 Audrey Wilder (1922-2012) and Billy Wilder (1906-2002), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Donors |
Stars of the silver screen have had a huge impact on our hearts and minds for decades and at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles we are grateful when Hollywood stars partner with us to benefit the health of our patients.
This year, our hospital received a very special Christmas gift when the trust of Billy and Audrey Wilder sent an $11 million gift to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles that will support the work of our division of Neurosurgery, the Neuro-oncology program and the division of Rheumatology while still leaving money left over to provide for the under and unreimbursed care for children we provide each year.
Billy and Audrey Wilder, donors to the trust, were Hollywood legends—Billy as an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director with classics like The Seven Year Itch (1955) and Some Like it Hot (1959) and nearly sixty other films to his credit and Audrey as an actress, costume consultant and singer in the famous Tommy Dorsey Band.
While Billy Wilder was a legend in the Hollywood film industry, Audrey served as his philanthropic counterpart. She was the driving force behind the Billy and Audrey Wilder Foundation that gave generously throughout her lifetime to many charitable organizations.
And, in partnership with our hospital, the couple’s latest gift to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles through the Wilder Family Trust will establish endowment funds as a perpetual commitment to the health of children ranging in age from newborns to young adults who need advanced health care solutions for their complex conditions.
Support Us this Holiday Season
Please join Hollywood in giving back this holiday season by Holidays of Hope challenge at CHLA.org/Holiday. Donations are being matched dollar for dollar through Dec. 31, 2012 to support the hospital’s most critical needs including patient care, support for families and pediatric medical research. Thank you!
Celebrity Partnerships
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has a longstanding tradition of working with celebrities to brighten the lives of our patients. Hollywood stars join us to:
- Provide special visits to our patients.
- Participate in activities that our patients enjoy most.
- Provide social media support.
- Participate in fundraising activities.
- Support our advertising efforts.
- Provide signed memorabilia.
Partners at the Holidays
Holidays are a time that no one likes to spend in the hospital. This year, celebrities are partnering with us to help our patients by sending signed and decorated ornaments for our hospital’s Christmas tree, and sharing special holiday wishes with our patients online through our Celebritree.
We invite you to check the Celebritree often for special messages from celebs who want to spread some holiday cheer to our patients. You can watch some videos of celebrities sharing their holiday wishes here.
Leave a Holiday Wish
We want to hear from you. Join our celebs by leaving a holiday wish virtually for our patients too. The comments we have received have been wonderful already. We’d love to read your messages of cheer as well.
