St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, one of the nation’s leaders in pediatric healthcare, announced The Big Night In For St. Mary’s Kids, a virtual celebration to honor the hospital’s 150th anniversary.
The winter celebration will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and will happen live on Looped, a virtual venue giving fans exclusive front row access to their favorite events while bringing them closer to talent, and will feature musical performances and notable speeches to help raise funds for the children of St. Mary’s.
The Big Night In For St. Mary’s Kids will be hosted by popular TV personality Howie Mandel. Viewers will be entertained and joined by a series of inspiring speeches from St. Mary’s kids, parents of patients, and St. Mary’s Hospital for Children President and CEO, Edwin Simpser.
During the livestream, attendees will be able to make donations directly through Looped. All funds raised from The Big Night In For St. Mary’s Kids will go directly toward supporting programs and treatment for patients.
More than 90 percent of patients at St. Mary’s need a level of care that exceeds what their families are able to afford and what Medicaid covers. Despite extremely limited resources, St. Mary’s provides innovative therapies and rehabilitation programs including art, music and aquatic therapy, a Locomotor Training Program that provides rehabilitation to children with spinal cord injuries and New York’s only intensive day patient program specializing in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.
St. Mary’s also created New York’s first long-term home care program for children and young adults with disabilities and medically complex conditions, and the nation’s first pediatric palliative care program.
“I am honored to be a part of this incredibly special event as St. Mary’s Hospital for Children celebrates 150 years of serving New York’s families,” said Howie Mandel, host of The Big Night In For St. Mary’s Kids. “For New York’s most critically ill and injured children, this is truly a haven unlike any other. The ability of St. Mary’s to continue providing innovative therapies and specialized rehabilitation programs depends on support from the community and we are grateful for everyone who is helping to fund this essential work.”
Earlier this month, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children in Bayside invited the community to join them in celebrating 150 years of caring for New York’s kids through a 30-day fundraising challenge.
The challenge features a selection of socially-distant events including fitness, paint nights, Zumba classes, trivia nights and a virtual walk. The Big Night In For St. Mary’s Kids will continue as a supportive fundraising event to praise the decade’s worth of care and services the hospital has provided for children.
“This year’s Gala will be different in many ways, but the most important thing has stayed the same: the funds we raise will directly support the essential and life-changing services we have provided for 150 years,” said St. Mary’s President and CEO, Dr. Edwin Simpser. “While the pandemic keeps us apart, we can join together in spirit to celebrate all of the children, families and staff members who are at the heart of St. Mary’s.”
The Big Night In For St. Mary’s Kids is being sponsored by Debbie & Stuart Acker, Cindy & Tod Johnson, DJ Ambulette Service, Nussbaum Berg Klein & Wolpow Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, M&T Bank and Area Builders.
The livestreamed event will be free to watch. For more information and to register, visit https://www.stmaryskids.org/event/virtual-gala/.
