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March was a month filled with extraordinary impact for Mending Kids. We're still riding the wave of gratitude from our Imagine Gala, where we came together to celebrate the lives we’ve touched over the past two decades—and the incredible journey ahead. We have an inspiring year to come (more on that below), and we’re humbled to have completed four significant surgical missions in March--changing over 115 lives and advancing medical education in lasting ways. Our recent trip to Guatemala packed a powerful one-two punch: first, with a groundbreaking training in Guatemala City focused on pediatric cardiac care; and shortly after, with an ENT surgical mission that brought healing to 90 children. Together, these efforts didn’t just address urgent needs—they planted seeds for sustainable, long-term impact.
Breaking from tradition, our mission to Guatemala City wasn’t just about performing surgeries—it was about changing the future of pediatric care. Led by the brilliant Dr. Jenny Zablah of Colorado Children’s Hospital, this two-day training focused on Balloon Atrial Septostomy—a procedure that can mean the difference between life and death for newborns with Transposition of the Great Arteries. Twenty dedicated medical professionals—from cardiologists to ICU nurses—gathered to learn, engage, and collaborate in hands-on simulations. The energy in the room was electric: questions flowed, ideas were exchanged, and skills were shared that will go on to save countless lives.
Shortly after the training, our team launched an ENT surgical mission in Guatemala, led by MEND Award Honoree Dr. Namrata Varma. In just five days, our medical volunteers operated on 90 children, giving them the gift of better health, clearer breathing, and brighter futures. Each procedure was a turning point, reminding us again that access to care is not a privilege—it’s a right.
In addition to Guatemala we had two successful cardiac missions in the Philippines - one in Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Albay, Philippines led by Dr. Alex Chan and the second in Llocos Norte led by Dr. Jetz Marion Cruz from Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. With our shared partnership with the Philippine Heart Center we mended 27 hearts! We are always looking for non-medical volunteers to join us on missions. It’s a transformative experience—to see and make a difference firsthand. None of this is possible without you. Your generosity and belief in our mission allows us to bring healing where there was once only hope. Every surgery, every moment of relief a child experiences—stems from a community that refuses to let borders or circumstances define a child’s access to care. Thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to sharing more stories of transformation, resilience, and hope in the months ahead. It’s going to be a busy 2025. With gratitude,
The Mending Kids Team
Last Thursday night, we celebrated our 20th year of Mending Kids—and thanks to you, it was nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you to everyone who showed up, bid generously, gave from the heart, and believed in our mission. Because of your kindness and commitment, the ripple effect of this unforgettable night will be felt at home, and around the world. In the coming year, hundreds of children will receive life-saving surgical care—all sparked by your presence, your giving, and your belief that every child deserves a chance to thrive.
We were honored to recognize:
A very special thank-you to our amazing hostess and Mending Kids ambassador, Tia Carrere, for leading the evening with such grace, warmth, and heart—and to our passionate auctioneer, Ken Shirey, for inspiring the room and leading the charge in raising critical funds to support our mission. The evening overflowed with love, inspiration, and a shared vision of what’s possible when we come together. You came. You bid. You mended.
Please don’t forget to follow, share, and tag us on social media: @MendingKids. From all of us at Mending Kids —thank you for making this Imagine Gala one for the books. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again next year as we continue to mend children and build a future full of hope. With heartfelt gratitude, The Mending Kids Team
Your presence will be missed at tonight’s Imagine Gala, but your support can still transform lives! The online auction closes at 8 PM Pacific Time, and there's still time to bid on exclusive items to help children receive life-saving surgical care!
Another way to support our mission is by mending a child with a donation. Every contribution makes a difference.
