Big Hearts for Little Hearts Desert Guild announced Tuesday it reached its $1 million fundraising goal with a grant of $31,150 provided by the H.N. and Frances C. Berger foundation, with the funds benefiting pediatric cancer treatment and research at the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
“We’re so appreciative of the Berger Foundation for this grant to take us over the $1 million mark,” Guild President Angie Nelson said in a statement. “And receiving news coverage about the Guild to share our advocacy for children’s health is incredible.”
The Desert Guild, which is part of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, pledged in 2022 to raise $1 million as part of the its Stronger Together campaign designed to advance diagnostics and personalize treatments for childhood cancers.
There are more than 2,200 children from the Coachella Valley who receive specialty care at the children’s hospital in Loma Linda and at SAC Health in Indio, according to the guild.
“The Desert Guild is extremely inspiring, and we’re thrilled to showcase how its members’ advocacy and fundraising efforts are making a difference at our area’s children’s hospital,” said Jerry Upham, general manager of Gulf California Broadcast Company.
The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, in partnership with News Channel 3, hands out the impact grants to improve the lives of people in need.
“The Guild works so hard and had come so close to its goal, we wanted to help,” said Catherine Reed, vice president of Charitable Programs for the Berger Foundation. “It was very rewarding to see these volunteers’ and donors’ faces when we surprised them with the grant that will impact kids in our valley.”
