2.1 Million Pledge Funds Expanded Services at Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine
Black & Veatch today hosted the 20th edition of its Charity Golf Tournament in support of Children’s Mercy. Proceeds from the tournament and company giving totaling $350,000 were donated to Children’s Mercy. This year’s event is helping to fulfill a five-year pledge of $2.1 million made in 2015 to help expand services at the Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine to include childhood cancers. The annual golf event and company donations have now surpassed $3.1 million since its inception.
The Center, dedicated to be the leading global referral center for the diagnosis, molecular understanding and treatment of inherited childhood diseases, is the first of its kind. Through the support of the Black & Veatch Foundation and other organizations, hundreds of families affected by unspecified inherited diseases are referred to and treated by Children's Mercy each year.
“Our partnership with Black & Veatch and their Foundation enables ground-breaking advances in genomics research that will allow us to develop lifesaving cures for kids with cancer,” said Erin Guest, MD, Director of the Children’s Mercy Cancer Genomics Program. “For example, Black & Veatch funding purchased a single cell sequencing system which is essential to an upcoming trial seeking to better target therapies for infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It will be one of only two such studies open in the U.S. when enrollment begins later this year."
"Because of Black & Veatch’s support, we are able to begin the work finding a treatment for these babies that’s better than intensive chemotherapy, which is especially toxic to infants.”
Erin Guest, MD, Director of the Children’s Mercy Cancer Genomics Program
The 20th Annual Charity Golf Tournament was at the Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, Kansas. All proceeds from the event go directly to Children’s Mercy.
“Black & Veatch’s five-year pledge of $2.1 million to support the Children’s Mercy Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine is allowing the center to further expand its focus to include oncology,” said Steve Edwards, Chairman and CEO of Black & Veatch. “By supporting Children’s Mercy through our foundation, and our many sponsors and supporters, we are able to improve lives in the region. The advanced, life-saving services of Children’s Mercy make it a premier hospital for pediatric medicine.”
Past fund raising from the tournament has also supported the construction and renovations for Children’s Mercy East in Eastern Jackson County and Children’s Mercy Broadway. Support has also been provided to the CARE Clinic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, robotic surgery, neonatal intensive care nursery, emergency department and urgent care centers.
Editor’s Notes:
- The Black & Veatch Foundation serves as the platform for participation by the company and its professionals in supporting a variety of philanthropic organizations and programs worldwide.
- Since its beginning, Black & Veatch and its professionals have been actively involved in supporting community needs. The Foundation builds on the company's history of community involvement by globally expanding Black & Veatch's overall philanthropic role, involvement and impact in our communities. Since its inception the Black & Veatch Foundation has made more than $12 million in charitable and educational donations around the world.
About Children’s Mercy
Children’s Mercy, located in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the nation’s top pediatric medical centers. The 354-bed, not-for-profit hospital provides care for children from birth through the age of 21, and has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of “America's Best Children's Hospitals.” For the fourth time in a row, Children’s Mercy has achieved Magnet nursing designation, awarded to fewer than seven percent of all hospitals nationally, for excellence in quality care. Its faculty of 600 pediatricians and researchers across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research, and educating the next generation of pediatric sub-specialists. For more than a century, Children’s Mercy has provided the highest level of medical care to every child who passes through its doors, made possible through generous community support. For more information about Children’s Mercy and its research, visit childrensmercy.org. For breaking news and videos, follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
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About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2018 were US$3.5 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.