Dear Friends, The wait is over--our online auction is officially live! You can now bid on an exciting array of items and experiences, all while supporting Mending Kids’ mission to provide life-saving surgeries to children in need. This special auction is part of our 20th Anniversary Imagine Gala, this Thursday, March 20th, at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center. Whether you’re attending in person or joining us virtually, your participation makes a difference. The online auction offers a unique selection of items for remote bidding, while more and different items will be available exclusively in person at our silent and live auction on Thursday. If you don’t see something you like, you can still make a direct gift through donations and help us mend a child. The online auction will close on Thursday, March 20th, at 8:00 PM, so don’t wait—place your bids today and help us continue mending kids around the world. Thank you for being part of this milestone year. Every bid brings us closer to providing the care and healing these children deserve. Together, we are mending kids. special thanks to our sponsors:
We are just two weeks away from the Mending Kids Imagine Gala on Thursday, March 20—a milestone evening celebrating two decades of transforming lives. This year’s theme, The Snowball Effect, celebrates how our collective efforts have transformed a single seed of compassion into a flourishing wave of change. Whether you buy a ticket, sponsor, pay tribute, or make a donation, your support helps us grow a movement that continues to impact thousands of lives. A portion of the funds raised will support a Hometown Mission this year to help special needs patients move off a waitlist to receive dental surgery. *Tickets and table prices increase on Friday, March 7 Our Program
We are thrilled to honor Bear Givers and five of their Board Members, Joseph Sprung, Diane Lempert, Michele Mirman, Barbara Firestone and Richard Fink with the Love Award for their support and dedication to Mending Kids over the years. Their longstanding partnership has been instrumental in providing our mended kids with the comforting teddy bears that become cherished companions during their recovery. MEND AWARD: DR. NAMRATA VARMA & THE GUATEMALA TEAM
Dr. Namrata Varma & the Guatemala Team have been loyal partners in our mission, leading annual missions to Guatemala since 2015. Their remarkable dedication is reflected in their status as our most prolific surgical team, having performed over 800 surgeries on children in need. HOPE AWARD: BIRRHANU NICOL
Hope is the spark that fuels resilience and transformation, and our former patient and 2025 Hope Award honoree, Birrhanu is a wonderful embodiment of this. OUR HOST FOR THE EVENING: |
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Longtime Mending Kids ambassador Tia Carrere is an accomplished actress as well as a two-time Grammy award-winning musical artist.
GALA AGENDA
6:30 PM - Cocktails & Silent Auction
8:00 PM - Dinner & Program
8:00 PM - Dinner & Program
Your investment has a lasting impact, improving the health, education, and opportunities of children, which can transform their way of life. Invest in their future, and together, let's make a profound and lasting impact on the lives of children in need.
For more details on how you can participate, visit our website to learn more about ticket information and sponsorship opportunities.
For more details on how you can participate, visit our website to learn more about ticket information and sponsorship opportunities.
Special thanks to:
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Join Us in Celebrating our 20th Year of Transforming Lives!
As we count down to our Imagine Gala on March 20, we are thrilled to honor Birrhanu Nicol, this year’s Hope Award recipient.
As we count down to our Imagine Gala on March 20, we are thrilled to honor Birrhanu Nicol, this year’s Hope Award recipient.
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At just five years old, Birrhanu faced challenges that led him to Mending Kids, where a life-changing surgery gave him new opportunities. Now a university student in Scotland, his journey is a testament to resilience and the power of community support.
We are excited to welcome Birrhanu back, alongside Dr. David Skaggs, the surgeon who helped transform his future. This is a rare opportunity for those who knew him then to reconnect and celebrate the remarkable person he has become.
This year’s Imagine Gala marks 20 years of impact, changing lives like Birrhanu’s. Be part of this inspiring evening as we continue to provide hope and healing to children in need. A portion of the proceeds will directly support a local Hometown Mission, ensuring children in our community receive the critical medical care they deserve.
Stay tuned as we introduce our next honorees in the coming weeks!
We are excited to welcome Birrhanu back, alongside Dr. David Skaggs, the surgeon who helped transform his future. This is a rare opportunity for those who knew him then to reconnect and celebrate the remarkable person he has become.
