Gardena, Calif. – December 22, 2021,– The Carroll Shelby Foundation™ (CSF) is donating $40,000, which will be equally divided among four hospitals that specialize in transplants and treating serious illnesses for children. Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, along with Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, will each receive $10,000. The Foundation is conducting a matching holiday gift card program that allows the public to donate to the four hospitals.
“Carroll Shelby created his Foundation while awaiting a heart transplant in 1992,” said Aaron Shelby, co-President of the Carroll Shelby Foundation™. “My grandfather was alarmed by the many children who also needed an organ. He created the charity to provide medical assistance for kids like those in the transplant ward, fighting to survive. Though we expanded our mission to help children and families in other ways, our core goal is still to support hospitals that help kids in the race for life.”
The Carroll Shelby Foundation™ is a catalyst for those who want to donate to a children’s hospital this holiday season. A donation can be made to one of the four institutions online through www.shelby.com/ShelbyFoundation; the charity is matching every dollar donated by the public. The program will continue through January 2, 2022.
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is home to the world’s first pediatric solid organ transplant program, specializing in heart, liver, kidney and lung transplants for children. The Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s has been ranked number three nationally to the U.S. News & World Report list of top pediatric cardiology and heart surgery programs. The Foundation donated money to the hospital in 2019, including funds raised by the Team Shelby club in that region spearheaded by Bill Caron.
Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital is the only dedicated pediatric hospital in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo and Mono counties. It has 343 beds dedicated to kids and is one of the largest Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the country. Over 100,000 children come through it each year; LLUCH is also known worldwide as the pioneer of neonatal heart transplantation. Team Shelby member Codi Pelton, a heart transplant recipient at the hospital, has been a champion of the institution.
The Children's Health system includes its flagship hospital, Children’s Medical Center Dallas, which continues to be the only North Texas hospital to be ranked in 10 out of 10 pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. Through its academic affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Health is a leader in life-changing treatments, innovative technology and ground-breaking research. Some of the money donated to the hospital was raised through the local Team Shelby members in North Texas, headed up by Regional Director Austin Maness, along with chapter directors Brandi and Karl Kozlovsky.
Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas is a pediatric acute care hospital located in Austin, Texas. The hospital is affiliated with The UT Austin Dell Medical School and is a member of Ascension Health. The hospital provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to pediatric patients aged 0–21 throughout Central Texas. The hospital features the only Level I pediatric trauma center in the Central Texas region.
“While he was rightfully proud of his career as a racing champion as both a driver and an automaker, Carroll considered the Foundation his greatest accomplishment,” said Shelby. “We are honored to preserve his legacy and continue this critical work. These donations were made thanks to the hard work of our team at the Foundation, generous donors worldwide, the sale of special charity items and the efforts of Team Shelby members. Carroll would be proud.”
Those interested in learning more about the Carroll Shelby Foundation can go to https://www.shelby.com/ShelbyFoundation.
About The Carroll Shelby Foundation
The Carroll Shelby Foundation was created by legendary racer and automotive manufacturer Carroll Shelby. Headquartered in Gardena, Calif., the Foundation is dedicated to providing medical assistance for those in need, including children, educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programs and benefitting the Shelby Automotive Museum. For more information visit https://www.shelby.com/ShelbyFoundation.
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