Medical Center in Doral, home to the 100-bed José Milton Memorial Hospital. Make a gift of $10.30 (or $103!!) today and help us celebrate 103 years of miracles made daily.
Tune In: July Parental Guidance
Summer & Water Safety
July 8, 2021, at 8 p.m.
Summer is here and chances are your family will be near water in the coming months. Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death in kids through the age of 15, which is why it is important to learn water safety tips to keep you and your kids safe. Tune in Thursday, July 8 at 8 p.m. as we discuss the most important water safety tips so you don’t land in deep water this summer. Sign up for this seminar here.
Click here for tips to keep your family safe.
Little Guardian Angel Spotlight
Veronica Puig
Veronica (Vero) is only 11, but has always wanted to help those in need. At age five she was already working on finding toys for children living in poverty in Colombia, where her family is from. As her awareness grew, so did her desire to make a difference. As a result, Vero became a Little Guardian Angel helping spearhead efforts focused on making an impact at Holtz Children’s Hospital. Simultaneously, Vero created Veca’s Hope Children Foundation to support organizations furthering the fight against pediatric cancer. Although the pandemic has put a pause on some of the activities she had planned for the year, Vero is looking forward to brightening the lives of the children and families at Holtz just like she did last Valentine’s Day with her special delivery of toys to the hospital. For more information on becoming a Little Guardian Angel, please call (305) 585-GIVE (4483).
“Mind Your Health” Mental Health
Community Event and Walk
October 10, 2021
Join us for the inaugural Mind Your Health event on World Mental Health Day, Sunday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Margaret Pace Park in Miami, benefiting Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in family-friendly activities as we raise awareness of mental health issues and support those that are affected by mental health. "Mind Your Health" will host speakers and interactive sessions. Topics such as nutrition, addiction, depression, exercise, and mindfulness will be explored as fundamental to living a healthy and fulfilling life.

To learn more about Mind Your Health and to register, build a team, or make a donation, please click here.
The 22nd Guardians of the Children
Luncheon & Fashion Show
November 23, 2021
Keeping with tradition, everyone is invited to join the Guardian Angels at our annual 22nd Guardian of the Children Luncheon & Fashion Show on November 23rd at the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne. Spend your afternoon supporting Holtz Children’s Hospital while enjoying a delightful lunch and enjoying the latest fashions presented by Saks Fifth Avenue! To learn more about the Guardian Angels or to reserve your seat, please contact Alexandra Salcedo at alexandra.salcedo@jhfmiami.org or 305-585-GIVE (4483).
Support Jackson Health Foundation
Through Amazon Smile
Do you shop on Amazon? Did you know you can support Jackson by making it your preferred charity on AmazonSmile? Just visit smile.amazon.com and select Jackson Health Foundation, then continue to shop as you normally do and let Amazon do the rest.
Jackson Health Foundation | www.SupportJHF.org