This year’s Imagine Gala marks 20 years of impact, changing lives like Birrhanu’s. Be part of this inspiring evening as we continue to provide hope and healing to children in need. A portion of the proceeds will directly support a local Hometown Mission, ensuring children in our community receive the critical medical care they deserve.
Stay tuned as we introduce our next honorees in the coming weeks!
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Dear Friend,
In light of the challenges faced by our community, we are sharing the rescheduled date for our 20th Annual Imagine Gala, which was postponed due to the Los Angeles wildfires. Our hearts are with those impacted, and as our city begins to recover, we remain committed to ensuring children receive the life-changing surgical care they desperately need. We will continue our efforts to support those affected and have faith that we will rebuild stronger than ever.
We invite you to join us on Thursday, March 20th at the Skirball Cultural Center for an evening dedicated to mending children here at home and around the world.
In light of the challenges faced by our community, we are sharing the rescheduled date for our 20th Annual Imagine Gala, which was postponed due to the Los Angeles wildfires. Our hearts are with those impacted, and as our city begins to recover, we remain committed to ensuring children receive the life-changing surgical care they desperately need. We will continue our efforts to support those affected and have faith that we will rebuild stronger than ever.
We invite you to join us on Thursday, March 20th at the Skirball Cultural Center for an evening dedicated to mending children here at home and around the world.
This year, we will celebrate three extraordinary honorees who epitomize the heart of Mending Kids:
A portion of the Gala's proceeds will support a hometown mission in Venice, California, addressing the urgent need for dental surgeries for special needs children. These children have been waiting 3-4 years for essential care requiring sedation. This June, we will provide much-needed relief to this overlooked community, ensuring that children right here at home receive the care they deserve.
- Birrhanu Nicol – Hope Award, for embodying everything we wish for our patients and their futures.
- Bear Givers Organization – Love Award, for the comfort and joy they have provided to thousands of our children.
- Dr. Namrata Varma and Guatemala Team of SCENT & MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach – Mend Award, for the more than 800 children she and her team have changed through surgical care.
A portion of the Gala's proceeds will support a hometown mission in Venice, California, addressing the urgent need for dental surgeries for special needs children. These children have been waiting 3-4 years for essential care requiring sedation. This June, we will provide much-needed relief to this overlooked community, ensuring that children right here at home receive the care they deserve.
The snowball effect continues with you.
Your support changes lives—we can't wait to see you there!
Together, we are Mending Kids.
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In the midst of all the tragedy that has surrounded us these past weeks, it’s easy to lose sight of the small miracles that remind us why we persevere. And yet, as 2025 began, a ray of hope emerged, and a life was saved–Enmanuel's; Emelis held her firstborn, with the promise of his future ahead of him.
Sometime after Thanksgiving, we began to wrap up 2024. We were catching our breath from an extraordinary year, when a message came in from our trusted surgeon, Dr. Salvatore Agati, at the Vatican Pediatric Hospital in Sicily. Could we help cover the surgical costs for an infant from Venezuela suffering from Transposition of the Great Arteries?
My heart sank. We had completely exhausted our budget.
To give you perspective, we set an ambitious goal of mending one child a day across all our programs, planning for 12 missions in 2024–a goal we humbly exceeded. As opportunities and emergencies arose throughout the year, our goals expanded–we mended 450 children and doubled our missions to 24. Now, #451, a baby from Caracas, was a Hail Mary.
Thankfully, two other organizations (Fondazione Germano Chincherini and Save a Child's Heart) stepped in to share the costs and assist with transport. We scrambled to apply for a last-minute grant, racing against the clock as doors to funding closed for the year. With little time and resources, we placed our faith in the universe, hoping to defer some costs to next year's budget.
Sometime after Thanksgiving, we began to wrap up 2024. We were catching our breath from an extraordinary year, when a message came in from our trusted surgeon, Dr. Salvatore Agati, at the Vatican Pediatric Hospital in Sicily. Could we help cover the surgical costs for an infant from Venezuela suffering from Transposition of the Great Arteries?
