The visit was organized by actor Matthew Lillard (“Decendants”), who has played the voice of the iconic “Shaggy” since 2002.  Lillard and his family recently joined the hospital’s Ambassador Program and committed to supporting the CHLA mission through fundraising and awareness.

Lillard brought with him well-known voice actors:

• Frank Welker, voice of Scooby Doo and Curious George
• Grey DeLisle, the voice of Daphne as well as Wubbzy of Wow Wow Wubbzy and voice of Mandy in the Cartoon Network TV show The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

The group made bedside visits in the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases and the Medical/Surgical inpatient unit, eliciting smiles and laughter with recreations of humorous scenes from the movie, taking pictures, recording funny greetings and ringtones on patient’s phones and handing out Scooby Doo coloring and activity books.

Over in the Creative Oasis, Scooby Doo voice director Collette Sunderman and Tony Cervone, animator for Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes and other notable cartoon hits gave the patients a glimpse behind the scenes of his illustrations. Cervone put pencil to paper and personalized drawings of Scooby for each patient and offered a few animation tips for their own art creations.

The visit by the cast gave the patients a chance to interact with some of their favorite animated characters and learn coloring tricks from an expert animator. It was the energy and enthusiasm of the group that made it a memorable event for all ages.

The Light it Up Blue campaign is a global initiative to help raise awareness and shine a bright light on autism as a growing public health crisis.

Three Ways You Can Light It Up Blue!

• Visit the Boone Fetter Clinic booth near the entrance to the HBO Café on March 29 – 30 to participate in April’s autism awareness activities, including “Wear Blue to Work Day” and Walk Now for Autism Speaks.
• To help raise awareness about autism, please join us for “Wear Blue to Work Day” on Monday, April 2. We’d love to see any photos that you take of you and your team sporting blue for this important cause. Remember to snap a picture and share it with us on Facebook or Twitter!
• Register for the 10^th annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks event that’s taking place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, April 21 at 10 a.m. It’s free to register and participants are encouraged to fundraise. Visit the Team Page of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to register, sponsor a colleague or find out more information.

For information about the Boone Fetter Clinic at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, click here.

Individuals, Businesses and Landmarks Will Light it Up Blue!

• Family and friends are encouraged to share information and stories about autism with one another and through various social media platforms.
• Businesses are encouraging their employees to wear blue to work and to decorate their offices and shared spaces.
• Many landmarks and iconic buildings like Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock Observation Deck and Madison Square Garden in New York City, Hôtel de Ville in Paris, France, the famous Tokyo Tower in Japan, Canada’s CN Tower, the Sydney Opera House in Australia and Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge will be “going blue” for autism.

Located in Monrovia, close to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Outpatient Center in nearby Arcadia, Children’s Optical offers one-stop shopping for patients needing prescription eye glasses, contact lenses, frame repairs, accessories and protective eyewear.

With dozens of frames to choose from, Children’s Optical offers kid-friendly frames that require proper fit to facial characteristics, nasal bridge and temple length to provide the best comfort. Children have smaller noses, which can lead to the glasses slipping down if they aren’t properly fitted. This is less of a problem if the frames are durable plastic, not wire, and made to fit the width of the face. The arms of the frame should be short or wrap around the back of the ear or use straps to secure the glasses. Because children are more active than adults, frames with durability and polycarbonate lenses are recommended for protection against glass shatters and UVA/UVB rays.

Learn more about Children’s Optical.

Children’s Optical is located at 509 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016.

Store hours are from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday.

Eye screenings are available at three Vision Center locations: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles main campus, Arcadia and Orange County. For more information, visit CHLA.org/VISION.

Chelsie Hightower of “Dancing With The Stars” traveled all the way from Utah to spend the day with the kids. Chelsie said while she is not particularly romantic herself, she would much prefer to spend the day giving back and making a difference in the lives of children. Chelsie was joined by friend and “Dancing With The Stars” champion, J.R. Martinez, who gave patients his undivided attention.  He was overheard sharing words of encouragement with the children and telling them how much they inspired him. 

View more photos on Flickr.

