Founded in 1913 as an open-air “baby camp,” our hospital became a reality in 1929 thanks to Nurse May Smith’s vision and the trust Mayor Tom Bradford placed in it after she cared for his daughter, Elizabeth. Mayor Bradford donated both land and funds to create a permanent hospital for children — a foundation that has grown over the decades into the hospital we are today and will become in the years ahead.
In the spirit of our visionary founders, the Bradford Legacy Society honors donors who are paving the way forward through planned and endowed gifts. Members are invited to participate in exclusive educational and social events, as well as community engagement opportunities, to celebrate their unwavering commitment to our kids and families.
Legacy Donor Stories
Learn more about some of the remarkable donors who have made life better for children by making a planned gift.
Wanda
A volunteer for three decades, Wanda is leaving a legacy to impact patients at Children’s Health long after her volunteer service.
Decades-long supporters of Children’s Health, Amy Korenvaes and her family have committed to help kids through our biggest project yet: the new pediatric campus in Dallas
“A lot of people my age are not thinking about wills or life insurance, but I live with the thought that today could be my last and where would I want the funds to go?” Sierra said.
Kyle and James Martin utilized their wedding as an opportunity to start an endowment for Children's Health - asking for donations in lieu of gifts to start their marriage.
The Watsons established an endowment that will be used to attract, recruit and retain highly qualified physicians and allow them to pursue professional development and research.
As she exits her 10-year career at Children's Health, Phyllis Gilchrist's parting gift is a legacy donation that will continue to give back to the hospital long after her last day.
A consistent annual donor for more than two decades, he also has made several legacy gifts. In 2022, he established a matching gift to encourage others to make recurring monthly donations to Children’s Health.
This spring, the Sanfords established a $100,000 endowment named Ceci’s Fund for Clinical Research to distribute annual funds to support clinical research and honor their daughter.
When you become a member of our Bradford Legacy Society, you join a group of grateful, loyal and passionate donors like you who have chosen to make life better for children for generations to come.