Miami Children's Hospital Becomes Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Unveils New Logo

MIAMI, March 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Originally founded as Variety Children's Hospital in 1950, Miami Children's Hospital today unveiled a logo featuring its new Nicklaus Children's Hospital name, during a press conference with golf icon Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara. The new name will be effective tomorrow, March 20, on the hospital's 65^th anniversary. In addition, the hospital's eight outpatient centers will also assume the Nicklaus name.

"We are deeply honored that our name will be associated with a healthcare organization that so many know and trust throughout the world," said Jack and Barbara Nicklaus in a joint statement. "Children are our region's most precious and vulnerable resource. We have heeded a call to make a difference for all children in need and have found a worthy partner in Miami Children's Health System. The organization shares our passion and commitment to care excellence. We are delighted that we are further united in our common purpose."

The name change is in recognition of a $60 million pledge from the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation to the Miami Children's Health System. The Miami Children's Health Foundation, which raises funds for the health system, is currently in the midst of its Together for the Children Campaign, aimed at raising $150 million by 2017.

Dr. Narendra Kini, President and CEO of Miami Children's Health System, said, "The 65^th anniversary celebration presents a perfect opportunity to treasure our past and embrace a new name and future for our hospital and outpatient centers. We are the same great nonprofit network of healthcare facilities for children made stronger by the generous philanthropic support of the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation and Jack and Barbara Nicklaus. Tomorrow, we will host a celebration for our employees in honor of our milestone anniversary and this new chapter in our long and proud shared history."

In addition to the pledge, the Nicklauses will also serve as the chairs of the Together for the Children Campaign and will spearhead fundraising efforts to support major enhancements for the hospital, including supporting construction of the planned 212,000-square-foot Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion, now in progress. This new facility will include provisions for three new family-centered intensive care units. Funds will also support emergency and trauma preparedness, and enhance globally recognized centers for excellence at the hospital.

"We are truly grateful for Jack and Barbara's long-term commitment and generosity to our mission of providing health and happiness to children everywhere," said Lucy Morillo, President and CEO of Miami Children's Health Foundation. "As chairs of the Together for The Children campaign, they will help us ensure that we not only reach our $150 million goal, but hopefully exceed it."

Miami Children's Health System, the parent organization for the hospital, outpatient centers, foundation and other entities, will retain its name, as will Miami Children's Health Foundation. The hospital and its network of facilities will embrace new names as follows:

• Nicklaus Children's Hospital (main campus near Coral Gables)
• Nicklaus Children's Dan Marino Outpatient Center (Weston)
• Nicklaus Children's Doral Outpatient Center
• Nicklaus Children's Miami Lakes Outpatient Center
• Nicklaus Children's Midtown Outpatient Center
• Nicklaus Children's Miramar Outpatient Center
• Nicklaus Children's Palm Beach Gardens Outpatient Center
• Nicklaus Children's Palmetto Bay Outpatient Center
• Nicklaus Children's West Kendall Outpatient Center

The outpatient centers offer a variety of pediatric services. Most offer after-hours urgent care services (with the exception of the Dan Marino facility in Weston) as well as pediatric rehabilitation services, imaging services and subspecialty medical appointments.

The hospital will host its 65th anniversary celebration tomorrow, March 20 and it encourages the community to participate in the celebration by sharing how the hospital has touched their lives. Submissions can be made through social media by visiting www.365Reasons.org.

About the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation
Jack and Barbara Nicklaus founded the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation in 2004, in an effort to provide families access to world-class pediatric healthcare in their own communities. The Foundation has grown from a vision to reality, supporting innovative programs focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood illnesses. For more information about the Foundation, please visit nchcf.org

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital 
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children's Hospital® – formerly Miami Children's Hospital–is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with more than 650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric sub-specialists. The 289-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs ranked among the best in the nation in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014-15 by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, visit www.mch.com

About Miami Children's Health System
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children's Hospital – formerly Miami Children's Hospital–is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with more than 650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric sub-specialists. The 289-bed nonprofit hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine and routinely has many programs ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report. The organization has grown and evolved into the Miami Children's Health System (MCHS) which includes Miami Children's Health Foundation, the organization's 501c3 fundraising arm; a network of eight nonprofit outpatient centers situated in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties; Pediatric Specialty Group, Inc., a nonprofit physician practice subsidiary;  a management services organization, and an ambulatory surgery center (opening soon), as well as an e-commerce line of children's wellness and safety products that support the hospital's mission of serving the region's pediatric population. MCHS is the region's only healthcare system exclusively for children.

About Miami Children's Health Foundation
Miami Children's Health Foundation (MCH Foundation) is a not-for profit 501(c)(3) established to create a world-class pediatric hospital so no child needs to leave South Florida for superior medical care. "Funding World-Class Care" and following the principle that all children deserve state-of-the-art pediatric care with no financial boundaries, MCH Foundation, now a part of the newly-formed Miami Children's Health System, has helped the 289-bed Miami Children's Hospital become a leader in pediatric healthcare with more than 40 subspecialties, the largest pediatric neurology center in the United States, a top provider of cardiology and neonatology services, and a Research Institute conducting in excess of 200 clinical trials and protocols. Currently, MCH Foundation is dedicating all its resources to Together For The Children, The Campaign For Miami Children's Hospital, which aims to raise $150 million by 2017 and will help fund MCH priorities, including the expansion and enhancement of the Emergency Department, as well as the construction of a new Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion, and expanding its Global/Telehealth endeavors.

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SOURCE Miami Children's Health System

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