Madera, CA - Nov. 21, 2024 - The Guilds of Valley Children’s have proudly exceeded $5 million endowment toward the establishment of the Guilds Center for Community Health and have committed to funding two new endowments totaling $12 million to expand Valley Children’s life-saving care.
The Guilds Center for Community Health bridges the exceptional care kids receive at Valley Children’s Hospital with the health impacts children experience where they live, learn and play. The two new endowments include:
- The $10 million Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Endowment (also known as extracorporeal life support, or ECLS) to expand life-saving care to even more critical patients in need of heart and lung bypass support.
- The $2 million Guilds Endowment, is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for the Guilds to directly support different units throughout Valley Children’s in support of patients, families and staff.
“We are forever grateful to the Guilds for taking on the challenge and responsibility to support the Guilds Center, a cause that is rooted squarely in our mission to continuously improve the health and well-being of kids,” said Lynne Ashbeck, Valley Children’s senior vice president and chief community impact officer. “The next big challenge - and our promise - is to exceed the expectations entrusted to us and to do even more toward improving the lives our kids in their communities through programs, partnerships, collaborations and more.”
“It is with an immense sense of pride that we carry on a legacy that goes back three quarters of a century,” said Marla McClaskey, Valley Children’s Guilds Coordinating Council chair. “We are excited to support the ECMO team as they care for our most critically ill children in need of heart and lung support with a $10 million endowment, along with a $2 million endowment supporting Valley Children’s different service units with a grant application process.”
The Guilds have raised more than $35 million for projects ranging from surgical, imaging and cardiology equipment, to providing funds for a state-of-art heliport and establishing five endowments totaling $15 million. The new endowments totaling $12 million will be the Guilds’ largest commitment to date.
“This most generous gift of support ensures that we will be able to continue offering the highest quality of advanced life support to the most critically ill infants and children in our extended community” said Dr. Harry Kallas, Valley Children’s Extracorporeal Life Support Program medical director. “I'm grateful that the Guilds have honored our program with this incredible investment.”
Funds raised by the Guilds through the remainder of 2024 will continue to support the Guilds Center for Community Health Endowment. Funds raised beginning Jan. 1, 2025, will support the two new endowments.