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Children dressed up for Cleveland Clinic Children’s annual Derby Soirée on May 2.
More than 500 guests gathered at the annual Cleveland Clinic Children’s Derby Soirée on May 2 to watch the 152nd Kentucky Derby and raise more than $6.5 million to fund vital pediatric care and research.
The Derby Soirée, presented by the Fedeli Family Foundation, Cleveland Superstars, Scala Family Foundation and the Cleveland Cavaliers– was held at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland. Following the Kentucky Derby, attendees heard from a pediatric cancer survivor and a pediatric heart transplant patient, two children who have a new lease on life thanks to the life-changing work happening at Cleveland Clinic Children’s.
“We’re deeply thankful to everyone who contributed in support of Cleveland Clinic Children’s and our mission to deliver the very best pediatric care,” said Rita Pappas, M.D., Interim Chief of Cleveland Clinic Children’s. “The generosity of our community enables us to care for children close to home and from around the world, for everything from the common cold to the most complex cases.”
Derby Soirée is the signature fundraising event for Cleveland Clinic Children’s and has raised more than $30 million since its inception in 1990.
The evening included remarks from Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., Cleveland Clinic CEO and President, and holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair, and special tributes to the Davis Family & ECHO Health who donated $3 million to the school-based health program, Richard Morrison who gave $1 million toward pediatric sports cardiology and Bill and Sally Scala for kicking off the paddle raise with a very generous $500,000.
Funds raised help support the latest advances in pediatric care, research in all the specialty care areas at Cleveland Clinic Children's and innovative programs such as art and music therapy.
The 2027 Derby Soirée is scheduled for May 1.
About Cleveland Clinic Children’s
Cleveland Clinic Children’s is a part of the Cleveland Clinic health system and offers full medical, surgical and rehabilitative care for infants, children and adolescents. Cleveland Clinic Children’s supports 389 beds in four acute care hospitals and one post-acute specialty hospital. In addition, pediatric services are available at more than 50 outpatient clinic locations across Northeast Ohio. A staff of more than 400 full-time pediatricians and sub-specialists see more than one million pediatric visits each year and provide hospital care for 13,000 children per year. Cleveland Clinic Children’s is a non-profit, multi-specialty academic medical center integrating clinical care, research, and education. Cleveland Clinic Children’s consistently ranks among the “Best Children’s Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report. Visit us online at www.clevelandclinic.org/childrens and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandclinicchildrens.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
Editor’s Note:Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.
