In the Limelight Cincinnati Children’s Celestial Ball

On Saturday, March 14, 1,400 friends and supporters of Cincinnati Children’s came together at the Duke Energy Convention Center for the 11th annual Celestial Ball, benefiting the hospital and research center. 

This year, Cincinnati Children’s celebrated its many partnerships with community and governmental organizations that are aimed at improving the health of children in Greater Cincinnati.  Three organizations in particular were put in the limielight: Every Child Succeeds, Growing Well and the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children.

Every Child Succeeds is a partnership between Cincinnati Children’s, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.  It’s designed to help at-risk parents create safe, healthy, nurturing home environments for their children from prenatal to age three.  Specially trained professional home visitors provide support, education, developmental screening and connection to community resources.  Since 1999, the program has measurably improved the lives of more than 20,000 Greater Cincinnati families.

As a Growing Well partner, Cincinnati Children’s is working in conjunction with a network of organizations to help remove barriers to healthcare for at-risk children and teens in the Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS).  Growing Well enhances the success of CPS’s Community Learning Center model by supporting agencies to work collaboratively to offer primary care, dental, vision, mental health and wellness services to youth in schools all over the city.

The Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children is a model center for the evaluation, treatment and prevention of child abuse.  Partnering with the Department of Job and Family Services, the Cincinnati police, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s office and the Hamilton County prosecutor’s office, Cincinnati Children’s experts in child abuse are helping assure safe, healthy and nurturing homes where children can achieve their full potential.

"Cincinnati Children’s is making an indelible impact on helping kids in Cincinnati become healthier.  But we don’t do it alone," says Cincinnati Children’s president and CEO, Michael Fisher.  "We’re thrilled to celebrate all of the organizations that are right alongside us as we work together to change the outcome for every child in our community."    

Proceeds from the gala, more than $950,000, will benefit the medical center’s initiatives in the community aimed at helping children in Cincinnati achieve their optimal health and reach their full potential – one of the pillars of the medical center’s $250 million Change the Outcome Campaign.