Hospital celebrates its 125th anniversary

Children's Memorial recognized the 125th anniversary of its founding during a hospital-wide celebration held in the hospital's Siragusa Lobby on May 14. The event also marked the formal announcement of the name change of the hospital's Woman's Board to the Founders' Board. A Chicago City Council resolution was read during the celebration declaring it “Children's Memorial Hospital Day” in Chicago.

Founders' Board member Peggy Carr (left) and board president Leslie Newman at the celebration of the hospital's 125th anniversary.

“As we celebrate our 125th year of serving children and their families, there are many reasons to be enthusiastic about our future and the future for children,” said Children's Memorial's President and CEO Patrick M. Magoon during his opening remarks at the celebration, which included hospital leadership and staff, board members and patient families. “Our plan to build a new, state-of-the-art hospital will transform pediatric medicine for the next 125 years for the benefit of countless children for generations to come.”

The Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago will be built in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood and is scheduled to open in 2012.

Children's Memorial was founded in 1882 by Julia Foster Porter near the site of the present hospital in an eight-room cottage. Mrs. Porter established the hospital in memory of her 13-year-old son, Maurice, who died of acute rheumatism. Children's Memorial was the first hospital in Chicago dedicated solely to the care of children, at a time when the field of pediatric medicine did not even exist.

Magoon paid tribute to the members of the Founders' Board, who have raised millions of dollars through fundraising and personal gifts, and have given generously of their time by serving in hospital governance, fundraising and other volunteer roles.

In her remarks, Founders' Board president Leslie Newman recognized the crucial role the members of the board — past and present — have played throughout the years in helping Children's Memorial provide the best possible care for patients and families.

The event also featured a look back at the hospital's history as Suellen Miller, a patient first treated at the hospital in 1953, recalled the skill and kindness of her doctors and nurses, who she attributed with saving her life after she was diagnosed with a serious heart defect as an infant.

The event concluded as guests enjoyed slices of a giant cheesecake, generously donated by Eli's Cheesecake.