Donor and Patient Stories

Walmart Brings Holiday Joy to Studer Family Children's Hospital

This holiday season, we are filled with gratitude for our wonderful partners at Walmart, who sponsored a special ornament decorating activity for the patients at Studer Family Children’s Hospital. Through their continued partnership with Children’s Miracle Network, Walmart has made a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in our community.

International Paper Grants Hope for New Mothers in Need

International Paper’s Pensacola Mill recently awarded $57,000 in grants through its International Paper Foundation, supporting 18 local organizations focused on education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief, and sustainability. Among this year’s recipients, Sacred Heart Foundation received $5,000 to support its Women’s Clinics and Maternal Health Bags initiative, which aims to address the essential postpartum needs of vulnerable mothers in the community.

14 Years of Holiday Cheer

In December 2023, Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican Realty in Destin once again demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the community by donating children's Christmas gifts at the Emerald Coast Emergency Room for the 14th consecutive year. The generous contribution helps brighten the holidays for children who may find themselves in the emergency room during the Christmas season.

Step One Automotive: Drive Out Breast Cancer

Last month, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Sacred Heart Cancer Center was filled with hope, unity, and an outpouring of community support as we participated in Step One Automotive Group’s Drive Out Breast Cancer Campaign. It was a truly special moment as doctors, nurses, patients, and supporters came together to sign Pinky the Jeep, each signature a powerful symbol of solidarity and strength.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Hyundai Hope on Wheels

Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Hyundai Hope on Wheels for their unwavering support of children and families battling childhood cancer at the Bear Family Foundation Pediatric Oncology Center for Hope, Northwest Florida’s only pediatric cancer center.

A Legacy of Love: Cristina’s Christmas Tribute

This year, Cristina Williams gave the invaluable gift of her time and creativity to our community, dedicating herself to decorating a beautiful Christmas tree for our cancer center.

Lynn Wesson: A Lesson in Giving Back

Lynn Wesson was first introduced to the beauty of the Emerald Coast as a small child. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she grew up in a loving, close-knit family. Her parents, who wanted their children to “see the world”, traveled extensively throughout the U.S. But a favorite destination, often visited, was Panama City.

Jennifer and Jason: A Forever Bond

Jennifer Houston, an associate at Walmart, shares WHY she supports Studer Family Children’s Hospital, your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Joan Curtis

This original painting was donated by artist Joan Curtis, a family friend of the Gribbins. It is in honor of Lulu Gribbin and her twin sister, Ellie Gribbin. Lulu’s life was saved on June 7th by the men and women who work at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola. The experienced trauma doctors and the nurses that night saved Lulu’s life after she was attacked by a shark in the gulf.

In Honor of Mother Mary

Eric and Peg Nickelsen, find opportunities “to help people who haven’t been helped before,” pouring time, service, and personal finances to uplift those in need, to “make things happen” for the good of the community and to improve the well-being and health of others.

$100,000 Donation to Emerald Coast Family Birthplace

Helping our smallest patients survive, the St. Joe Community Foundation graciously provided a $100,000 grant to Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital's Family Birthplace to help with uncompensated care for our patients with withdrawal symptoms. 

ASHG Women's Diagnostic Center Donation

The Rosemary Beach Foundation's 2024 Girls Getaway event proudly honored the Sacred Heart WaterSound Women's Diagnostic Center with a check to assist with the purchase of Magview Software, a product that assists in diagnosing high risk patients with breast cancer.

Rosemary Beach Girls Getaway

Getaway to Rosemary Beach for a great weekend with the girls! Rosemary Beach Foundation invited ladies to the Annual Rosemary Beach Girls Getaway, February 8 - 11, 2023. This was a weekend for women to getaway, celebrate, and enjoy the beauty of South Walton. Held each year during Super Bowl weekend, this 4-day event is packed with fun, food, learning, and laughter for women. Girls Getaway benefits The Rosemary Beach Foundation and charitable partner, Ascension Sacred Heart Watersound Diagnostic Women’s Center. The new Diagnostic Center, which opened in March 2022, includes a 3D Mammography, Ultrasounds, a DEXA (bone density screening) and Pelvic Floor rehabilitation. The Magview Risk Assessment Module will enhance and complement mammography screenings by providing the highest level of care through the latest technology in a spa-like atmosphere.

Lynn McKenzie Grateful Emerald Coast Donor

Lynn McKenzie has traveled down many paths in her life’s journey: Accomplished equestrian, avid cook, devoted mother, skillful gardener, patron of the arts, and supporter of non-profit organizations. There is one path Lynn encountered in 1990 that made a big difference in that journey.

