STAFF REPORTS
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — UR Medicine’s Golisano Children’s Hospital will honor five children who have defied the odds and pay tribute to several supporters who have gone above and beyond at the annual Celebration of Miracles Luncheon at 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 18, at the Hyatt Regency. The event is presented by J.T. Mauro Co. Inc., and celebrates five “Miracle Makers,” community groups and supporters who have worked hand-in-hand with Golisano Children’s Hospital to provide the best possible care for this generation and the next. Five “Miracle Kids” will also be honored for overcoming especially serious or complex challenges, and are representatives for the thousands of children seen at the hospital each year.
The 2018 Miracle Maker Award recipients:
Outstanding Commitment by an Individual: Ann Costello
During her 20 years as the Director of the Golisano Foundation, Ann Costello has helped guide numerous projects that have changed the landscape of children’s health in Rochester, including the new Golisano Children’s Hospital, opened in 2015; the Golisano Autism Center Rochester, scheduled to open later this year; and the Golisano Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, which will provide outpatient mental health services to children when it opens in 2018. Ann has been a driving force behind the research, thought, and planning that occurs behind-the-scenes to make these initiatives a success.
Outstanding Support by a Local Business: Spirit Halloween
Local Spirit Halloween stores have raised more than $272,000 for Golisano Children’s Hospital since 2006. The funds have been used to purchase iPads, game systems, toys, art supplies, and other items used by patients and their family members.
Outstanding Commitment by a Community Partner: Channel 13
To cap off the fundraising campaign, Spirit Halloween throws a party at the hospital every year, providing costumes, arts and crafts, and Halloween fun to children who may miss out on trick-or-treating because of an illness or injury.
The 13WHAM team has a long history of advocacy for the children’s hospital and is a vital partner in raising awareness of the hospital’s mission. Over the years, 13WHAM has supported many fundraising initiatives, including the creation of Grace’s Garden — created in memory of “Amazing Grace” Esposito, the daughter of news anchor and reporter Jennifer Johnson and her husband, Vinnie Esposito.
Outstanding Commitment by a Grateful Family: The Noyes Family
The team also acts as the TV hosts of the hospital’s annual Radiothon. This past year, the station featured the hospital’s five Miracle Kids as part of its coverage of the event and created a strong online presence on its web page — helping to boost the fundraising total by 35 percent over the previous year.
Jacob Noyes was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. He has been in and out of the hospital many times and has undergone dozens of surgeries and procedures. His mother, Kerri, has become a valued ambassador for the hospital throughout her son’s ongoing journey. She joined the Parent Advisory Council 14 years ago, and has shared her family’s story at many community events and fundraisers to help raise awareness and support.
Outstanding Commitment by a National Corporate Sponsor: Costco
Costco stores around the nation began hosting fundraisers during Children’s Miracle Network Month in 1983, with proceeds going to children’s hospitals in their region. Costco’s corporate headquarters also make a matching donation to amplify the impact of the project.
When the local Costco store opened in 2015, it joined in on the national effort in support of Golisano Children’s Hospital and has been building momentum each year since then. Every May, the store hosts a balloon fundraising campaign and decorates the store to raise awareness of what the hospital does for the community.
The 2018 Miracle Kids:
Golisano Children’s Hospital employs more than 200 pediatric physicians and specialists and provides a spectrum of care that spans more than 40 specialty areas, serving more than 85,000 children and their families each year. It is the referral center for all seriously ill or injured children from the 17-county Finger Lakes region and beyond.