Gabriella White, LLC, parent company to Summer Classics and Gabby, recently announced its national partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals). The partnership between Gabriella White and CMN Hospitals is a natural pairing of organizations deeply passionate about caring for others.
For over 37 years CMN Hospitals has been dedicated to raising funds and awareness for member hospitals that provide treatments to kids across the United States and Canada. To date, CMN Hospitals has raised more than $7 billion through its various fundraising partners and programs, in support of its mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.
Every year, member hospitals within the CMN Hospitals network identify a “Champion” in each of its communities to serve as the face for children treated at their local children's hospital. These ambassadors spend the year advocating for the charitable need of children's hospitals across the country. Twelve-year-old Gabby Bolden of Birmingham is the 2020 local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion for Children’s of Alabama. In August, Gabby celebrated five years since receiving a heart transplant at Children’s of Alabama. Since the transplant Gabby is living life BIG and enjoying all of her favorite things – basketball, soccer, track & field, tumbling and her schoolwork.
“We are proud to partner with CMN Hospitals, and to support the wonderful mission of this esteemed organization,” says William White, President. “Our company has been family owned and operated since its inception in 1979. CMN’s purpose directly aligns to the core values of our company and the family atmosphere we pride ourselves on maintaining,” adds White.
He goes on to say, “The roots of a partnership with my family and Children’s of Alabama beganwith my paternal grandfather – Bew White, Jr. – who joined the Children’s of Alabama Board of Directors in 1965. He served as Chairman of the Board in 1974 and 1975. My grandfather’s tenure spanned more than 30 years, and he played an integral part in building the highly revered Children’s of today.”
Past Meets Present.
In addition to his Board responsibilities, Bew founded and served as President of the Children’s Foundation, 1984-1990, and Chaired the Capital Campaign in 1989. His selflessness did not go unnoticed – in fact the Chapel at Children’s, as well as the campus’ Harbor Building Atrium, both dawn the Bew White name.
Prior to his retirement from the Board in 1996, the William Bew White Jr. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurology was established. This was the first Endowed Chair initiated by Children’s – providing support to the head of the hospital’s Pediatric Division.
Our Present and Future.
As the team at Gabriella White continued to foster relationships with and learn more about Children’s of Alabama and CMN Hospitals, a partnership seemed like the logical next step. October 1, 2020 served as the kick off to a national partnership between our organizations.
The national partnership includes a yearlong program which starts with Children’s of Alabama’s Pediatric Simulation Center. Gabriella White will donate furniture to the Center – which creates a safe, realistic environment allowing health care providers and students to increase their knowledge, hone their skills, and practice teamwork in the context of real-life patient scenarios. Gabriella White will also sponsor Gabby, the 2020 local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion for Children’s of Alabama.
Recently, we invited this year’s CMN Champion, Gabby to design her own collection of Miracle Pillows that will be sold in our retail stores and online. One-hundred dollars from every pillow sold will be donated to CMN Hospitals. While Gabby was in our showroom designing her pillows, she had the opportunity to meet Wynne White, granddaughter to Bew White, Jr. and Director of National Accounts.
“I had the pleasure of working with Gabby when she visited our showroom to design her
Miracle Pillows,” says Wynne. “Immediately I was struck by Gabby’s playfulness and vibrant personality. She confidently took the design lead, choosing from a selection of performance fabrics and accessories, to create two sets of unique pillows – dubbed Playroom and Velvet Double Ladder. Gabby just commanded the room in all the best ways, and her smile and laugh were contagious. I look forward to seeing all of the wonderfully exciting opportunities that are in-store for Gabby,” adds White.
In addition to the pillow donation, Gabriella White will donate $50,000 to CMN Hospitals. For more information on how to contribute to the campaign, visit summerclassicshome.com/giving.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Gabriella White family to the CMN Hospitals network. The unwavering support from our corporate partners plays a vital role in solving the needs of children’s hospitals, especially today,” said Teri Nestel, president and CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Changing kid’s health isn’t just about helping those in critical situations – it’s also about the research, preventative care, health and other support services that help build healthier communities today and tomorrow.”