The Woman's Board of Children's Memorial changes name to Founders' Board

The Woman's Board of Children's Memorial Hospital, the founding board of the hospital, announced today that it is changing its name to the Founders' Board. The new name better reflects the board's rich history of leadership, which dates back to the earliest days of the hospital.

The announcement was made by Leslie Newman, president of the Founders' Board, the Woman's Board of Children's Memorial, at a hospital-wide celebration of the 125th anniversary of the hospital's founding in May 1882.

Ever since hospital founder Julia Foster Porter recruited the first Board of Lady Managers in 1892 to provide leadership, volunteer service and financial support, members of the Woman's Board have played a critical role in supporting the mission of Children's Memorial Hospital.

“We chose the Founders' Board name because we feel it will be a constant reminder of the long-standing support of Children's Memorial and our history of helping to improve the lives of children in Chicago and beyond,” said Newman.

The celebration included hospital leadership, board members, Woman's Board members, physicians and patient families. Suellen Miller, a former patient who was treated at Children's Memorial for a congenital heart condition in 1953, spoke about her experiences and fond memories of the hospital. A Chicago City Council resolution declaring today “Children's Memorial Hospital Day” in Chicago was read. Chicago's own Eli's Cheesecake marked the occasion by donating a giant cheesecake, which was served to attendees.

Patrick M. Magoon, president and CEO of Children's Memorial, was on hand for today's announcement and celebration. He congratulated the Founders' Board on their name change, which reflects their central role in the life of the institution. “For more than a century, members of the Founders' Board have touched every part of the hospital in some way, leaving an indelible mark on our patients, their families as well as the physicians, nurses and staff,” said Magoon

In just the last decade, the Founders' Board has provided critical funding totaling more than $20 million for a number of endowed chairs for Children's Memorial staff and faculty. In addition to raising funds for these chairs, members have served on numerous hospital fundraising committees and have helped to secure gifts in support of, or personally given to, many other hospital-wide initiatives.

Julia Foster Porter founded the hospital as an eight-room cottage at the corner of Belden Avenue and Halsted Street in May 1882 in memory of her 13-year-old son, Maurice, who died of acute rheumatism at age 13. It was the first hospital in Chicago dedicated solely to the care of children when the field of pediatric medicine did not even exist.

The Founders' Board, the Woman's Board of Children's Memorial Hospital, is the founding board of Children's Memorial Hospital. The board is made up of 94 active members and 63 associate members who are committed to supporting the hospital through active participation in hospital governance, volunteerism and advocacy.

Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, is recognized as one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country by rankings published in U.S. News & World Report. Its physicians are on the faculty at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. As a not-for-profit organization, Children's Memorial relies on philanthropy to help provide care to more than 103,000 patients and their families every year.