The Dragonfly Foundation Donates $10,000 to Ronald McDonald(R) Children's Hospital of Loyola University Health System

Contact: Kyle Weldon – k.weldon@dragonfly.org

Lincolnshire, IL -- The Dragonfly Foundation donated $10,000 to Ronald McDonald® Children's Hospital of Loyola University Health System ("LUHS"), and presented the official check on Wednesday April 13, 2016 to the physicians and staff of Oncology Pediatrics in Maywood Illinois.

Robert Nolan, Interim Vice President of Development at LUHS stated, “It was a pleasure to host the Dragonfly Foundation at Loyola today and accept a grant to assist us in upgrading our wireless technology in the children’s hospital. Dragonfly’s investment will allow our pediatric cancer patients and their families to better communicate with their loved ones outside the hospital, as well as giving them greater access to online resources. We appreciate the support that we receive from organizations like the Dragonfly Foundation. Their partnership in the care of our patients and families means the world to us.”

The funds were the result of several fundraising efforts including a formal gala that Dragonfly hosted for 420 guests in February 2016, programs through amazon.com, Kroger shopping cards, GFS marketplace and individual collections. “Our hearts are full from all the generosity of our supporters and donors who enabled our efforts to provide for Loyola to assist in continuing their high standards of technology and quality care for our dragonflies,” stated Christine Neitzke, co-founder and President of The Dragonfly Foundation. “To know that we can impact moments to be positive and meaningful as these young fighters go through day to day treatments, our mission really keeps us focused on the WHY.”

The Dragonfly Foundation dedicates its staff and fundraising efforts to benefit over 900 children and young adults who are enduring cancer and bone marrow transplants in Ohio and Illinois. Through emotional support and gifts for the patients and families to enhance the in-patient experience, Dragonfly is able to provide a sense of comfort and joy with the children during hospital stays.

ABOUT THE DRAGONFLY FOUNDATION

The Dragonfly Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring comfort and joy to children and young adults enduring cancer and bone marrow transplants. The Foundation provides support to patients and their families from date of diagnosis until they are 5 years free of their disease through emotional support, caring distractions and quality of life enhancements for patients and their families. The fundraising efforts to enhance quality of life programs at hospitals and treatment centers is vital to the success of its mission. The Dragonfly Foundation supports Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Dayton Children's Hospital, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and Loyola University Health Systems in Maywood Illinois. Please visit www.dragonfly.org for more information.

ABOUT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM

Loyola University Health System (LUHS) is a member of Trinity Health. Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, LUHS is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and more than 30 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. Loyola University Medical Center’s campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of Chicago’s Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. At the heart of the medical center campus is a 559-licensed-bed hospital that houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children's Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb campus in Melrose Park includes the 255-licensed-bed community hospital, the Professional Office Building housing 150 private practice clinics, the Adult Day Care, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness, Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center at Melrose Park.

Trinity Health is a national Catholic health system with an enduring legacy and a steadfast mission to be a transforming and healing presence within the communities we serve. Trinity is committed to being a people-centered health care system that enables better health, better care and lower costs. Trinity Health has 90 hospitals and hundreds of continuing care facilities, home care agencies and outpatient centers in 21 states and 119,000 employees.