Energy industry leaders such as Love’s and Trillium recently held a fundraiser in Houston, Texas. The funding supported Texas Children’s, the local branch of Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. One unique feature of the annual event is the way that it connects participants to those they are supporting. One child it supports is Grace Anto who lives with craniosynostosis. Keep reading to learn more, or follow the original story here.
Grace Anto is 10 years old. She and her family were among those who benefited from the money raised during the sixth annual Drive for a Child golf fundraiser. Grace has craniosynostosis. Craniosynostosis affects children at birth, causing one or more of the fibrous joints between bones of the skull to close prematurely. The brain, however, continues to grow within the improperly formed enclosure of the skull. As a result, Grace requires multiple hospital visits and numerous surgeries. Click here to learn more about craniosynostosis.
This year, around 300 people across 74 companies attended the Drive for a Child fundraiser at Topgolf Houston. The event raised over $290,000.
Since its beginnings in 2013, the Drive for a Child fundraiser has raised over $1.39 million for Texas Children’s. Texas Children’s is the largest children’s hospital in the United States. This is only natural according to JP Fjeld-Hansen, vice-president of Musket Corp. The company conducts business on a national scale, but Houston will always be their home. Even in a year where Hurricane Harvey caused disaster in the area, customers and community members turned out to show their support.
Texas Children’s is a national leader in pediatrics. Support form the Musket Corporation (the logistics branch of Love’s Family of Companies) and Trillium help continue this tradition.
Jennifer Smart, manager of philanthropy at TexasChildren’s Hospital says the money provided by donors and events like Drive for a Child are invaluable.
Not only does the money help support the hospitals mission, but it fills crucial gaps in spending and funding. Much of the funding the hospital receives is restricted, and can only be allocated for specific purposes. Drive for a Child, however, allows the money to be spent as the hospital needs. This in turn allows Texas Children’s to prepare for the constantly shifting needs of patients.
Patients, says Jenifer Smart, are the real winners here.
