lift! spring 2023

The Miracle Merritt Twins

Art Helps

Kids Heal

ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

Giving the Gift of Hope.

At Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health your gifts truly make a difference. When you give to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, you’re joining an army of supporters and dogooders who believe in the power of community and that every child deserves the chance at a happy, healthy future.

The dollars we raise go toward life-saving technology purchases, state-of-the-art facilities renovations and resources that our patients and families so desperately need. When families come to us they are looking for hope and, because of you, they are met with the highest standard of hope and healing in our state. As a philanthropy team, it is our privilege to carry out the mission of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital through your generosity, and to share stories that allow you to see the difference your philanthropy makes in the lives of our littlest patients.

Thank you for giving back!

Chief Development Officer OU Health

Help our patients soar!

Kite Club is one of the best ways to give back to the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. With a monthly gift commitment of $25 or more, you become a meaningful part of helping our kids and families thrive. Kite Club dollars support the greatest needs of the hospital, or you can choose to direct your monthly gift to your area of passion like kid’s heart care or kid’s cancer care. We look forward to keeping you up-to-date on how our Kite Club members are making a difference.

P.S. When you sign up, we’ll send you a welcome packet and car decal so you can proudly display your support.

Why do you give to kids? Email us your ‘Why’ and a photo and you may be featured in a future issue!

why do you give?

“I donate because I see firsthand how my contributions affect the children that are hospitalized on a daily basis.”

Monica, Oklahoma City, Kite Club Member Since 2020

“We give because Jesus said “I tell you the truth, whatever you did unto the least of these.... you did for me.”

Jordan Parsons Donor Engagement & Stewardship Coordinator

Contact Jordan at jordan.parsons@ouhealth.com

Virgil & Linda, Shawnee OK, Kite Club Members Since 2021

Join Kite Club! scan the QR code to learn more or make a gift!

merrittmiracles meet the

Jake and Callie Merritt started their family in 2016 when they welcomed their first child, a son, Ketch. Then, in 2019, the Merritts welcomed twins, Kacki and Klein, at 26 weeks gestation. Both babies were around 2lbs at birth and spent three weeks at an area hospital until Klein developed bacterial meningitis.

At that point, Callie knew her babies needed a higher level of care and looked to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health. Within hours, both

Outfits provided by Swaddle

babies were on their way to the NICU at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital where Kacki would spend the next 3.5 months and Klein, the next 10 months of their little lives.

“It didn’t take long for the care team at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital to become like family to us. When you are looking to a team of doctors and nurses to sustain your babies daily, it makes sense,” said Callie. “They listened to us as parents and we knew we could count on them.”

The Merritts felt they owed so much to the care teams that saved their babies and decided to give back in a big way by donating new equipment to the NICU and the Air Kids One transport team. “Our first gift was made to purchase a piece of equipment that would have been beneficial to Klein had it been there. Then, we saw the impact of that gift and it snowballed into

continuing to want to give back and have an impact on other babies and families,” said Callie.

Today, the twins are almost four. Kacki has taken on a ‘motherly’ role with brother Klein and is much more calm and quiet. Klein is the life of the party, always dancing and smiling. “There’s no adequate way to say thank you. We’re living our dream by raising our family and our home is filled with so much joy.”

Sara Parcell Executive Director of Development

Q A&

with Oklahoma Children’s Hospital’s Chief Administrative Officer, Kendal Pinkston, MHA

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’ve been married to my husband Ben since 2007, and we have two children, Jack and Gentry.  Ben and I are both OU alumni and he has a dental practice in Oklahoma City. Our kids are very active in sports and we also love going to Lake Eufaula. My happy place is being on the boat, watching the kids tube, ski, or wakeboard. Sometimes I relive my glory days and water ski, myself.

What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s healthcare?

Seeing the impact we make in the lives of our patients and their families. Being in the hospital is stressful and when you’re here with your child that stress is 100-fold. Knowing that I am a part of a team that helps kids and families heal keeps me going.

What’s been your greatest experience in your years here at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital?

Seeing how we have expanded services for patients from the facility expansion of Labor and Delivery to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Also, program expansion including the Children’s Heart Center, Robotic Surgery Program, and our Expanded Neurosciences Program.