Also in attendance were Annika Marks (“The Surrogate”), Cory Almeida (host of “Pictureka!”), Meagan Tandy (“Jane By Design”), Neil Grayston (“Eureka”), Sufe Bradshaw (“Veep”) and Trevor Jackson (Disney’s “Let It Shine”), who spent time playing with the kids as they enjoyed frozen fruit treats from Yonanas, yummy turkey and veggie burgers from FatBurger’s FATMobile, Sabra’s grab n go hummus snack packs with pretzel crisps, refreshing sparkling juice by IZZE, and had their faces painted by Parties by Stacey. Patients and their mothers were also treated to glam makeovers by the beauty artists at Sue Devitt Beauty, who gifted all the ladies with a shimmery pink lip-gloss. Patients were also invited to pick out a pink or blue teddy bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop and CDs and DVDs filled with children’s music from Baby Genius. Additionally, EA games donated some of their most popular video games titles to the hospital’s Teen Lounge.

It was a family affair for two Hollywood families. “Royal Pains” star Mark Feuerstein attended with his wife Dana and their daughter Addie, while Nestor Serrano, whose new movie “Act of Valor” opens this month, attended with his wife Debbie and their daughter Lucy. The Feuersteins and the Serranos are big supporters of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as their daughters Addie and Amelia respectively, have both received incredible care at the hospital. Edwin Hodge, the newest addition to the hit ABC show “Cougar Town”, attended with his mom Yolette and were both having fun making Valentine’s with the kids. TV host Quddus Philippe stopped by to share love with the kids en route to the airport for his charity mission to Haiti. 

Corbin Bleu from the hit movie franchise “High School Musical”, made chocolate jewelry with patients courtesy of Grando Cioccolato. Guests loved Nancy Grando’s organic and gourmet Italian dark, milk and white chocolate “diamonds.”  Hollywood couple Rachael Leigh Cook (“Perception”) and her husband Daniel Gillies (“The Vampire Diaries”) spent time making custom Tiny Prints Valentines with the kids and their families. 

Guests were also serenaded by several amazing performances, kicking off with twelve-year-old Eileen Garrido, who sang a song she wrote for the hospital as thanks for the care she received. “American Idol” finalist and recording artist Elliott Yamin, who is a long time supporter of Children’s Hospital, also performed two songs from his new album due out in March. Austin Brown, rising star and nephew of the late Michael Jackson, closed out the music set with several acoustic sets from his album, which was released on Valentine’s Day.

Trueheart Events is a full service entertainment marketing firm specializing in special events, talent outreach, strategic marketing and public relations campaigns.

Have fun and raise money for cutting-edge cancer research at City of Hope and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles through our official charity, ThinkCure!

Register or make a donation.   

Participant Incentives

• Raise $250 – ThinkCure! Dodgers jersey
• Raise $500 – Reimbursed registration*
• Raise $750 and get a set of four MVP field level tickets to a regular season Dodgers home game with parking and four ThinkCure t-shirts to wear to the game*
• Raise $1000 and come to exclusive breakfast race morning in the Dugout Club and out of the elements with breakfast and surprise VIPs*
• Raise $2000 win an opportunity  to participate in Kids Take the Field, which includes 4 tickets to the Dodger’s game and parking and ThinkCure Jersey’s to wear to the game*
• Raise $3000 Autographed gift package*

*Plus all the prizes listed above.

Check out this listing of upcoming blood drives for the month of February to see if we’ll be in your neighborhood.

Thursday, Feb. 2
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Lds
136 N Sunset Canyon Drive
Burbank, CA 91501

Tuesday, Feb. 7
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
San Fernando Realty
456 N. Maclay
San Fernando CA  91340

Wednesday, Feb. 8
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Keller Williams
340 N. Westlake Blvd.
Westlake Village 91362

Wednesday, Feb. 15
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Vons Corp
618 Michillinda,  Arcadia CA

Thursday, Feb.16
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The Walther School
1246  N. Gardner, Los Angeles CA

Tuesday, Feb. 21
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge CA 91330 

For more information about blood and platelet donation opportunity at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, visit CHLA.org/DonateBlood.

Thank you for supporting us in 2011!

Last year was a defining year for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  I would like to take a moment to celebrate with you, our supporters in our community, because what we have accomplished together is truly phenomenal.