For the Little Ones, Featuring the Little Ones

Autumn and Peyton Blackledge are inaugural chairpersons of the official Krewe of Les Petites Enfants (Order of the Small Children), named in honor of those whose needs it will help support. With an initial goal of 50 participants, the krewe’s membership fee will go towards the purchase of a neonatal transport unit for Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart.

Giving Back to the Community They Serve

Dave and Mary Hoxeng built their award-winning, local radio team together, a joint venture of highly distinctive skill-sets. While owning a radio station was a lifelong dream of Dave’s, it took a lot of patience and due diligence to make it happen. He applied in 1984 for a new radio license in Pensacola, which turned out to be a very long process, about fifteen years actually. In 2002, Dave and Mary moved to this area to start up their first radio station from scratch: CatCountry 98.7. Then they got the opportunity to purchase a run-down station in Atmore that eventually became NewsRadio 1620 / 92.3. This was followed up with yet another acquisition, WEBY-ESPN 1330/99.1. Recently, they started Playlist 94.5 which plays Pensacola’s favorite hit music non-stop. Today, Mary is General and Sales Manager of all four stations, while Dave is CEO and self-described “catalyst.”

Leading and Supporting the Ministry

Susan Cornejo is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Ascension Florida Gulf Coast Ministry Market. She was born at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, but within a few years the family moved to Indiana. There, her father, a mechanical engineer, held a management position for International Harvester (later Navistar), and her mother was employed as a nurse.

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), recognized as the fifth largest charity wine auction in the U.S. by Wine Spectator, is pleased to announce the donation of $1.2 million to 16 children’s charities in Northwest Florida following its first virtual auction on August 22. 

Service Above Self

Kerry Anne Schultz was born in a small Nebraska town, the eldest of six children in a Catholic family whose parents were role models for hard work and heartfelt values. She and her siblings, at very young ages, were taught to be kind to others and help their neighbors. They were also encouraged to think “service above self”, which became Kerry Anne’s guiding life principle.

Serving with Heart

The Volunteer Guild at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is devoted to serving the community through substantial support of the hospital’s mission. The Guild is a Christ-centered organization with values that mirror those of the Daughters of Charity, founders of the original Sacred Heart Hospital. Their vision was to provide healthcare to all, with emphasis on the poor and most vulnerable. Guild volunteers consider it a privilege to help carry on this century-old ministry of hope and healing.

Lauren Bonner: Artist & Advocate

Lauren Bonner was still in high school when she painted the mural that playfully leads the way into the new Bear Family Foundation Center For Hope at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart.

Long-Term Care Administrator/Advocate

Martha Perez serves as the Administrator/Vice President of Haven of Our Lady of Peace. She began her healthcare career in 1992, the start of 28 years in the field of long-term care – her purpose and passion in life.

People Helping People

Chris Rutledge has served as the Executive Officer/President of Gulf Winds Credit Union since 2002. Over the years, as he watched the community grow, he used his leadership skills to grow Gulf Winds: From $200M and 29,000 members to over $780M and 70,000 members currently.

In the Business of Giving Back

When Tracy Sheehan’s family settled in Pensacola after her husband Heath retired from the military, she was presented with the opportunity to open a business and decided to go for it. She is a now the proud proprietor of Ninth Avenue Nutrition: A protein smoothie, high energy tea, and healthy juice bar located in Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital.

Panda Express is a bear hug to our community

The American Chinese restaurant in Pensacola continues to support Children’s Miracle Network The next time you think about where to eat, consider a restaurant that makes a difference. Located less than a mile from the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, Panda Express has been a proud partner of the Children’s Miracle Network since 2007, donating more than $86 million to its hospitals to date. 

Overseer of Care for the Kids

Will Condon serves as President of the new Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, as he continues his successful journey of working for Ascension Sacred Heart. That career began some ten years ago when he was hired as a Marketing Outreach Coordinator. During his tenure at Ascension Sacred Heart, he earned his master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from University of West Florida. He also progressed in considerable responsibility becoming the Chief Marketing Officer of Ascension Florida. Now, his mission is concentrated on the kids. “But I would not be here without the help of great mentors along the way,” Will says, crediting Dickie Appleyard, Susan Davis, and Henry Stovall.

Carol Carlan: A Leader Dedicated to Enriching Her Community

Carol Carlan has forged a career path of leadership success: She’s held many titles in the business world, achieved extraordinary goals, and merited wide-spread recognition for her talents. Through it all, her guidepost has been her passion for giving back to the community, for helping others.

Thank you to our Community

The past several months have been a time of fear and uncertainty. However, it is during these times that we see the community come together the most. This generosity and commitment truly shows how much our community cares for one another.

