Iconic Golfers Support Legendary Care
Riley Children’s Foundation is the proud beneficiary of the French Lick Resort Charity Classic/Epson Tour presented by Old National Bank. As the fundraising organization for Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, revolutionizing care and seeking cures rank as its critical top priorities. With the help of some of the greatest names in women's golf and our event sponsors, Resort Charity Events has been able to contribute more than $1.2 million to date to Riley Children's Foundation.
Support for Riley Children’s Foundation offers hope to families seeking help for seriously ill and injured children; help that only Riley Hospital for Children can provide. Riley Hospital ranks high in nine pediatric specialties – such as neonatology, childhood cancer and cardiology and heart surgery – according to U.S. News & World Report’s “2019-20 Best Children’s Hospitals.” Each year children from all 92 Indiana counties turn to Riley Hospital and its regional clinics throughout the state more than 323,000 times. Without external financial support, the dedicated medical team at Riley Hospital could not sustain their compassionate care and pediatric research breakthroughs. Generous donors also allow Riley Hospital to provide cutting-edge facilities and cover the costs of medical specialty areas that are not self-sustaining.
River Harbin is a living example of Riley's legendary care. Diagnosed at birth with cardiomyopathy, River was only seven days old when he underwent heart surgery at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health in March 2015.
His heart health later declined, and River returned to Riley in December 2018. By February, he was critically ill. Decisive care by River’s medical team helped him survive several crises that required ECMO life support and 158 days on the Berlin Heart. This donor-funded device mechanically supported River’s heart until Riley Pediatric Heart Surgeon Mark Turrentine, M.D., performed a heart transplant on May 29, 2019.
Riley’s pediatric cardiology and heart surgery program is ranked 5th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. According to River’s parents, Zach and Brittany Harbin, Riley also ranks high in personalized care and kindness. “When we say Riley is a part of our family, we mean that—from the parking garage staff to the cleaning staff to the people who delivered his meals, and all the nurses and the doctors,” said Brittany.
River starts kindergarten this year. His family is looking forward to that – and many more – important milestones for their super hero in the years ahead.
“River is caring, loving and funny,” Brittany said. “I hope and pray he’s fought his battles early on and will have a long, healthy, happy life.”
French Lick Resort Presents Check to Riley Foundation
Executives from French Lick Resort are shown above presenting a check for $200,000 to Riley Foundation officers at the resort's annual holiday reception. Pictured (left to right) are Adina Cloud, Resort Director of Sales; Joe Vezzoso, Vice President, Resort Sales; Brad Moritz, Senior Corporate Gift Officer, Riley Children’s Foundation; Jim Austin, Chief Marketing & Corporate Partnerships Officer, Riley Children’s Foundation; and Steve Ferguson, Chairman of Cook Group.
