The complexion of pediatric medical care in Southern California was forever
changed in November 1998 when Mattel announced that the Mattel Children's
Foundation had pledged $25 million in a multi-year commitment, toward
construction of a new children's hospital at UCLA. In appreciation for
Mattel's commitment,
UCLA declared
that both the existing facility and the new facility, which began construction
in 2000 and will open in 2004, would be renamed the Mattel Children's
Hospital at UCLA. During 2003, as part of the multi-year commitment,
the Mattel Children's Foundation gave a cash donation of $5 million
to the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA.
Click for more information on Mattel
Children's Hospital at UCLA.
A hospital within a hospital, the new Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA,
once completed, will occupy one entire floor of the new UCLA Medical Center,
and will have its own distinct entrance and lobby.
With 100,000 square feet of space, the Mattel Children's Hospital will
feature a 99-bed Inpatient Unit, 12-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit,
and a 20-bed level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a distinction held
for hospitals that serve the most critically ill children. The hospital
is already recognized worldwide as a leader in neurology, nephrology,
immunology, cardiology, molecular biology and genetics, pediatric pain,
and hematology/oncology. The stunning facility has been designed by world-renowned architect
I.M. Pei, who also designed the Grand Louvre in Paris and the East Wing
of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Incorporating gracefully
curving forms, natural light rooftop gardens, and spacious single rooms,
the design of the new hospital reflects openness, provides flexibility
for use of space, and, above all, is people-friendly. Mattel's $25 million pledge, payable over multiple years, is the largest
single commitment ever made by the Mattel Children's Foundation and the
largest gift ever made to a children's hospital by a corporation or corporate
foundation.
In 1993, Mattel executive Joe Cristina was losing his battle with HIV.
His health was failing and he felt compelled to disclose his illness to
his boss, co-workers and colleagues and leave the company on disability.
Much to Joe’s surprise, he was inundated by calls and notes from other
Mattel employees, inventors, and manufacturers – all of whom wanted to
help and support him. Instinctively, the business-savvy side of his nature
kicked in. “How can I mobilize this energy among the children’s toy industry
to affect something positive?” he thought. He realized at that moment that
he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use his life and turn his own
personal tragedy into an amazing opportunity for the tens of thousands
of children affected by HIV and AIDS that he had recently been learning
more about.
With the support of Mattel, and the many friends he had made
during his long career, Joe started the Children Affected
by AIDS Foundation (CAAF – click
for more information.)
The single-greatest way CAAF raises funds is through an annual
fundraising event called Dream Halloween®, a magical
night of Halloween-fantasy aimed at entertaining children
and their families. Now in its ninth year in Los Angeles,
its third
year in Chicago and its first year in New York, Dream
Halloween® takes
place every October and raises over $2 million in a single
week. Dream Halloween® also allows hundreds of
children affected by AIDS to experience the magic of Halloween
by attending
the event or receiving a bag filled with treats!
Mattel was instrumental in the creation of this event and
has supported its growth every step of the way over the years.
In addition to being a Presenting Sponsor each and every
year, Mattel has rallied the support of its employee base as volunteers
for this event (some years as many as 300 Mattel employees
have volunteered to make Dream Halloween® a reality).
Dream Halloween’s Leadership Team, which is the planning
committee for the event is also heavily staffed with Mattel
employees – heading
up fundraising and logistical aspects of the event. Furthermore,
Mattel employees have lent their organizational and leadership
talents as members of the CAAF Board of Directors.
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