“Being able to connect with donors to understand how Oklahoma Children’s Hospital has impacted their life and how to honor that impact is very rewarding.”

What can you share about your vision and future plans here at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital?

I am so excited about growing our Emergency Department, which is crucial, as we’ve seen an increase of children needing emergency services.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The one thing that stands out is that this isn’t about me; this is about taking care of kids and families. I approach my role with that mindset—How can I ensure that Oklahoma Children’s Hospital is doing the very best to take care of them?

How do you revitalize yourself?

I enjoy working out. A good run helps to clear my mind.

How do you see philanthropy supporting the mission of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital now and in the future?

Philanthropy has already done so much to help support our mission. From the Quincy Le Norman Nutrition Center to the Merritt Family’s gifts to our NICU, we are starting to see philanthropic dollars at work all over the hospital. Being able to connect with donors to understand how Oklahoma Children’s Hospital has impacted their life and how to honor that impact is very rewarding.

“This isn’t about me; this is about taking care of kids and families.”

Kendal, her husband Ben and children, Jack and Gentry

fifty years of volunteers

Celebrating the Volunteers at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital

It’s the 50th anniversary of our volunteers charity at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. Formed as the “Volunteer Auxiliary to Oklahoma Children’s Memorial Hospital” in 1973, it was the first unique 501(c)3 charity dedicated to volunteer and community programs for kids at the hospital. However, our legacy of volunteering reaches all the way back.

“Crippled Children’s Hospital” opened in 1930 with volunteers coordinated by Junior League of Oklahoma City. At that time, weaving was the most popular activity. Archived news clippings show holiday party highlights, fundraising for playrooms and calls for community volunteers as early as the 1930s and 1940s. On Sunday, September 4, 1949, the Oklahoman ran an article about Mrs. Betty Caldwell who learned toys were needed from her husband, Alvalo, a medical student. “Toys sent to the hospital around December 25 wore out in July but the kids who need them are still in the hospital,” she said, explaining how she raised $15, $7 and $5 from different groups to buy toys for all 350 kids. A story that rings true today.

Volunteering is woven into the fabric of care. The Tinker Officers’ Wives Club and other groups offered support from members in the 1950s, just as we rely on corporate and community partners like Spirit Halloween and Bob Moore. A KOCO charity softball game

in 1981 or Girl Scouts decorating Christmas stockings in 1957 feel familiar, as we still engage our community to volunteer, donate and find meaningful ways to support our kids.

This year, we will showcase our legacy of generosity by sharing historical moments and unveiling a 50th anniversary signature project. Stories and memories will help us celebrate the purpose of the Volunteers through the words of those impacted by our people and programs.

Events the Week of July 25, 2023 details coming soon

Have you volunteered or been impacted by events or programs like the Toy Cart, Cuddlers, Pet Therapy or The Zone? Share your story and stay connected to celebrate the legacy of volunteering with events this July.

Share your story to OCHgivetokids@ouhealth.com or scan the QR code!

Art helps kids heal.

A walk down the hall is a brighter experience thanks to a new, incredible work of art by artists-in-residence

Denise Duong and Gabriel Friedman and more than 90 children at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health.

Supported by art therapy, kids designed each piece of a giant, wallsized puzzle built by Friedman. Atop their designs, Duong brings to life connections of their shared stories -- a work that will continue to connect to kids and families at the hospital for years to come.

The artists-in-residence program began in 2019 in order to expand community arts experiences and advance art therapy outlets. The puzzle project was made possible by the generosity of Bob Moore, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, Crossfirst Bank, Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Dunkin, Melissa Scaramucci, Blair and Maggie Humphreys, Quik Print of Tulsa and Plenty Mercantile.

Interested in supporting our next artists-in-residence?

We’d love to hear from you!

Denise Duong

Artist-in-Residence

Gabriel Friedman

Artist-in-Residence

Sara Jacobson Executive Director of Volunteers & Philanthropy

Contact Sara at sara.jacobson@ouhealth.com

Max points to his puzzle piece during a reveal event.

2022-23 Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Ambassador’s Society

Lucinda Albers

Taylor R. Allen

Ascension Lutheran Church

Shalia M. Ashcraft

Dallas C. Barnett, Jr.