My heart sank. We had completely exhausted our budget.
To give you perspective, we set an ambitious goal of mending one child a day across all our programs, planning for 12 missions in 2024–a goal we humbly exceeded. As opportunities and emergencies arose throughout the year, our goals expanded–we mended 450 children and doubled our missions to 24. Now, #451, a baby from Caracas, was a Hail Mary.
Thankfully, two other organizations (Fondazione Germano Chincherini and Save a Child's Heart) stepped in to share the costs and assist with transport. We scrambled to apply for a last-minute grant, racing against the clock as doors to funding closed for the year. With little time and resources, we placed our faith in the universe, hoping to defer some costs to next year's budget.
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The wheels were set in motion. Enmanuel, a two-month-old in critical need of a heart repair, and his mother, Emelis, a special needs teacher, left Venezuela and flew to Sicily. With faith, luck, and the expertise of Dr. Agati and his team–Emmanuel has a future.
Some believe that when you save one life, you save the universe that comes with it. For now, we hold onto this light and count our blessings for the lives we have the privilege of touching.
PS Venezuela is country #77 we have helped children from.
Sincerely,
Isabelle Fox
Executive Director
Some believe that when you save one life, you save the universe that comes with it. For now, we hold onto this light and count our blessings for the lives we have the privilege of touching.
PS Venezuela is country #77 we have helped children from.
Sincerely,
Isabelle Fox
Executive Director
Never lose hope - together, we are Mending Kids.
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Dear Friend,
In the wake of the ongoing fires impacting our cherished Los Angeles community, we extend our deepest solidarity and compassion. These devastating times weigh heavily on all of us, and our thoughts are with everyone affected, including our own Mending Kids family.
In response to the fires, we have distributed KN95 masks, blankets, and clean water filters to our local fire station and shelter, and are reviewing our inventory to make additional supplies available to support our community during this time.
We remain committed to providing surgical care to children. We will carry on, focused on helping as many children as we can, and will do our best to navigate this next chapter while our county recovers.
Out of respect for those impacted, we have made the decision to postpone our Imagine Gala, as many in our community are navigating immense challenges. We will share the rescheduled date as soon as possible and look forward to gathering together when the time feels right.
Please stay safe and look out for each other. Our hearts go out to you, and together, we stand with resilience and hope.
Warm regards,
Isabelle Fox
Executive Director
In the wake of the ongoing fires impacting our cherished Los Angeles community, we extend our deepest solidarity and compassion. These devastating times weigh heavily on all of us, and our thoughts are with everyone affected, including our own Mending Kids family.
In response to the fires, we have distributed KN95 masks, blankets, and clean water filters to our local fire station and shelter, and are reviewing our inventory to make additional supplies available to support our community during this time.
We remain committed to providing surgical care to children. We will carry on, focused on helping as many children as we can, and will do our best to navigate this next chapter while our county recovers.
Out of respect for those impacted, we have made the decision to postpone our Imagine Gala, as many in our community are navigating immense challenges. We will share the rescheduled date as soon as possible and look forward to gathering together when the time feels right.
Please stay safe and look out for each other. Our hearts go out to you, and together, we stand with resilience and hope.
Warm regards,
Isabelle Fox
Executive Director
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As 2024 comes to a close, we’re overflowing with gratitude for YOU and the incredible milestones we achieved together.
This year, thanks to your unwavering support:
Here’s to more hope, more mending, and more miracles in 2025!
From all of us at Mending Kids, we wish you a happy, healthy, and joyful New Year. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey!
Warmly,
The Mending Kids Team
This year, thanks to your unwavering support:
- 451 children's lives were mended, exceeding our goal of mending one child a day.
- 24 surgical trips were deployed across the globe.
- 100+ medical volunteers contributed to training, transforming countless more lives.
Here’s to more hope, more mending, and more miracles in 2025!
From all of us at Mending Kids, we wish you a happy, healthy, and joyful New Year. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey!
Warmly,
The Mending Kids Team
