2009 Champs for Children
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Office of the Provost

About Champions For Children's Hearts

Our Mission: Our Children

Brian Griese, Steve Hutchinson and Charles Woodson are privileged to partner with former teammates and supporters from around the world to benefit the new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and the renowned research conducted at the Michigan Congenital Heart Center. Our mission is clear: to support the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility for women and children, and to fund education and research aimed at improving outcomes worldwide for children with heart defects.

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Helping Kids, Healing Hearts

Champs for Children

Since the inaugural golf tournament in 2007, this event has evolved into a weekend of activities complete with a VIP kick-off dinner, visits to Mott Children’s Hospital, gala dinner and auction, golf tournament and awards dinner. Former University of Michigan football players and 1997 National Champions Brain Griese and Steve Hutchinson spearheaded this effort to raise money for the new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and its Congenital Heart Center. This year, Charles Woodson joins them to lead former teammates, sponsors and participants from across the country to support this worthy cause.

Proceeds from the event benefit construction of the new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and the Michigan Congenital Heart Center. Set to open in 2011, the new Mott Children’s Hospital is taking shape and thousands of women and children will soon benefit from this new, state-of-the-art facility. Additionally, worthy research projects made possible solely through philanthropy are being conducted at the world-renowned Michigan Congenital Heart Center. In four years this Golf and Gala Weekend has raised over 2.2 million dollars. In 2010 we reached unprecedented success, as the efforts of many help raise over $1 million that will benefit the new Mott and change children's lives.

With this year's event, taking place in the year of the Grand Opening, we need your help to complete this facility and to remain among the leaders and best in caring for children.

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Steering Committee

Co-Chairs:

Brian Griese
Event Co-chair
ESPN College Football Analyst

Steve Hutchinson
Event Co-chair
Minnesota Vikings

Charles Woodson
Event Co-chair
Green Bay Packers

Co-Founders:

Raghu Mendu
Heart of a Child Foundation

John Charpie
MD, PhD, Division Director, Pediatric Cardiology,
Michigan Congenital Heart Center

Rick Ohye
MD, PhD, Division Head, Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery
Michigan Congenital Heart Center

Steering Committee Members:

Rich Rogel
University of Michigan Special Representative

Rob Pollock
Senior Investment Consultant, Captrust Financial Advisors
Mott Board of Advisors

Christian Tennant
President, Christian Tennant Custom Homes

Vic Strecher
Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, HealthMedia, Inc.

Mark VanSumeren
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, Owens & Minor

Timothy & Ann Kay
Parents of 2 Mott patients
Timothy Kay, Vice President, Project and Development Services, Jones Lang LaSalle, Americas, Inc.

Gary Karp
Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs & General Council, Sherwood Food Distributors

John Myefski
President, Myefski Architects, Inc.

Scott Draper
U-M Athletics, Associate Athletic Director

Steering Committee Consultant:

Lloyd Carr
Co-chair of Champion's for Children Campaign

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Contact Us

For more information about the tournament, please contact
Gene Skidmore
University of Michigan Office of Medical Development
301 East Liberty, Suite 400
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2251
734-998-7351

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