Last month, Kiwanis Division 5 hosted the 3rd annual “Run 4 the Miracle” at George’s River Ranch in Fresno. It was a record-breaking event with more than 160 participants and raising $18,500 for Valley Children's Injury Prevention Program! One of the participants was 5-year-old Benji and his dad. Benji was a patient at Valley Children's recently and wanted to come to the run "to say thank you to his doctors and his hospital."

We would like to extend a big thank you to Kiwanis Division 5 clubs and key clubs, sponsors, runners and volunteers who made this a successful event! We also want to thank Kiwanis CAL-NEV-HA for presenting a grant for $23,197 to help our Injury Prevention Program purchase car seats and reflector flashlights for children and families in need. Throughout the years, Kiwanis has been an essential partner in the fight against unintentional injury. The funds received have been used to purchase many things such as safety devices, necessary equipment for community events and staff training.

Check Presentation

Breakfast at George's Ranch

Benji and his dad

United Lodges of the San Joaquin Valley has been a generous donor to Valley Children's Genetics Department since 2003. The Lodges raised $6,055 this year for the Library of Genetic Disorders. We are grateful for the continued support by each Lodge that contributes to this critical need at Valley Children's Hospital. 

United Lodges is a group of five Central Valley clubs of The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) is one of the oldest and largest national organizations of men and women, representing the Americans of Italian heritage. They are philanthropists and model global citizens, exemplifying the very best of what it means to be Italian-American.

Jackie Giacomazzi, treasurer of Lodge 1543 in Handford, and Pauline Richmond of the Visalia Lodge came to the hospital to present the check this year. Pauline is 95 years old and very active with OSDIA, having recently served as president and in various other roles. Members of the Genetics Department were thrilled to meet Pauline and Jackie at the check presentation, discussing exciting things happening in the department such as the Precision Medicine Initiative and developments in Pharmacogenomics (PGx). Thank you to the United Lodges team for your continued vision and support!

On Friday, September 8th, some Valley Children's oncology patients, their families and our oncology staff got to have a BALL with the San Francisco Giants for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night. UCSF and LPCH-Stanford pediatric cancer patients were there as well. Buster Posey met with the group for a special pregame presentation. Valley Children's patient Jaden was selected as the honorary left-fielder during an all-kids inning before the game! Thank you to the generous donor who helped make this experience possible, providing transportation, meals, baseball jerseys, and more. The community created by experiences like these is truly priceless.

Buster Posey receiving his jersey

Jaden about to play left field