Veterans continue holiday tradition of visiting hospitalized children

For 40 years, Robert E Pickard of The Hearing Research Institute has made it a mission to bring gifts to hospitalized children during the holidays.

He invites his family to join him. His fellow war veterans go, too. This year was no different.

In early December, the group went to see 200 little patients at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and surprised them with presents, music and encouragement.

“We began this tradition of giving hospitalized kids gifts at Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmastime after experiencing the sadness that pervaded, and still pervades, hospitals for children particularly at holiday season,” said Pickard, who is medical director and founder of the Hearing Research Institute.

His daughter, Beke Pickard, helped escort the group. She started visiting children’s hospitals as a youth along with her dad and mom, Susan. Beke is now part of the Child Life Specialist Team at Nicklaus.

Also sharing time with the young patients were members of Post #243 Coral Gables JWV USA and volunteers with the Hearing Research Institute.

“The Institute has been doing this for about 40 years and I ask these veterans to help out and share the mitzvah blessing. They are mostly Vietnam veterans, like me. This year there was a Korean veteran in a wheelchair,” Pickard said.

“I started doing this back in the ‘70s as a result of my experiences in hospital over Christmas. We bring cheer and good wishes for speedy and complete recovery, besides the physical gifts,” he said.

“I found that even when situations are bleak and the outlook seems tragic, a thought, a gift, a kind comment, not only to the child who is sick, but also to the parents who are hovering over their child, is calming and even at times healing,” Pickard said.

“The cost of the toys, the trouble of going to various stores to buy hundreds of toys, stuffed animals, blankets, the sorting of all the gifts, the delivery of them directly to each child, all of that is a mitzvah, a blessing twice gifted. It blesses those who give and those who receive.”

The Hearing Research Institute accepts donations throughout the year to help purchase holiday gifts for hospitalized children. To learn more go to hearingresearchinstitute.org or write hearingresearchinstitute@msn.com.

28 grants for nonprofits

Supporting each other is at the heart of the season of giving. At the Coral Gables Community Foundation, giving to Miami-Dade County nonprofits comes twice a year.

The foundation and its Community Giving Committee, chaired by foundation board member David Olazabal, recently awarded over $50,000 in grants to 28 deserving organizations.

“Being able to support so many worthwhile organizations is a major point of pride for the foundation,” Olazabal said. “The efforts of our Community Giving initiative add to the footprint of the Foundation and enhance the quality of life in Coral Gables.”

The foundation’s focus areas are education, arts and culture, historic preservation, social and health services, and those who “live, work, learn or play in Coral Gables.”

The Fall 2018 Grantees are: Actors’ Playhouse, Area Stage, AUM Home Shala, Bake a Wish, Beaux Arts, Branches, Caroling Competition, Chapman Partnership, Close Up Foundation, Coral Gables Art Cinema, Coral Gables Museum, Culinary Arts Program at Coral Gables Senior High, Friendship Circle, GableStage, Gablettes, Ganley Foundation, GENES Foundation, Gifts in Golf, Little Canes at the University of Miami, Miami Children’s Museum, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, New World School of the Arts, South Florida Digital Alliance, St. Patrick’s Day Committee/Emerald Society, Wellspring Counseling Center, Woody Foundation, WOW Center, and Young Patronesses of the Opera.

“The generosity of our donors, supporters and fundholders throughout the year make our grant making possible,” said Mary Snow, executive director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation. “We are proud promoters of philanthropic efforts throughout Coral Gables and are glad to be able to support so many organizations fulfill their goals.”

The deadline for the spring grant cycle is April 12. To apply, visit gablesfoundation.org/giving/grants.

Poster contest winner

There were more than 4,600 entries in this year’s Orange Bowl Creative Art Contest. The theme in the 10th annual contest was “Playing Healthy Always Wins” and K-12 students in Miami-Dade and Broward County schools were encouraged to submit artwork that represented South Florida, college football, healthy lifestyles, and OBIE, the Orange Bowl’s official mascot.

The Grand Prize winner is Brian Diaz from Ruben Dario Middle School. He will receive a $500 Nike gift card and a custom Orange Bowl bicycle for his winning artwork.

Brian also will be part of a special on-field presentation at the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl Dec. 29. His work will be featured in a full-page acknowledgment in the official game program.

“This year’s Orange Bowl Creative Art Contest was a great success,” said Orange Bowl Committee President and Chair Sean Pittman. “Students were able to showcase their artistic abilities and gained valuable education on living healthy lifestyles. We received some fantastic artwork this year by some very gifted students. These amazing works of art are a true testament to the tremendous teachers and educators who inspire and motivate their students each and every day.”

Other winners included first-, second- and third-place awards for the grade categories. Leah Singleton, from Nativity Catholic School in Broward County, won this year’s “People’s Choice” award for an artwork receiving 1,157 likes on Instagram.

And art teacher Jennifer Goss, from Falcon Cove Middle School in Broward County, motivated her students to submit 348 entries this year, the most of any participating school.

The contest was hosted by the Orange Bowl in partnership with associate sponsors Bank of America, Florida Blue, and Metro by T-Mobile. More at www.orangebowl.org.

This story was originally published December 19, 2018 at 10:28 AM.