[June 22, 2010]

Community and Business Leaders Launch "Change CHOC, Change the World" Campaign, an Effort to Transform Pediatric Care in Orange County

CHOC Children's announces the "Change CHOC, Change the World" campaign, signifying the hospital's transformative journey to become a world-class pediatric institution. The comprehensive campaign will transform CHOC and, with it, the delivery of pediatric healthcare in the region by building a state-of-the-art tower; building a substantial endowment to support recruiting more of the world's top pediatric experts, while continuing to foster an environment of innovation and discovery; and building upon the academic and research affiliation with UC Irvine and its School of Medicine. The CHOC Children's Foundation is committed to raising $125 million for the campaign by June 30, 2013.

The keystone of the campaign is the seven-story tower, set to open on CHOC's Orange campus in Spring 2013. In the new tower, CHOC will continue to expand and provide innovative tertiary and quaternary pediatric care. To promote a serene, healing environment for children and their families, the tower will feature leading design and safety principles; private rooms and enhanced family amenities; open, colorful spaces; a spacious new lobby; an outdoor space and cafe; as well as areas for work, study, play and reflection.

The tower will also include new and advanced pediatric emergency department, operating rooms and related services, laboratory, pathology, imaging and radiology services.

The "Change CHOC, Change the World" campaign counts on Orange County's most influential leaders as acting stewards and advocates to create awareness in support of the campaign. The leadership committee for the campaign includes: Kim Cripe, President and CEO, CHOC Children's; Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, "Change CHOC, Change he World" campaign Honorary Chair; Jeff Elghanayan, CHOC Children's Foundation Board member; Chris Furman, CHOC Children's Foundation Board Chair; Ali Kavianian, M.D., CHOC Children's Surgeon-in-Chief; Heather Madden, CHOC Children's Foundation Board member; Cindy McMackin, Pan-Pacific Plumbing; Ron McMackin, Pan-Pacific Plumbing; and Michael Muhonen, M.D., Medical Director, CHOC Children's Neuroscience Institute.

In addition to the support of the leadership committee, the "Change CHOC, Change the World" campaign will rely on donor support to help CHOC reach its potential of becoming a sustainable, world-class children's hospital equipped to offer the latest medical advances and to meet the region's growing needs. Generous businesses and individuals have already stepped forward and committed to provide vital funds for the campaign through a donation of $1 million or more. They include:

• Argyros Foundation: Surgery waiting room in the new tower.
• CHOC Pediatric Subspecialty Faculty: Outdoor roof terrace/play area in the new tower.
• Costco Wholesale Corp.: Surgical suite in the new tower and da Vinci surgical system.
• Glass Slipper Guild: Endowment for neuroscience research.
• Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian: Diabetes program support.
• Jack and Jill Guild: Endowment fund and several suites in the radiology department in the new tower.
• Lars Holmquist (deceased): Holmquist Charity Care Endowment Fund.
• Music for a Cure, Inc.: Music therapy endowment fund.
• Robert M. (deceased) and Diana Leaverton Family of Costa Mesa: Surgical suite and neurosurgical equipment for the new tower.
• Kathryn T. McCarty of Fullerton: Oncology waiting room and medical staff sleep room in the new tower, and an oncology endowment fund.

To learn more about the "Change CHOC, Change the World" campaign, please go to www.iamforchildren.com.

About CHOC

CHOC Children's is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, CHOC's regional healthcare network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, several primary and specialty care clinics, a pediatric residency program, and four centers of excellence - The CHOC Children's Heart, Cancer, Neuroscience, and Orthopaedic Institutes.

CHOC is one of only eight children's hospitals in the nation named a "2009 Leapfrog Top Hospital." CHOC earned the Silver Level CAPE Award from the California Council of Excellence, the only children's hospital in California to ever earn this distinction, and was awarded Magnet designation, the highest honor bestowed to hospitals for nursing excellence. Recognized for extraordinary commitment to high-quality critical care standards, CHOC is the first children's hospital in the United States to earn the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.

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