Grateful Families
John and Jennifer McDougal
Evening Under the Stars began in 2003 as a way for John and Jennifer McDougal to pay tribute to the memory of their daughter Mallory, who was born with an extremely rare, irreparable congenital heart defect.
The event is a result of the care the McDougals received at The Willson Heart Center at Children's Hospital. "Dr. MacDonald and Dr. Rouillard are two of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life," said Jennifer McDougal.
Featuring an exquisite meal, dancing, and auction, John and Jennifer along with family and friends, host this yearly fundraiser to support the Hospital. The event has raised over $520,000 since its inception. Proceeds benefit The Willson Heart Center Endowment. View Event»
The Nugent Family
Happy Hearts began in 2003, in loving memory of Heather Nugent, who was tragically killed in a car accident in October of 2002, two days before her 18th birthday. Her father Skip Nugent, owner of Best Buy Markets, created Happy Hearts in 2003 to honor his daughter Heather and support Children's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Each April, customers purchase Happy Heart icons for $1 at Best Buy Markets in Hanford, Visalia, and Lemoore. It's a lead-in to "Happy Hearts Days" in which 5 percent of store sales go to the PICU. Skip also moves his desk to the parking lot and won't leave until he raises $5,000.
Today the Nugent family has raised over $570,000 for the PICU, nearly $100,000 each year for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and provides a beautiful message of how to give back as a grateful family. Please take a moment to read the heartfelt story and View Events».
The Williams Family
Kevin and Stacy Williams, remember when their 3-day-old daughter, Carter, underwent open heart surgery to treat a life-threatening congenital heart defect. Dr. Edwin Petrossian and Dr. Frank Hanley performed the procedure that placed a donor valve in her heart. Today, Carter is doing well and continues to have regular check-ups at the Hospital.
Kevin and Stacy wanted to find a way to give back to the incredible team of surgeons, physicians and nurses who saved Carter's life. Kevin joined the Foundation Board, and Stacy created her own fundraising event- The Run for Carter- around the Rock and Roll Marathon in southern California. She asked family and friends for donations and raised $10,000 to benefit The Willson Heart Center.
Not to be outdone, Kevin came back the next year with a "Swim for Carter" event, swimming in the chilly San Francisco Bay for donations in honor of Carter. The Williams family is committed to support their hospital - and have found unique ways to tell the community about the incredible care provided right here in our own backyard.
Contact the Foundation to learn how you can become a Grateful Family supporter: 559.353.7145 or Foundation@ChildrensCentralCal.org.