Harvest Ball 2015

The Central Valley's premier black-tie gala, the 19th annual Harvest Ball, will take place Saturday, August 29, 2015 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno. You won't want to miss this year's festivities! Highlights include mobile bidding capabilities, a guest appearance and special message from American football quarterback David Carr, a musical performance from Meghan Linsey of NBC's The Voice, and the opportunity to bid on some truly unique live auction packages.

New to this year's gala is mobile bidding. All bidding for the silent auction can be done through your smartphone. There is nothing to download; simply bring your device with you the night of the event. Assistance will be available on site for your convenience.

To pre-register your mobile device, and to get a preview of some of the evening's auction items, please visit http://harvestball2015.auction-bid.org/

Want to help Meghan select which song she will sing at the Harvest Ball? Click here to vote for your favorite song! The song with the most votes will be shared at the gala.

Tables and tickets are currently available, but this event is expected to sell out quickly. Call Valley Children's Foundation at 559-353-7100 for additional information or to reserve your seat today. Thank you for supporting the kids we serve in this festive, unique way!

Mr. and Mrs. Mancebo to Be Honored

Manuel and Katye Mancebo will be honored in perpetuity in the Emergency Department Waiting Room in recognition of their planned giving commitment to Valley Children's valued in excess of $1 million. As the owners of the former Kings County Truck Lines based out of Tulare, California, the Mancebos are known for their business ethics and community philanthropy. Katye, a lifelong supporter of Valley Children's, passed away last November.

Valley Children's Healthcare President and CEO Todd Suntrapak said, "We are so grateful to Manuel and Katye Mancebo for their remarkable history of support to Valley Children's. It is our privilege to honor the Mancebos and their generous planned gift during Mr. Mancebo's lifetime." Manuel will attend an official dedication at the Guilds Hall of Fame on Monday, August 24 at 3 p.m. for the "Manuel and Katye Mancebo Emergency Department Waiting Room." We are grateful for the Mancebos' lifetime of friendship and support to Valley Children's.

Thank You to Emergency Medicine Physicians

We would like to thank Emergency Medicine Physicians (EMP), and Medical Director Dr. Lawrence Satkowiak in particular, for their extraordinary commitment of $250,000 to Valley Children's, $125,000 of which will be used to establish the Emergency Medicine Physicians Education Fund to provide scholarships that support the continuing education needs of the Emergency Department's staff. In addition to their historic commitment to continuing education, EMP has agreed to a five-year membership to The President's Fund. Seemingly boundless in their generosity, EMP has also decided to be a Gold Sponsor at $15,000 for this year's Harvest Ball. Our heartfelt thanks to EMP and the many physicians who dedicate their lives to taking care of kids in our Emergency Department here at Valley Children's!

Our Guilds Continue to Make a Difference

As of August 1st, our Guilds have raised $640,000 in the first half of the year towards their $4 million goal. Please follow the link for the latest Guild Philanthropy eNews to learn more about their funding goal and the newly revived Padrinos Guild.

Futures Worth Fighting For Telethon

We invite you to tune into ABC30 on Thursday, August 20th for the ABC30 "Futures Worth Fighting For" Telethon. Check out the promo above or on our new Valley Children's Foundation Facebook. Be sure to like our page!

Thank You to Corner Store

A big thank you to Corner Store locations across the Valley, who collectively raised $54,364 through their in-store Miracle Balloon campaign. We genuinely appreciate each franchise owner's dedication to fundraise on our behalf. Thank you!

A Presidential Impact

Patrick and Kayla

Thank you to our President's Fund Members who have made a broad impact with their annual $10,000 commitments. It is because of their generosity that our staff members have been able to request support for projects to help us become the best. From an on-site farm to a bus for transporting patients to and from appointments, our teams have submitted innovative and thoughtful projects.

There's no better person to explain the value of our employees' ideas than a parent who has watched them care for his child. Please enjoy a letter from Foundation Board Member, Patrick Murphy, shared with every Valley Children's staff member, encouraging them to submit.

Dear Valley Children's Family,

As a father who spent the better half of 14 years roaming the hospital during my daughter's Cystic Fibrosis treatment, I know how valuable you are. I've felt your passion for your patients. I've watched you treat my daughter, Kayla, like she was your own daughter and friend. In fact, after 14 years of treatment many of you became our family.

I'm writing today to tell you that your ideas matter to us. They matter to dads like me who know how important that exercise bike for room-bound kids would be. They matter to the tired moms who could use that snack closet or the proposed prayer group. They matter to the little brother who needs your day camp idea to get a break from his sister's care. They matter to all of us.

I'd like to encourage each of you to submit your ideas to the President's Fund.

I've talked to donors who joined the President's Fund and they have one thing in common: a shared belief in the value of each of you. They feel their investment in your ideas is the best way to ensure the innovative, high quality of care their families have experienced.

In my 14 years I've heard your thoughts about improvement in the cafeteria, while wandering the halls, when meeting with different specialists, in the ER waiting room, while parking my car - everywhere.

I promise you that no project or request is too small and everything you submit will get thorough consideration. Even, if your submissions aren't chosen, they'll be kept by the Foundation for one year and potentially supported by a donor.

From a dad that knows what your ideas mean, please, step forward and submit an application. Now is the time to fund them.

Patrick Murphy

Calendar of Events

Foundation Events

Vallarta Icon Campaign

August 1 - 31

Love's Travel Stop Icon Campaign

August 17 - September 23

ABC30 Telethon

August 20

Classic Film Series: The Goonies

August 20