Category Archives: Children’s Miracle Network Champion
A Presidential Welcome to Washington, D.C.
Lately you’ve heard a lot about Bella, who is representing Gillette and Minnesota as part of the Children’s Miracle Network Champions program. So you probably know that Bella and her family just recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. with Champion kids from our 49 other states. We’ve got one final update to share — and it’s a pretty exciting one!
As you can see, Bella met President Obama and even shook his hand. She also got the once-in-a-lifetime chance to ask the President a very important question. Where was his dog, Bo?
A Night of Minn-spiration
Our Miss Minnesota 2009, Brooke Kilgarriff, gracefully turned over her crown last Saturday to her newly-crowned successor, Kathryn Knuttila, at the annual Miss Minnesota pageant. As part of the pageant, Gillette patient Bella Giraldo and her family shared their story on stage — with the audience giving them a resounding standing ovation! Bella is this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Champion child, representing Gillette and Minnesota.
Wondering what Miss Minnesota and Gillette have in common? More than you think! Each year, Miss Minnesota contestants raise money for Gillette, Minnesota’s Children’s Miracle Network hospital.
Kathryn Knuttila is crowned Miss Minnesota 2010! (photo credit: Paula Preston)
Bella takes the stage with Brooke, our now-former Miss Minnesota. (photo credit: Paula Preston)
In the year ahead, Kathryn will be working to raise funds and awareness for Gillette. In fact, she already started during her campaign as a Miss Minnesota contestant. In April she hosted a musical event, A Night of Inspiration, that featured a variety of musical acts. As part of the evening’s performances, Kathryn — a music composition student from McNally Smith College of Music — serenaded the audience with an outstanding piano performance. The event was free, with all donations going to Gillette.
The Miss Minnesota pageant also recognized Miss Northwest, Lexy Okeson, (pictured below) with the Miracle Maker Award for raising over $2,000 for Children’s Miracle Network.
A big, heartfelt thank you to all of our Miss Minnesota contestants. Congratulations on your success!
Hello from Washington, D.C.!
It’s day 3 of Gillette patient Bella’s weeklong trip to Washington, D.C. as part of the Children’s Miracle Network Champions program. She, and kids representing our 49 other states, are having the time of their lives — and keeping busy! They’ve already visited the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the Washington Monument, and some of our nation’s most famous museums. Bella and her family even got to meet Minnesota senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken at the Capitol building.
The trip is all part of an important mission: to raise awareness, among government officials, of the exceptional care provided by Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, like Gillette, throughout the U.S.
Here is Bella outside the Lincoln Memorial:
And with her sister, Grace, at the Washington Monument:
So what’s next for Bella and her fellow Champion kids? Taking in a Nationals baseball game, and today, meeting the President of the United States! Stay tuned for more photos from D.C.
