Kids Health Matters
Topic: Giving

With her shock of blonde hair blowing in the wind, Mari laughs while flying down the trails on her mountain bike and has aspirations to conquer the monkey bars at her local playground. These athletic feats become all the more impressive when you consider the fact that Mari was born missing nearly all of the fingers on her right hand.

Joe Carr is a socially connected doer and thinker so a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic was not about to stop him from launching his 5th annual Lemonade Stand Fundraiser for Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. In fact, Joe and his team say in a strange twist COVID-19 might make this year of fund raising even more successful.

Kids Health Heroes is a series that highlights a few of the incredible individuals and community partners who are stepping forward to keep Gillette strong and resilient throughout this public health emergency. This post celebrates Gillette donor Michael Owens, local restaurants and caterers, and businesses donating masks. We thank all of our donors for their generous support, and invite you to join them with your contribution today.

During this time of isolation, everyone is looking for ways to stay in touch with the people and causes they care about. In the weeks ahead, we’ll be exploring new ways to connect with one another while also staying safe. Learn five easy ways you can support Gillette and create community together, from a distance.

“It’s just so wonderful to watch these children get better. It’s also very rewarding to see the connection that forms between the children and my dogs. They become friends.”

Nicole Leinonen says she’ll never forget the phone call that she says changed her life. “Every time I think of that phone call from Gillette telling me that I qualified for some financial assistance I get emotional. I’m amazed at how generous people are,” Nicole says. “The Gillette Assistance Program (GAP) means I can focus on Ella and her needs. I don’t have to be so stressed worrying about how, as a single parent, I can pay for her care.”

Police officers, postal workers, kids and politicians are drawn to Joe Carr's lemonade stand to raise money for Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. Joe is a Gillette patient and uses his considerable charm and social media skills in his quest to make sure ALL kids have access to great health care.

Twenty-five Gillette patients and their families, a dozen professional athletes and many corporate sponsors took to Target Field on June 14th for the 4th Annual Mauer and Friends Kids Classic.  

The Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation awarded Gillette a generous grant to help expand Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare’s spine program. This is the largest grant we’ve ever received.

It's rare for a singular event to bring so much joy and meaning to so many individuals and organizations, but Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare's celebration of the 3rd Annual Mauer and Friends Kids Classic, did just that. The event took place on a perfect, June day, and 25 Gillette patients and their families had the experience of a lifetime down on the grass of Target Field.

Volunteers at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare help patients and families feel more relaxed. Volunteer Kalpana Parsons says,“The best part of my day is when I can get a patient to smile!"

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare hosted two successful events aimed at helping kids of all abilities know the joy of riding a bike.

You know, there might be nothing more Minnesotan than lacing up a pair of skates and heading out to the rink. “You bet, you’d better believe it,” says Tony Lang of Loretto, Minnesota. “I grew up playing hockey my whole life. It’s a family tradition. In fact, when we had kids I built a rink in our backyard.”

On Pedal in Place race day, participants jump on stationary bikes, battle it out with other teams, and race to good health—all while raising funds for kids who have cerebral palsy or other lifelong conditions. Many Gillette families say the adaptive bikes are helpful for their child's physical therapy and emotional well-being.

“I don’t think it would surprise anyone to learn that a lot of children love dogs,” says Emily DeBreto. “While we’ve had volunteers bring in therapeutic dogs at the hospital for comfort, we wanted to get our dogs more involved with the actual functional aspects of the therapy we’re providing.”

Tall, red-haired and boisterous, it’s not a surprise to learn that Connor plays on the football team back in North Dakota, or that he’s pretty popular.

Kelsey's attitude is so affecting, she says that most people don’t notice at first. Kelsey was born with a radial club hand, and her left arm is significantly shorter than her right. This means that when she’s instructing yoga—perhaps the most public of exercises—she’s essentially doing most of it, one-handed.

One of the sweetest fundraisers of the year is coming soon. On Miracle Treat Day, a portion of Dairy Queen Blizzard Treats sold are donated to Gillette. Learn how Miracle Treat Day is just one example of the generous support Gillette receives from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

"We did this to honor Mom and Jim,” says Jean Burkhardt of her family's gift to Gillette. Learn how this Minnesota farm family discovered Gillette in the 1960s and how a mom's love for her son led to a generous donation.

Gavin, age 5, recently achieved his dream of bike-riding with his older brother! See how fundraising helped give Gavin a adapted bike of his own.

On June 4, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare families and supporters gathered at Como Park to walk, roll and have a blast—all while raising funds to help purchase communication devices and sports equipment for children who have disabilities.

Join us at noon, Monday, May 1, as Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare’s favorite expat and former British royal guard, Richard Lett, will be bringing his sailboat to the hospital.

If you want to know how a former guard to the British Royal Family wound up racing his sailboat to help Minnesota children who have disabilities, follow along below.

As a child in the 1940s, Lyn Baier traveled with her mother by bus from the family farm in southwestern Minnesota to the old Gillette building near Lake Phalen in St. Paul. She spent months away from home getting treatment for her deformed right leg.

Maddy’s mom describes her as “a warrior” — and rightly so. Maddy has spina bifida. But she also has much more: extraordinary compassion, a keen sense of humor, and a vibrant personality. Meet Maddy and learn why she’s excited to represent Gillette during the Walk & Roll 3K on June 18, 2016.

April 10 marks the beginning of national volunteer week, and as we reflect on the work done by our volunteers over the past year, it becomes clear that they deserve a round of applause. In 2015-16, 306 of the weekly volunteers logged more than 12,000 hours over the course of their 4,000 visits to serve.

“When I was a kid in the hospital, the nurses and registration staff remembered my name when I’d do my check-ups, and that always made me feel welcome. It’s incredible to think that now I’m on the other side of the desk recognizing families by name…it’s come full circle.” –Ed Jenkins

When Andrew Haldeman needed emergency surgery after breaking his arm during a wrestling match, his anesthesiologist noticed something unusual. Learn how the discovery proved lifesaving, and why it inspired Andrew to give back to Gillette.