Black & Veatch Fundraiser Expands Support for Children’s Mercy Kansas City Genomics Program

Renowned medical center gains new staff, cutting-edge tools to fight against childhood disease


OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black & Veatch today hosted the 22nd edition of its Charity Golf Tournament in support of Children’s Mercy. Proceeds from the tournament and company giving totaling $350,000 were donated to Children’s Mercy. This year’s event is helping to fulfill a five-year pledge of $2.1 million made in 2015 to help expand services at the Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine to include childhood cancers. The annual golf event and company donations have now surpassed $3.7 million since its inception. 

The Center, dedicated to being the leading global referral center for the diagnosis, molecular understanding and treatment of inherited childhood diseases, is the first of its kind. Through the support of the Black & Veatch Foundation and other organizations, hundreds of families affected by unspecified inherited diseases are referred to and treated by Children's Mercy each year.

“Our dedicated research team has combined with the generous giving of Black & Veatch and its many supporters to give children extra care and families a new sense of hope,” said Erin Guest, MD, Director of the Children’s Mercy Kansas City Cancer Genomics Program. “In the last year alone, our relationship with Black & Veatch has allowed our program to add staff and acquire next-generation equipment that is transforming our attack on childhood disease.”

The 22nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament was at the Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, Kansas. All proceeds from the event go directly to Children’s Mercy.

“Each year this tournament combines two things we hold dear – spending time with our clients and colleagues in the business community, and, most importantly, continuing the giving that supports the Children’s Mercy Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine’s expansion of its focus on oncology,” said Steve Edwards, Chairman and CEO of Black & Veatch. “This year’s event is another opportunity to join with our many sponsors and supporters in helping Children’s Mercy maintain its position as a premier hospital for pediatric medicine.”

Past fundraising from the tournament has also supported the construction and renovations for Children’s Mercy East in Eastern Jackson County and Children’s Mercy Broadway. Support has also been provided to the CARE Clinic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, robotic surgery, neonatal intensive care nursery, emergency department and urgent care centers.

 Editor’s Notes:

  • The Black & Veatch Foundation serves as the platform for participation by the company and its professionals in supporting a variety of philanthropic organizations and programs worldwide.
  • Since its beginning, Black & Veatch and its professionals have been actively involved in supporting community needs. The Foundation builds on the company's history of community involvement by globally expanding Black & Veatch's overall philanthropic role, involvement and impact in our communities.

About Children’s Mercy Kansas City

Founded in 1897, Children’s Mercy is one of the nation’s top pediatric medical centers. With not-for-profit hospitals in Missouri and Kansas, and numerous specialty clinics in both states, Children’s Mercy provides the highest level of care for children from birth through the age of 21. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked Children’s Mercy as one of “America's Best Children's Hospitals.” For the fourth time in a row, Children’s Mercy has achieved Magnet nursing designation, awarded to fewer than seven percent of all hospitals nationally, for excellence in quality care. Its faculty of more than 700 pediatric subspecialists and researchers across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research, and educating the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. Thanks to generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s Mercy provides medical care to every child who passes through its doors, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. For more information about Children’s Mercy and its research, visit childrensmercy.org. For breaking news and videos, follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

About Black & Veatch 
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2017 were US$3.4 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.

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