Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Announces CHANGEMAKERS for Children’s Health
In celebration of #ChildrensHospitalsWeek, a week raising awareness for children’s hospitals and their critical need for donations, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals announced CHANGEMAKERS: an exclusive list of celebrities, influencers, corporate leaders and advocates who have positively impacted children’s health. The individuals and groups named have made a difference in the health and well-being of children, specifically sick and injured children treated at children’s hospitals across North America.
“These CHANGEMAKERS have impacted the lives of kids,” said Teri Nestel, interim president & CEO, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Some raised large sums of money, others have used their platforms to raise awareness, while others have uncovered major health crises affecting our kids. Each of them is an example of how we can all make a difference. Together, we can change kids’ health. Together, we can change the future.”
The CHANGEMAKERS are (complete list available via ChangeKidsHealth.org):
Adam Devine: Actor and comedian Adam Devine credits his two years of treatment at his local children’s hospital as the “driving force” for his career.
Amy Poehler: The Making It star continues to produce the award-winning online website “Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls,” which showcases real girls who are changing the world by being themselves.
Catherine Hernandez-Blades: The senior vice president, chief environmental, social and governance and communications officer at Aflac. Under Catherine Hernandez-Blades’ leadership, Aflac’s award-winning CSR program, which focuses on childhood cancer and “My Special Aflac Duck® has received numerous honors.
Ciara: Ciara is a Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter, who along with her husband, Russell Wilson, visits Seattle Children’s hospital nearly every week during the NFL season, bringing hope to sick kids.
Dani Schultes: As a University of Northern Iowa’s student, Dani Schultes raised $30,000 for her local children’s hospital through Dance Marathon. She is now studying to be a pediatric oncology nurse and continues to fundraise for her children’s hospital.
David Dobrik: David Dobrik, a digital star and tv personality, has used his platform to support children’s hospitals since 2016 and recently gave $5,000 to an Auburn student raising money for Auburn University Dance Marathon.
Dierks Bentley: Multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has raised over $4 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals while visiting different cities across the country with his “Miles & Music For Kids” all-star motorcycle ride and concert.
Erin Wayne: Erin Wayne is the Director of Community and Creator Marketing at Twitch. During her years at Twitch, she’s focused her roles on working towards educating content creators, increasing inclusion efforts, and supporting charitable efforts.
Felix Alonso: Felix Alonso oversees BuckeyeThon, a student-driven philanthropic organization that coordinates Ohio State’s Dance Marathon and has raised over $11.5M for Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Gaten Matarazzo: The Stranger Things star devotes his time to raising awareness about cleidocranial dysplasia – a condition that affects the development of bones and teeth.
Hillary Weidner: In just one week, this mom, with the help of her best friend, Amanda Zerbe, and her son, Jack, raised more than $200,000 for the children’s hospital that treats her daughter.
Jack Patillo: Over the past seven years, Jack Patillo has spearheaded a 24-hour livestream production at Rooster Teeth that has raised more than $6 million for Extra Life, a program that helps gamers fundraise for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Jack and Barbara Nicklaus: Jack and Barbara are the guiding light for the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, which supports numerous pediatric health-care services in South Florida, as well as nationally, and has raised well over $100 million dollars since its inception in 2004.
Jennifer Lopez: Jennifer Lopez is a committed advocate and philanthropist for children’s hospitals. She has supported Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, using her influence and platform to raise funds and awareness for 170 children’s hospitals across North America, including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Jenny Love Meyer: As the driving force behind Love’s annual fundraising campaign for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Love’s has donated more than $30 million to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Jimmy Kimmel: In May 2017, in a 13-minute monologue on his show, Kimmel emphasized the importance of access to quality healthcare for all kids and made a heartfelt plea for viewers to donate to CHLA. Kimmel’s continued advocacy for all sick and injured kids has put children’s healthcare on the forefront of the media landscape.
Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga is an outspoken advocate for mental wellness. She helps provide young people with the resources they need to support their wellness and connects young people with meaningful opportunities to lead in their communities.
Dr. Lynn D’Andrea: With the help of her colleagues at Children’s Wisconsin, Dr. D’Andrea uncovered the harmful effects of vaping in youth in 2019.
Micah Fowler: Micah Fowler, best known for his role of JJ DiMeo in the hit ABC series Speechless, has cerebral palsy and uses his voice to be a constant advocate for others with disabilities.
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is the founder and director of the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, and was instrumental in uncovering the Flint Water Crisis and leading recovery efforts.
Preschool Fundraisers: The classmates of Jasper Mazzocco at Redding Cooperative Preschool in Redding, California missed their friend who was diagnosed with rare brain cancer, so they decided to help him. After one day, the ingenious 4- and 5-year old kids raised more than $10,000 through a hot cocoa stand.
Russell Wilson: Seattle Seahawks superstar, Russell Wilson has raised over $4 million to motivate and empower youth. His weekly visits to Seattle Children’s lifts the spirits and brings joy to the hearts of patients and families.
Ryan Murphy: Screenwriter, producer and director Ryan Murphy has been a significant supporter of children’s healthcare. In 2018, Murphy and his husband, David Miller, donated $10 million to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in honor of their son Ford who was treated at CHLA for neuroblastoma.
Tyler Schied: Tyler Schied is an entertainer, actor, voice actor, online content creator/influencer. He has helped raise over $1.6 million for various charities including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
The complete list of CHANGEMAKERS is available at ChangeKidsHealth.org. Visitors can become a CHANGEMAKER and will receive a free Change Kids Health | Change the Future vinyl sticker for signing a pledge to make the future of pediatric healthcare better.