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ICU baby, the Miami-based non-profit 501(c)3 that supports families with a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), hosted its signature fundraising event, “The Celebration of Miracles,” on Thursday, May 26, at the Mr. C hotel in Coconut Grove.
This year’s theme took its inspiration from La Dolce Vita, and the glamorous lifestyle of Portofino, San Remo and the beautiful coastal towns of the Italian Riviera. Guests mingled and dined on Bellini’s, antipasto and an assortment of Italian delicacies while raising funds for una causa especiale, a very special cause, ICU baby.
Supporting families with a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), ICU baby aims to eliminate financial, informational and emotional barriers that prevent families from visiting their baby in the hospital. ICU baby believes that no baby should be alone due to financial or emotional barriers and that the NICU should be a family centered, nurturing environment that provides for the needs of the whole family. They also strive to ensure that every family with a baby receiving palliative care in the NICU has a private room and timely access to their baby with limited interruption before their baby passes.
The charity was co-founded by CEO Elizabeth Simonton Freeman in 2014 after she and her husband endured time in the ICU with their newborn. There, they witnessed firsthand the tremendous financial and emotional hardships facing families while also recognizing the extreme compassion and valiant efforts of the healthcare providers. Simonton co-founded ICU baby with CFO Nichole Aldrich whose son Matthew did not survive his NICU journey.
This tragedy is unfortunately the reality that the ICU baby team witnesses in the NICU.
The fourth annual gala was attended by a who’s who of Miami. Including Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and his wife, ICU baby Board member Gloria Fonts Suarez; event committee members Ana and Eric Glass; Caryn and Mike Musaffi; Katie and Steven Nullman, and Gesy Lynn and Michael Rangel, as well as Drew Stoudt, Yosbel Ibarra, Prakash Mahtani, Carolina Mazuera, and Kathryn Hamilton. Notable guests included Radmila Lolly, John Utendahl, Shareef Malnik and Gabrielle Anwar.
The Celebration of Miracles, La Dolce Vita gala raised more than $200,000 through a combination of generous philanthropists, a dazzling auction with an array of items such as courtside Miami Heat tickets and through event sponsors including Novo, the Hess Foundation, The Dover Family, The Hamilton Law Firm, Drew Stoudt and Yosbel Ibarra, Baptist Health, the Corporate Park of Doral, Kidz Medical, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Chanin & Adam Carlin, Tasco Plumbling, The Coto Group and many more.
One of the evening’s many highlights including a special performance by Radmila Lolly, acclaimed opera singer, composer, couture designer and owner and creative director of Eltara Casata.
“For a family with a newborn in the ICU, unit life can be a frightening roller coaster of sharp ups and downs. The separation from a baby during this emotional and uncertain experience is extremely stressful on young families and even more so for those facing financial challenges and or lack flexibility in their workplace,” Simonton said.
“It is always such a joyous occasion when families and donors give back and show their deep appreciation for the miracles of ICU babies. We are so humbled by their generosity and that of our corporate sponsors” she added.
Novo founder and corporate sponsor, Michael Rangel, explained, “The ICU baby organization has a very special place in my heart for reasons beyond just what my wife and I might’ve gone through personally. Thank you for welcoming Novo with open arms and letting us be a part of your story. It means the world to us and I very much look forward to the bright future ahead for us both.”
ICU baby has donated in excess of $500,000 in tangible goods and service towards NICU families, providing help to over 3,000 NICU families since programs first launched in 2015.
ICU baby has been the recipient of numerous awards including: Florida Blue Foundation’s Sapphire Award, United Way’s Trail Blazer Award, the NOVO Award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Directors Award of Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative and is recognized with the prestigious Gold Seal of Transparency by Guide Star.
For more information visit the website at icubaby.org or call 305-908-3823.
