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| Top: (From left) Drs. Kelsey C. Martin, dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Sherin U. Devaskar; Richard Dickson; Chancellor Gene D. Block; Margo Georgiadis, CEO of Mattel, Inc.; Dr. John C. Mazziotta; Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System; and Robert Goodwin, executive director of Mattel Children’s Foundation. Middle: Barbie visits with patients at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. Bottom: Dr. Mazziotta (left) presents Mattel’s Richard Dickson with the gift of art created by some of UCLA’s most talented young patients. Photos: (top, bottom) Reed Hutchinson; (middle) Chalkshot by Kasey Jones Ink |
Mattel, Inc. made a $50-million contribution to UCLA Health that will fund the expansion of UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and pave the way to help establish a premier clinical and research hub focused on improving children’s health. UCLA and Mattel leadership gathered at the hospital on March 13, 2017, to mark their long-standing partnership and the historic gift.
“Today, we’re beginning a new and exciting chapter. The gift represents Mattel’s resolve to continue improving the lives of the most vulnerable among us, our children,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block. “This partnership extends our impact far beyond what either of us could achieve on our own, and, together, UCLA and Mattel will build on our commitment to establish the best children’s hospital in the world.”
During the celebration, Dr. John C. Mazziotta (RES ’81, FEL ’83), vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences and CEO of UCLA Health, presented Richard Dickson, president and chief operating officer of Mattel, with framed drawings made by some of UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital’s youngest artists that represented UCLA’s immense gratitude for the gift and highlighted the power of play in the healthcare of children. Following the presentation, children in the hospital enjoyed time on the Chase Child Life terrace, playing with toys and blowing bubbles with Barbie.
“Mattel has always been committed to serving our communities in meaningful and impactful ways,” Dickson said. “Today’s gift is an extension of that legacy and, more important, it will help ensure that even more children and families will benefit from exceptional healthcare at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.”
“This visionary gift from Mattel, Inc. is transformative in bringing discoveries and innovation, while invigorating our dedication to healing children and providing hope to their families,” said Dr. Sherin U. Devaskar, physician-in-chief of UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, executive director of UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute, Mattel Executive Endowed Chair in Pediatrics and assistant vice chancellor of Children’s Health, UCLA Health.
The Mattel donation represents the largest ever made to UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and will enable the hospital to bring more of a child-centric experience to patients through facilities designed with children and families in mind. In addition, the gift will help the hospital continually improve care and outcomes, ensure that all staff is specialized in treating children and better integrate play and health during treatment to comfort children when they need it most. The funding also will support global children’s health through programs, including physician exchanges and research partnerships in China, India and Indonesia.
“The best practices and insights from research available at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital are a model for pediatric care worldwide,” said Dr. Mazziotta. “With Mattel, we look forward to an enhanced ability to expand that care.”
For more information, contact Molly Moursi at: (310) 267-1826
