Jennifer Johnson

✨ Spotlight ✨
Thank you to all the teams who have generously allowed me to spotlight their teams this last month. Team Captains often tell me it's hard to put their Stroll stories into words. I get it. I struggle too as I write this post featuring my own team. So many highs. So many lows. So much heartbreak, yet so very much to be thankful for and to celebrate! I look forward to being with all of you tomorrow as an understanding, compassionate, and passionate Golisano Children's Hospital community!
"Amazing Grace Esposito" is one of the teams that is raising funds for Golisano Children's Hospital through the Stroll for Strong Kids on May 30th. Grace wasn't even born when we did our first stroll in 2011 but we had her diagnosis. We held out hope that year that, despite the long odds with her Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, we might be carrying Grace in our arms for the Stroll the following year. Thanks to incredible care, we got our wish: with an oxygen tank in tow, Grace was at the Stroll in 2012. She survived major surgeries, time on ECMO, and very long odds. Although she passed away in 2013 from complications during a surgery, the friendships she brought into our lives through her care team and other hospitals families continue. Many families create wonderful memories in Grace's Garden at the hospital. And she is one of the inspirations for our hospital's Family Connection Program: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/quality/patient-family-experience
To support our efforts for the hospital, head to our team page: https://teamraiser.rochester.edu/site/TR/TeamRaiserTemplate/General?pg=team&team_id=10750&fr_id=1520

Don’t forget: Friday, May 29th from 11 a.m.—6 p.m. at the Bloch Alumni and Advancement Building, 300 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623: We encourage all teams and participants to take advantage of this opportunity to turn in your donations and pick up incentives (if applicable) prior to the event. This allows you to avoid waiting in line the day of the Stroll, giving you more time to enjoy the many activities we have planned.

If you are unable to come to the pre-registration, we will have a Registration Tent at the event on Saturday morning. The Registration Tent is the place to drop off any donations that you have in the form of cash and checks. You can also pick up the Incentive Tickets at Registration for any incentives that you have earned through your fundraising efforts.

✨ Spotlight ✨
The "Tiny But Tough Crew" is one of the teams that is raising funds for Golisano Children's Hospital through the Stroll for Strong Kids on May 30th. Her mom tells me, "Charleigh was born at 32 weeks and spent 26 days in the NICU at Golisano Children’s hospital. The time, dedication and support from everyone within the hospital made her time in the hospital such an easy experience. She is now a thriving 4 month old, and I am so very thankful to everyone here that helped care for her in those early days of her life.”
To support their efforts for the hospital, head to their team page: https://teamraiser.rochester.edu/site/TR/TeamRaiserTemplate/General?pg=team&team_id=10701&fr_id=1520