A Visionary Who Gifted The Emerald Coast

It was Frank Flautt’s vision that helped pioneer the Emerald Coast as a premier resort area. In 1982, he acquired beachside property in the Sandestin Resort that had limited development, which grew into the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa. The hotel was originally developed as a 400-unit condominium structure. It was only In 1998, after 200 rooms and additional amenities were added, that it became a hotel in its current form.

Touch A Truck

Kids love trucks. Knowing that, Greg Micklos, Franchisee, and Veronica Kramer, Marketing Director, both of Two Men and a Truck, created a “Touch A Truck” event in Pensacola to raise funds for the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. It was Veronica’s way of saying “thank you” to the hospital for the care a friend’s young daughter received while fighting leukemia. During the event, children and their families could climb into a moving truck, fire truck, police car, construction trucks, the pediatric transport unit, and so much more!

Credit Union for Kids

We thank the Northwest Florida Chapter League of Southeastern Credit Unions for hosting its 15th Annual Panhandle Charity Golf Invitational benefiting Studer Family Children’s Hospital, your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Proceeds from the tournament will help build the Bear Family Foundation Pediatric Oncology Center for Hope, the region’s only Pediatric Oncology center. This facility will be equipped with 9 all-private rooms, a playroom, work out room, laundry room, and so much more. The completion of this facility would not be possible without the hard work and dedication from our credit union partners, who not only participate in the golf tournament, but fund raise year-round for the kids in our community.

Front and Center in the Community

Helping to address the needs of his community is second nature to Cory Fosdyck. “My life purpose,” he will tell you, “is to serve people and solve problems.” Besides acting as Resident Director of the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management office in Destin, he lends considerable energy and expertise to local charitable causes.

Chris Sause – Speaking from Experience

Chris Sause has firsthand understanding of just how valuable Ascension Sacred Heart is to the communities it serves. His insight is both personal, as a father whose son Karsten survived a critical illness; and professional, as a realtor who has witnessed the tremendous growth and accompanying needs of the region.

The Mall Ball Story

When Sue Martin resigned as Executive Director of Mardi Gras Pensacola more than 25 years ago, she had an idea to create an event to benefit the Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. The first of its kind, the black-tie ball would be affordable and open to the public, regardless of krewe affiliation.

Roger Hall: A Legend in His Own Right

Roger Hall is President of Ascension Florida’s Sacred Heart Hospitals on the Emerald Coast and on the Gulf. He possesses more than 30 years’ experience in the field of healthcare. He was instrumental in the development of Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, forging strong partnerships with the community and physicians that have made the Ascension facility highly successful. He is greatly respected for his leadership and much beloved throughout the region.

Tom VanOsdol

Leading Ascension Florida To Its Future

John Russell: Service in Support of the Children

John Russell serves as president of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), one of the top wine auction foundations in the country and the largest non-profit fundraising organization on Florida’s Emerald Coast.

Standing (and dancing) for those who cannot

It’s kids helping kids at UWF Dance Marathon

Kendall Frazee: Helping Families Heal After Pregnancy and Infant Loss

Kendall Frazee was only three years old when her mother suffered a miscarriage. She lost a brother she would never meet, but Jackson lives on through his sister’s good work.

Advocates for the Children

The Holman Law firm, which is the father and son team of Stephen T. and Justin T. Holman, is dedicated to the principle that “The BEST parent is BOTH parents.” As experienced litigators who choose to be primarily involved in family law cases, their firm concentrates on outcomes that ensure children are able to interact with both mother and father. At one time, it was customary that the mother was automatically granted custody; but this is no longer the norm.

Extra Life

It’s All ‘Fun and Games’ at This Fundraiser

Giving Thanks

Steve Clark serves as a Sacred Heart Foundation board member as a way of giving thanks. He goes above and beyond to support The Children’s Hospital because both of his daughters “literally owe their lives to Sacred Heart.”

25th Annual Cordova Mall Ball

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

Nina Fritz

A Lifetime of ‘Feeding the Soul’

2019 Annual Radiothon

Give the gift of a miracle! Tune in to Cat Country 98.7, NewsRadio 92.3, ESPN Pensacola, and 1330 WEBY on August 16th from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. or stop by the Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to hear stories of bravery and inspiration from local children and families that have benefited from the programs and life-saving equipment at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital. This 14-hour live broadcast will help raise funds for the new Bear Family Foundation Pediatric Oncology Center For Hope.

Dr. John B. Webb – A Patriarch Extraordinaire

Dr. John B. Webb was a man of many and varied accomplishments; but his daughter Dr. Judy Ring will tell you that his greatest achievement – without a doubt – was his role as a father. It was defined by unconditional love and a lifestyle that always put his family at the forefront of all he did.

