As you all know, Murray Company raised nearly $19,000 for the CHOC Foundation during CHOCstruction Week March 25-29, 2024. If you missed the post, you’ll find it here. During that week, CHOC hosted the CHOCstruction Kick-Off Event at their Orange County office for all the players involved in the campaign including yours truly, McCarthy Building Companies, Berg Electric and various other trade partners currently involved on the CHOC Southwest Tower project. Representing Murray Company were President/CEO Jim DeFlavio, Director of Marketing Marta Martin and VP Preconstruction HVAC Patrick Reed who also serves as a CHOCstruction Committee Member.
Several members from the CHOC Foundation Team including Associate VP Patrice Poidmore and Senior Director Corporate, Lisa Mitaux-Maurouard, welcomed supporters. Mrs. Phuong Dao, Executive Director/Research Operations, spoke passionately about the future of the CHOC Southwest Tower and the magic that will take place within its walls.
Guests had the opportunity to hear a heart-felt personal story shared by a 14-year-old now-CANCER-FREE young-man, Hudson Kent, an example of a patient on the receiving end of your donations and our corporate dollars. Eby Kent, Hudson’s mother, welcomes all of you here at Murray Company to connect with them on Instagram and asked that we share Hudson’s handle: @teamhhk_choc
Here are the event highlights and be sure to check out the photos/short videos at the below link:
CHOCstruction Kick Off Event Pictures
https://murraycompany.egnyte.com/fl/zMXIUqudqQ
Password:obQr8iFB
Top left: Patrick Reed and Jim DeFlavio chats with McCarthy Execs, Greg Schoonover and Paul King. Top middle: Patrick Reed accepts a custom plaque from Patrice Poidmore. Top Left: CHOC’s Lisa Mitaux-Maurouard is touched by a presentation involving Mr. Waldo Romero, Vice President, Facilities and Support Services and his upcoming retirement while CHOCO the Bear “bears” witness…
Patrick Reed poses with McCarthy’s Vice President & Project Executive, Dana Taylor, and our custom Murray Company plaque; artwork compliments of Jackie, an 11-year-old patient. More on that below.
Top left: McCarthy’s Craig Cherf thanks everyone for attending. Top right: 14-year-old once-CHOC patient and current CHOC ambassador, Hudson Kent, shares his personal cancer journey which started when he was a toddler, expressing thanks for this program. Bottom: Jordan Jones, Paul Smith, Scott Frego and MC’s Patrick Reed.
High Five Pals
At 11 years old, Jackie developed a pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with strep. While recovering from a viral infection, she lost her ability to walk with a normal gait and to perform fine motor skills like writing. She spent numerous hours at CHOC for physical and occupational therapy. Today, thanks to her dedicated CHOC team, she is living a healthy and happy life, creating art, baking, dancing and working toward her dream of becoming a child life specialist. As a child, Jackie contributed her art to the KidsArt program. She is now a volunteer mentor to the children in this same program.