Because We Care Philanthropy, Inc.

Bessemer Trust Company

Ashley Bivens

BMAG Management Company LLC

Bob Usry & Sons, Inc

Kimberly A. Boles

Boomer Zoomer Co

Tim Brand

Bristol Motor Speedway

Sara Budic

Ronald D. Bullard, MD

C R Homes LLC

Casady School

Central Rural Electric Cooperative

Charles and Nikki Singer Foundation

Chick-Fil-A #02574

Child’s Play

Mark Childers

Anthony T. Childers

Choctaw Electric Cooperative

Jeremy W. Christensen

Ckenergy Electric Cooperative,Inc.

Kevin Cole

Barbara Collum

Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative

Cordea Consulting LLC

Cotton Electric Cooperative

David M. Courtis

Patrick Craine

T.J. and Macie Tims

Chad Cronin

Cross Directional Drilling LLC

CrossFirst Bank

Kim R. Daniel

Domino Food and Fuel Inc.

Barbara M. Downs

Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation

E. L. & Thelma Gaylord Foundation

East Central Electric

EOG Resources, Inc.

Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC

John Finn

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited

Natasha Fitzgerald

Mary E. FitzSimons

Flogistix, LP

Marca J. Floyd

Fred Jones Family Foundation

Emily Gillis

James H. Gilmore

Girl Scout Troop 673

Jayasree Gorukanti

Hearst Foundations

Zach J. Hess

Sherry K. Higgins

Kimberly J. Hood

Anita M. Horn

Aaron D. Hunt

Infinity Capital Partners

Victoria Inman

Integrity Auto Finance LLC

JE Dunn Construction

Patrick A. Jones

E. Carey Joullian, IV

Kay Electric Cooperative

Kendra Scott LLC

Ketchum Charitable Foundation

Kiamichi Electric Co-Op, Inc.

Kirkpatrick Family Fund

Frank and Kim Klaus

Elizabeth Knox

Michael J. Koch

Alex O. Kravtsov

Lake Region Electric Cooperative

Sami E. Langley

Terry and Charlotte Langley

Carrie L. Lindsay

Janice L. Litton

Frank C. Love, IV

MacArthur Associated Consultants LTD

Maddox’s Purpose

Vishal Maheshwari

Randal Marsh

Casey McPherson

Connie J. Mitchel

David J. Morgan

More Than Just a Name LLC

Greg L. Muhlinghause

Nancy Mui

Andrew J. Murphy

Clifford Neathery

Nextep Charitable Foundation

Northeast OK Electric Cooperative

Judith Nystrom

OKC Thunder

Oklahoma Childrens Cancer Association

Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Inc

Oklahoma Energy Education Foundation

Oklahoma Home Builders Foundation

Ilus E. Overton

Lila R. Oza

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

Brooke D. Phillips

Presbyterian Health Foundation

Prolacta Bioscience Inc.

Red Shelf Gift Shops

Rachel Reese

Quannah Rice

Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation

Routh & Sons Inc

Rulewicz Foundation

Melissa Scaramucci

Leslie R. Schwartz

Lisa Schwarz

Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc

Bobby Smith

Sodexo Inc & Affiliates

Michael Spainhower

Vicki A. Spears

Spirit of Halloween

Molly Stark

Mark A. Steele

Cathryn Stieb

Phyllis A. Stong

Helen M. Sullivan

Margaret R. Swindell

Julie Talaiver

Paula H. Tate

Teammates for Kids Foundation

Tenaris

TGS

The New Horizons Foundation, Inc.

Thunder Frontier Inc.

Union Public Schools

Allen Wade

Tiffany F. Wait

Waste Connections

Kari F. Watkins

Sami Wilson

Wilspec Technologies Inc.

Carol Zaloudek

The Ambassador’s Society was founded to honor and recognize friends who have invested in Oklahoma Children’s Hospital through cumulative giving of $1,000 or more annually.

Want to create a lasting legacy for Oklahoma children?

A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of your attorney or advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health as a part of your estate plan. When you make a gift via your estate, you’re leaving a lasting legacy that will make a difference for children generations from now.

If you’d like to learn more about leaving Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in your estate plan or to request sample bequest language, please contact Sara Parcell at sara.parcell@ouhealth.com.