Julia And George Argyros Donate $5 Million To Children's Hospital Of Orange County For Region's First Pediatric Emergency Department

ORANGE, Calif., Sept. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's) today announced that Julia and George Argyros made a $5 million gift for its new pediatric emergency department – the first in Orange County.  In honor of the couple's generosity, the emergency department will open in March 2013 as the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department.

The 22,000-square-foot Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department is designed to meet the unique needs of children.  It features 31 treatment rooms, including 14 rapid medical exam rooms, and three triage suites. 

The Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department is part of CHOC's new, 425,000-square-foot tower, which will also house advanced operating rooms, laboratory, pathology and imaging services – each with a dedicated pediatric environment and staff.  The seven-story building, with leading design and safety principles, includes enhanced patient and families amenities to create a serene, healing environment for children.

"We are extremely grateful for the long-standing support of the Argyros family, and are thrilled by this most recent contribution which will help us achieve our vision and transform pediatric care," said Kim Cripe, president and CEO of CHOC Children's. "Julia and George's $5 million donation is an amazing gift to the children and families in Orange County who will now have access to a world-class pediatric emergency department."

In addition to their $5 million gift, the Argyros family helped launch the hospital's comprehensive fundraising campaign, "Change CHOC, Change the World," with a leadership gift of $1 million in 2009 to name the surgery center reception area in CHOC's new tower.  In recognition of that gift and in honor of Julia and George's daughter, the area is named "The Stephanie A. Argyros Reception." They have generously sponsored two signature hospital fundraising events, the CHOC Cherishes Children Gala and the CHOC Follies, for which Julia has also donated her time and talent as a cast member. Stephanie Argyros joined the CHOC Children's Foundation Board of Directors last year.

With the Argyros' $5 million gift, CHOC Children's has raised a little more than $120 million in their "Change CHOC, Change the World" campaign.

"We are grateful to Julia and George Argyros for this transformational investment in pediatric healthcare. This timeless gift will create a lasting legacy for generations to come at CHOC. Please join CHOC Children's and the Argyros family as together we move forward world-class pediatric healthcare in Orange County and throughout the globe," said Graig Eastin, vice president of the CHOC Children's Foundation.

To learn more about ways to give to the campaign, call the Foundation at (714) 532-8690 or visit www.choc.org/giving.

About CHOC Children's
Named one of the best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report (2012-2013) and a 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospital, CHOC Children's is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, CHOC's regional healthcare network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, several primary and specialty care clinics, a pediatric residency program, and four centers of excellence - The CHOC Children's Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.

About the Change CHOC, Change the World Campaign
CHOC Children's $125 million "Change CHOC, Change the World" campaign aims to make Orange County one of the safest and healthiest places for children in the nation.  Specifically, the campaign will help CHOC realize its vision of achieving national recognition as a premier children's hospital by building a new pediatric care tower; establishing a substantial endowment to support recruiting more of the world's top pediatric experts who can drive research and clinical breakthroughs; and building upon the academic and research affiliation with UC Irvine and its School of Medicine to advance innovative treatments and cures for children – locally and across the globe.

Media Contact:
Denise Almazan, Director of Public Relations
(714) 532-8680 office; (714) 275-1452 pager
[email protected]

SOURCE CHOC Children’s