Philanthropy

We depend on the Columbia Children’s Health philanthropic community to enable us to pursue our commitment to innovation and excellence in clinical medicine, education, research, community health, global health, and the development of our faculty.

Charitable contributions to Columbia Children’s Health play a crucial role in supporting a variety of strategic initiatives to improve health outcomes for so many young patients and their families. Donors have the opportunity to support all of our 45 pediatric subspecialties and can fund initiatives around research, new programs, recruitment of faculty, outpatient offices, and facilities.

The Children’s Board at Columbia

The Children’s Board at Columbia is a unique group of dedicated volunteers made up of parents, former patients, donors, physicians, faculty members, and representatives from an array of professions. The Board shares a common belief that families should easily be able to find answers to and get treatment for the often-complex medical challenges they face regardless of their circumstances.

Established in 2013, these members partner with the outstanding leadership team at Columbia’s Department of Pediatrics, and they have raised tens of millions of dollars for Columbia Children’s Health. The Board’s activities provide support and increase awareness for cutting-edge care by supporting new research, treatments, and therapies that can offer children and their families new hope, or even life-changing outcomes.

A few of the programs supported include:

• Complex Care Center, which supports families and children facing the most complex medical conditions
• Congenital heart disease research
• Clinical Trials Program
• Center for Rare Pediatric Genetic Diseases
• Innovation Nucleation Fund, which underwrites the pioneering research of young investigators
• Precision in Pediatric Sequencing (PIPseq) Program
• Solid organ and stem cell transplantation
• Center for Children’s Digital Health Research
• Reduction and elimination of health care disparities for children and their families

Support the Columbia Children’s Fund online or call Natalie Schweizer at 646-770-7763

The Babies Heart Fund

The Babies Heart Fund (BHF) is devoted to supporting vital research initiatives that will allow children suffering from heart disease to grow up to be heart-healthy, strong adults. Founded in 1986 by a group of present and former patients and families, this community of key supporters plays a pivotal role in making life-saving research not only possible, but attainable. By funding the innovative research being conducted by Columbia physicians and surgeons, the impact and benefit to pediatric cardiology patients is felt across the globe.

Support the Babies Heart Fund online or call Jen Small at 646-951-0255

Hope & Heroes

In recognition of past transformational support and the new visionary commitment of $12,500,000, Columbia proudly renamed its Hope and Heroes Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation in the Columbia University Department of Pediatrics. By working together, our physician-scientists are able to develop pioneering research and treatments for children suffering from cancer or blood disorders. And to ensure the continuation of that advancement we also remain committed to educating and training future generations of medical professionals.

Some past and present initiatives and programs include:

• Valerie Fund Psycho-Social & Palliative Care Program
• Complementary Medicine and Integrative Therapies Program
• Survivor Wellness Program
• Programmatic support for neuro-oncology and stem cell transplantation
• Educational support of fellowship program

Herbert and Florence Irving Oncology Fund

Herbert and Florence Irving have been among the most significant donors to Columbia University’s medical center, supporting programs and facilities dedicated to cancer research and treatment, radiation oncology, bone marrow transplantation, and more. In 2016 the medical campus was renamed Columbia University Irving Medical Center in honor of a gift from the Irvings. Mr. and Mrs. Irving had a long-standing interest in child and adolescent oncology, and over the past three years, our Hope and Heroes Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation has received generous funding from their estate in support of endowed professorships, a comprehensive long-term survivor program, an immunotherapy–gene therapy program, a proof-of-concept research fund, and the renovation of a new ambulatory diagnostic and treatment center.