It's Never Too Early to Show Support

Although she can?t remember it, 10-year-old Hope Saxon knows the doctors and nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at CHOC at Mission helped save her life. Born at just 1 1⁄2 pounds, she spent many weeks in the unit until she was healthy enough to finally go home. Now she has found a way to give back.

Hope?s family has a policy on how she can use her allowance. One-third goes to savings, one-third is for personal spending and one-third is designated for a philanthropic organization of her choice. After seeing pictures of herself in the NICU and talking with her parents about the lives saved at CHOC, Hope knew exactly where she wanted her philanthropic funds to go.

Earlier this year, Hope visited the CHOC at Mission NICU to reunite with the nurses who cared for her. After touring the unit, she was so inspired that not only did she give a year?s worth of philanthropy money to CHOC, but she gave some of her own spending money as well. With a smile on her face, Hope proudly presented a $115 check to the hospital. ?I wanted to give to CHOC at Mission because they saved my life,? Hope says.