Award-winning Care

• U.S. News & World Report once again named our hospital to its elite Honor Roll of children’s hospitals. Only 11 children’s hospitals in the United States achieved Honor Roll status for 2011-12, and Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in California to receive the tribute.
• For the third consecutive year, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has earned the Top Hospital designation from The Leapfrog Group, which annually recognizes the best hospitals in the nation for providing the safest and highest quality health care services to patients.
• In June, Pasadena Magazine’s fourth annual “Top Doctors” issue honored 86 staff physicians from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group.

Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion Opens

• On June 23, 2011, more than 200 community leaders and supporters celebrated the historic dedication of the nation’s most technologically advanced children’s hospital by cutting the ribbon on the new Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  The building was named for philanthropists Marion and John E. Anderson who made the transformative $50 million gift to fund the project.  
• On July 17, 2011, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles staff safely transported 191 inpatients into the 317-bed, seven-story Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion. The process started at 7 a.m. and ended at 3:30 p.m., when the last patient was brought inside the new building.

Advances in Medicine

• Children’s Hospital Los Angeles recently joined the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) as a Center of Clinical Excellence, and is now the only ATN site in California. The ATN is supported by Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization.
• A team of neonatologists at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles published the first research paper indicating that the use of a remote controlled, robotic telemedicine system in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is feasible and safe.
• Randall Wetzel, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, organized the “meaningful Use of Complex Medical Data Symposium,” held Aug. 26-27. Representatives from NASA, Harvard, Stanford, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Yahoo and Facebook gathered to discuss how best to harness electronic data to enhance the quality of care delivered to patients.

Donations Changing Lives

• The 25th Annual Nautica Malibu Triathlon, held Sept.17-18 raised more than $1 million dollars for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Racers raised funds in support of the hospital’s Pediatric Cancer Research Program.

Please know that all of us at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are truly grateful for your continued support on this journey and, with your support in 2012, we will only grow in our ability to fulfill our mission of creating hope and building healthier futures.

Richard D. Cordova, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer

In honor of the care provided by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles during their child’s stay, the Cuñado family have provided all the decorations and lighting for the event for the past six years, held in The Joyce and Stanley Black and Family Healing and Meditation Garden.

With the opening of the Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion this year, they have also added the lighting and decorations to The Jane Vruwink Palmer Healing and Play Garden, hosting the event every year specifically for patients.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to give back to an amazing organization where everyone is committed to the well-being of children,” says Mr. Cuñado. “We want to be a part of that.”

Check out more pictures from the event on Flickr.

More than 100 patients, families, hospital supporters and celebrities were in attendance.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson from “Modern Family” served as Master of Ceremonies. Cast members from Lythgoe Family Productions, “A Snow White Christmas” and “Cinderella Christmas,” read holiday stories and sang songs.

“Unstrumental” from Calabasas High School and the Nestle Choir both performed holiday music to open and close the event, while the Samurai Power Rangers greeted the crowd and posed for photos with children and families.
Also joining the festivities were Fred Willard (“Best in Show”), and David Burtka (E! News, “Gypsy”) , who read holiday stories; as well as Lindsay Pearce (The Glee Project) and Broadway stars Erich Bergen (“Jersey Boys”), Shoshana Bean (“Wicked”) and Veronica Dunne (“Wild Hearts”) who performed holiday songs.

The Cuñados own their own business: Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting. Based in Simi Valley, the company has more than 200 employees and is one of the leading manufacturers and innovators in the architectural and landscape lighting industry.

Organized by the Employee Appreciation and Recognition Committee, the time capsule contains 75 items submitted by colleagues from around the hospital. Among other items, a lab coat adorned with many pins from Stuart Siegel, MD, along with scrapbooks, photos and other mementos were included.

Click here to see photos on Flickr.

The capsule is encased in granite just outside of the employee entrance to the Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion.

“Our hope is that our future colleagues will appreciate the history we have left for them, and will use it to build their future,” said Yvette Jones, director of Human Resources, and co-chair of the Employee Appreciation and Recognition Committee said.

All items submitted to the committee were carefully packaged, and will be sealed until the hospital’s 150^th birthday in 2051. As part of the festivities, food trucks were also outside the hospital for staff to enjoy.