Children's Circle of Care 2009 North American Leadership Conference & Gala

Children’s Celebrates Our Most Generous Benefactors 

In May 2009, several Children’s Hospital Oakland donors and senior staff traveled to Washington for the 2009 North American Leadership Conference and Gala, hosted by Seattle Children’s Hospital. This annual event gives special recognition to Children’s Circle of Care members from participating pediatric hospitals across North America.

 
NBC News Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw, former anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” served as honorary chair of the event, and attendees were treated to a special performance by Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Natalie Cole. The three-day conference also included presentations from top pediatric specialists who discussed how philanthropic gifts are fueling life-saving research and treatments around the world.

“The conference was amazing,” said Jeannette Cox, grateful parent and devoted supporter of Children’s Hospital Oakland since 2001. “I learned so much about research being conducted around the world to improve children’s health. I attended a special conference about prematurity as a global issue and how some of our country’s leading philanthropists are contributing to help reduce the statistic that prematurity causes more deaths in children under five than AIDS, malaria or tuberculosis.”

The Cox’s own twins, Brooke and Trent, now 10, were born prematurely at 24 weeks of gestation. “Each day in the hospital was a roller coaster ride, times two,” Jeannette continued. “Their lives were touch and go for months. Now, each night when I tuck them into bed, it makes me melt. No words can describe how thankful we are for the care they were given from everyone at Children’s Hospital Oakland. And I’m also grateful to be a part of Children’s Circle of Care — to know that we are contributing to advances in children’s health, not only in our local community, but around the world.”

Children’s Hospital Oakland is grateful for all of our Children’s Circle of Care donors who are building the foundation for our next century of care.

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