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You are invited to an evening of fine dining, great company, lively auctions, special guests, and entertainment, ​all to provide critical surgical care for sick children.
Donate Now
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Skirball Cultural Center
Ahmanson Hall
2701 N Sepulveda Blvd.
​Los Angeles, California
February 8, 2020 5:30pm
Attire: Fabulous
DONATE NOW
Join us in celebrating our fifteenth year of service, saving children's lives and restoring healthy futures.
Sponsorship Opportunities
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Hope Awards - Lia Jacobson
Dr. Lia Jacobson has been involved with Mending Kids for the past 10 years, and she credits the organization and her experiences working for children in great need of surgical care for inspiring her career in surgery and global health.  She began working as a mission coordinator intern for cardiac surgery trips to Ecuador in 2009, while completing a Master’s degree in Global Health from USC. During a mission trip to Ecuador, she received a call that she had gotten in to USC’s Keck School of Medicine and decided to stay at USC for both medical school and residency to become an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon.  She is currently undergoing a year of fellowship training in Pediatric ENT Surgery at UC San Francisco. Throughout her time at USC, Lia stayed involved with Mending Kids, participating in a medical rotation during medical school at the Philippine Heart Center, which has worked closely with Mending Kids to bring life-saving surgery to many children in the pan-Pacific region. Since 2016, Lia has been developing a surgical educational partnership with an ENT residency program in Mwanza, Tanzania, along with Dr. Ayal Wilner and the support of Mending Kids.  Their work has included 4 training missions in the last 3 years, remote teleconferencing, equipment donations to ensure safer airway surgery for the children of Mwanza, and educational workshops for physicians, medical trainees and hospital staff— all with the goal of enhancing surgical sustainability in Tanzania. Lia and Dr. Wilner will be returning in June of 2020 for their fifth mission. ​
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Love Award - Lila Rodriguez
Lila was born in El Salvador, the youngest child of five. She attended a well- known private boarding-school, in her early teens left the country to study and live in Los Angeles and Europe.
Her social awareness began at the young age of 5 influenced by her mother and of her home life. Her exuberant love of life and general spirit of worldliness made her a recognized leader of the young girls and boys in her social circle. 
She has been involved in numerous organizations and charities and has served on the Boards of many non- profits. She has received wide recognition and awards for her humanitarian work and advocacy towards the welfare of children and for the eradication of hunger in her native country.
Lila is a natural connector who can engage government, hospital officials and peers with her warm an enigmatic presence. As an individual recognized for her passion and dedication she was able to bring NGO’s and establish a successful cardiac program and burnt unit at the only children’s hospital in her home country. She is a well rounded individual who lives with passion, dedication, and grace.
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Mend Awards - Dr. David Ferry and Dr. Timothy Casarez
Dr. David Ferry (left), CO-Mend Honoree, is an American Board Certified Pediatric Cardiologist. Included in his long history with Mending Kids as a board member and leading missions to Ethiopia, Ecuador and several countries in Latin America. Dr. Ferry has deployed on nearly 20 missions with Mending Kids. He was awarded the Francis Nunnally Winzer Prize in Pediatrics from Children's Hospital Los Angeles and he received four Golden Apple teaching awards from the Pediatric House Staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

Dr. Timothy Casarez (right), CO-Mend Honoree, is an American Board Certified Pediatric Cardiologist with an equally long history with Mending Kids. Recognized with a Mead Johnson Teaching award from the UCLA Residency Program and a Golden Apple Teaching Award from the Cedars Sinai Pediatric Residency Program.  Dr. Casarez has saved hundreds of children's lives on missions to Central America, South America, and Africa.
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Dr. Ferry and Dr. Casarez practice through Pediatric Cardiology Medical Associates in Encino, California and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
AWARD
Heroes We Celebrate This Year
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HOPE AWARDS
Dr. Lia Jacobson
Read her story
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LOVE AWARDS
Lila Rodriguez
Read her story
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MEND AWARDS
Dr. David Ferry & 
Dr. Timothy Casarez