All Posts by

Lauren Irizarry

Ambassador Highlight: Meet Alyssa

Born at only 26 weeks and weighing a tiny 1 pound and 4 ounces, Alyssa started fighting for her life right after her birth in the neonatal intensive care unit at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

Lights out for Celebrity Waiter Night

The grand finale for Celebrity Waiter Night took place earlier this month, where throughout the evening, guests reminisced about three successful decades of fun-filled, entertaining fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network.

Funding hope: Parkinson’s patient on the road again

When he was 38 years old, Doug Kirk remembers how things like brushing his teeth or raising his left arm became difficult. He wasn’t able to sleep. Even sitting for extended periods of time proved painful. But this summer, he and his wife Sheila will cycle for more than 450 miles along the scenic southern hills of Iowa.

Celebrity Waiter Night’s curtain call

Since 1986, the Celebrity Waiter Night has raised more than $3.5 million for Children’s Miracle Network. One hundred percent of CMN dollars stay local, impacting children right here in the community treated at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. Now in its final year in its current format, participants…

Dance Marathon wraps incredible $5M+ season

UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is now the only institution in the country supported by THREE $1 million-plus student-run fundraising programs, as well as the nation’s fastest-growing with OwlThon at Florida Atlantic University.

For this father, longtime giving is personal

In 1968, Barry Wigglesworth's only son was diagnosed with Ebstein anomaly in its severest form, a rare heart defect that is present at birth where the heart valve doesn’t properly close to keep the blood flowing in the right direction.

Ava and Nick’s excellent tour adventure

Did you know our Pediatric E.R. boasts two tropical fish tanks? Or that the Sebastian Ferrero Atrium was designed with our youngest patients in mind? There have been many changes at the children’s hospital over the last several years, thanks to supporters like you.