Mallory Studer

“Sacred Heart Has My Heart”

Heroes for Hope

During the Pensacon event in February 2019, three professional video gamers showed their support for the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart by encouraging their followers to donate money through the Heroes for Hope Charity Stream. Jason Thomson, head of logistics for Pensacon, partnered with popular Twitch streamers James Werk, GSXR Clyde and Gernader Jake to put on the event, which raised $34,000 this year – for a grand total of $57,000 donated to the Children’s Hospital since 2017. Thomson, who co-founded the Heroes for Hope Charity Stream, has been gaming his entire life. (He started playing an Atari racing game on an old black and white TV.) But when streaming came along, he says he discovered the meaning of community.

Margaret Berrisford

Margaret Berrisford has lived 100 years, and she’s spent 22 of them volunteering at the Haven of Our Lady of Peace operated by Sacred Heart. It all started when her husband was in the hospital with cancer. It was summertime, and it was very hot. “Dr. Prevatt would tell me to go home and rest,” Margaret recalls. “But I told him, if I leave I lose my parking space, and I’m really more comfortable staying in this cool building, walking around and seeing what all is going on.”

Join us for the Inaugural Emerald Ball

Sacred Heart Celebrates New Children’s Hospital

Sacred Heart marked 50 years as Northwest Florida’s only children’s hospital by hosting a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony today for its new four-story, $85 million facility. With 126 beds, Studer Family Children’s Hospital will increase access to specialized pediatric care and put multiple services in one convenient location at 1 Bubba Watson Drive on Sacred Heart’s Pensacola campus. Patient care at the facility is scheduled to begin in May.

Honoring the Bear Family Foundation

The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart announced today a $1.75 million donation from the Bear Family Foundation towards the new four-story children’s hospital on Sacred Heart’s Pensacola campus. This represents the largest single gift the Bear Family Foundation has given in its 17-year history.

2019 Cordova Mall Ball

Thank you for another success year! 

Autumn Beck Blackledge – Gifted and Giving

Born and raised in Pensacola, Autumn Beck Blackledge comes by her achievements and her commitment to the Sacred Heart Foundation by way of her upbringing. “I won the lottery on parents, “ she says. “They were loving and just remarkable in everything they did for me and my brother Justin. And they taught that us that you give your talents, you give your time, you give your treasure.”

Impact 100 Pensacola Bay Area

Making “Ruff” Days a Little Brighter for Hospitalized Children

Ric and Alan Nickelsen

Giving Forward to the Community

Cindi Bonner Receives National Award for Childhood Cancer Research

The Sansing Family

A LEGACY FUELED BY WORK, ACHIEVEMENT AND FAITH

2019 Cordova Mall Ball

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Preemie Cup “Thank You”

A Day of Play on the Water

Volunteer Spotlight: Robert Hinton of Navy Federal Credit Union

As long as he can remember, Robert Hinton has wanted to be part of a group that gives back. Together with every employer and on his own, he has found a way to support local organizations with his time, talents and treasures.

The Power of E3 Conference

During the past five years, the Power of E3 Conference for women ages 55+ has raised a total of $32,000 to support women in need of healthcare. Through Sacred Heart Health System’s Women’s Care Center in Pensacola, women in need are identified to qualify for financial support from these funds to obtain lifesaving health screenings including mammograms and pap smears.

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

More than 250 people gathered for the 13th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation check presentation yesterday in Santa Rosa Beach. This year’s auction produced record-breaking fundraising numbers, and the Foundation was excited to present funding to 15 local children’s charities. Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach received a check for $225,000 to support the future operation of a 10-bed Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

On Track for 2019 Opening

Construction of the new Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart is on schedule, with the new four-story facility expected to open in the spring of 2019 on Sacred Heart’s Pensacola campus. Sacred Heart is part of Ascension, the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system.

Bubba Watson Drive New Children’s Hospital Address

The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart has a new official address recognizing local professional golfer Bubba Watson — 1 Bubba Watson Drive.

Sansing Family Donates Half-Million to Children’s Hospital

More local children will be able to receive specialized pediatric healthcare close to home, thanks to a half-million dollar donation from the Sansing family to The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart.

Thank You Walmart and Sam’s Club for 30 Years of Miracles!

Locally, more than $242,900 was raised during the seven week campaign! Thank you all for helping kids live better!

Preemie Cup Supports SH NICU

A total of $93,094 was raised during the 2017 Preemie Cup events held to benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. The NICU provides care to more than 1,000 premature, sick and injured infants from throughout Northwest Florida.