The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Celebrates Two Exemplary Philanthropists with a Commissioned Portrait

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) unveiled a portrait of Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket, Jr. in October to honor their more than 40 years of extraordinary dedication to CHOP.

"Ruth and Tris Colket are exemplary philanthropists," said Steven M. Altschuler, M.D., chief executive officer of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "For more than 40 years, they have committed their expertise, time and support to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The portrait of Ruth and Tris is a fitting and permanent tribute to two very special people who have made a transformative difference at CHOP— and in children's health around the world."

The Colkets' combined leadership has helped to influence and nurture the institution's growth in every sphere. Ruth Colket is a CHOP Trustee Emerita, as well as a former president and member of the Women's Committee for more than four decades. Ruth and Tris served as honorary co-chairs of the Hospital's "Hope Lives Here" capital campaign. Tris Colket has served on CHOP's Board of Trustees since 1969. He was also a longstanding chairman of the CHOP Research Institute.

The Colkets have also been extraordinarily generous philanthropists. In 2006, Ruth and Tris Colket provided a transformational gift, one of the largest in the Hospital's history, to support research through construction of the Ruth and Tristram Colket, Jr. Translational Research Building. Two of the Hospital's atria—in its Main building and in the Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Pediatric Research Center-- are named in recognition of their generosity. In addition to major facilities support, the Colkets have established two endowed chairs. The Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket, Jr., Chair in Pediatric Surgery at CHOP supports research efforts by Alan Flake, M.D., to cure debilitating and deadly conditions such as sickle cell disease before birth. The Ruth M. Colket Chair in Pediatric Nursing supports the research and teaching activities of Barbara Medoff-Cooper, Ph.D., M.D., B.S.N., a recognized expert on infant development. Ruth and Tris also created the Colket Lectureship in Nursing, now in its 12^th year.

The Colkets' portrait will be displayed in the Hospital's Colket Translational Research Building. The portrait was commissioned from renowned artist Nelson Shanks, whose work depicting celebrities, royalty and political leaders has been featured in exhibitions around the world.

Ruth and Tris Colket reside in Paoli, Pennsylvania and Bar Harbor, Maine.

Media Contact:
Rachel Salis-Silverman
267-426-6063
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150106/167336

SOURCE The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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http://www.chop.edu