LIVE LIKE BELLA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES "LIVE LIKE BELLA" PAVILION AT MIAMI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
LIVE LIKE BELLA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES "LIVE LIKE BELLA" PAVILION AT MIAMI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
THE LIVE LIKE BELLA PAVILION AT MIAMI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS AN $8.5 MILLION PROJECT THAT WILL SERVE AS A TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITY FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN UNDERGOING TREATMENTS.
September 17, 2014 - Miami, FL - On the heels of a much anticipated first annual "Bella's Ball" presented by Tutti Bambini this past Saturday, Sept. 13, the Live Like Bella™ Foundation proudly announced the creation of the Live Like Bella Pavilion at Miami Children's Hospital, which will offer temporary lodging for families of children receiving inpatient care at the hospital.
The Live Like Bella Pavilion is an $8.5 million project that will consist of a four-story building, inscribed with the words Live Like Bella written inred, childlike handwriting and a smiling sun. The building housed on theMiami Children's Hospital main campus is expected to be completed bymid-2018.
Raymond Rodriguez-Torres, father of Bella Rodriguez-Torres, made the announcement alongside Lucy Morillo, president and CEO of Miami Children's Health Foundation, unveiling a preliminary rendering of theLive Like Bella Pavillon on stage before nearly a thousand guests. During the program, Rodriguez-Torres also shared with the audience key medical information pertaining to Bella's six-year battle againstRhabdomyosarcoma - an aggressive form of childhood cancer. After explaining the difficult and ultimately very tragic end to her fight, he presented new, exciting medical research information that will bring them one step closer to finding a cure.
Raymond Rodriguez-Torres Bella's father at the Bellas Ball September 13th making the announcement.
"We are incredibly thankful to the Live Like Bella™ Foundation for coming together for the children through the Bella's Promise partnership, in support of Together for the Children, The Campaign for Miami Children's Hospital (MCH)," said Lucy Morillo, president and CEO of Miami Children's Health Foundation. "The Live Like Bella™ Pavilion will allow our patient families to find the comfort and support they need to reduce the stresses of being far from home."
"Bella" captured the hearts of millions. Although she passed away at theage of 10 on May 28, 2013, she inspired a movement, leaving behind an undeniably strong legacy, and urging people to #LiveLikeBella.Tomorrow Bella's legacy will not only be felt, and remembered, but seen via the recently named "The Live Like Bella™ Park" and soon at the"The Live Like Bella™ Pavilion at Miami Children's Hospital.
The partnership between the Live Like Bella™ Foundation and Miami Children's Health Foundation was announced last December 2013, under the name of "Bella's Promise" and is working towards ensuring that Miami Children's continues to provide world-class care for children battling cancer in South Florida.
Miami Children's Hospital is also in formal discussions with Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida to create and operate aRonald McDonald House within the pavilion, which would be an amazing effort in South Florida.
For more information about the Live Like Bella™Foundation please visitwww.livelikebella.org.
ABOUT LIVE LIKE BELLA FOUNDATION™
Live Like Bella: Live Like Bella™ was founded in June 2013 in memory of Bella, who passed away at the tender age of 10 from Rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. In her six-year battle she inspired millions to #LiveLikeBella and we are dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric cancer by funding innovative pediatric cancer research. Our foundation also provides recreational support for families with children currently in treatment and provides financial assistance for the purchase of a headstone for families who have lost a child to cancer. For more information visit www.livelikebella.org
About Miami Children's Health Foundation
Miami Children's Health Foundation (MCH Foundation) is a not-for profit 501(c)(3) established to create a world-class pediatric hospital so no child needs to leave South Florida for superior medical care. "Funding World-Class Care" and following the principle that all children deserve state-of-the-art pediatric care with no financial boundaries, MCH Foundation, now a part of the newly-formed Miami Children's Health System, has helped the 289-bed Miami Children's Hospital become a leader in pediatric healthcare with more than 40 subspecialties, the largest pediatric neurology center in the United States, a top provider of cardiology and neonatology services, and a Research Institute conducting in excess of 200 clinical trials and protocols. Currently, MCH Foundation is dedicating all its resources to Together For The Children, The Campaign for Miami Children's Hospital, which aims to raise $150 million by 2017 and will help fund MCH priorities, including the expansion and enhancement of the Emergency Department, as well as the construction of a new Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion, and expanding its Global/Telehealth endeavors.
For the fourth year in a row in 2014-15, Miami Children's was once again the Florida hospital with the most pediatric programs ranked by U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Children's Hospitals." With two programs included among the top 10 in pediatric subspecialties, Miami Children's is also the only hospital in the state with programs ranked among the top 10. Miami Children's Hospital is one of 170 pediatric hospitals in North America affiliated with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® and South Florida's only freestanding hospital dedicated exclusively to children.
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LIVE LIKE BELLA
PO BOX 161215
Miami, Florida 33116-1215
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