Patients, Families and Celebrity Guests Helped Raise $162,000 for Sick Children

NEW ORLEANS -To kick off the holiday season at Children's Hospital New Orleans, The Ray and Jessica Brandt Family Foundation presented the second annual Light Up the Season Radiothon Dec. 8-9 to raise life-saving funds for the hospital. The Audacy New Orleans family of radio stations, together with generous sponsors and listeners, raised over $162,000 for Children’s Hospital New Orleans, a $16,000 increase from last year.

“As a nonprofit pediatric medical center, Children’s Hospital New Orleans relies on the generous support of our community to provide the highest level of care for every patient, regardless of the family’s ability to pay,” said Children’s Hospital New Orleans President and CEO, John R. Nickens IV. “Each year the hospital provides millions of dollars in charitable care for under or un-insured families, while at the same time investing in vital community-based programs. We could not do so without the generosity of this community, events like the Light Up The Season Radiothon, and important partners like Children’s Miracle Network, Audacy and the Ray and Jessica Brandt Family Foundation.”  

On Dec. 8, WWL Radio broadcasted live from Children's Hospital New Orleans for the Tommy Tucker Show, The Newell Normand Show, and Scoot in the Afternoon. Continuing Dec. 9, Audacy’s music stations Magic 101.9, B97 and Bayou 95.7 all broadcast from the hospital for a second day of giving and inspiration.

Throughout the two days, as the stations went live from the main concourse of Children’s Hospital New Orleans, patients, families, providers, members of the community and team members shared their extraordinary stories of hope and healing on the air.

Celebrity guests like Miss Universe lent their voice in support of Children’s Hospital New Orleans’ mission to provide expert care for all children. To double donations throughout the Radiothon, sponsors Jessica Brandt, Tranesouth.com, Aflac, Doerr Furniture, Lee Moving, and Caraway LeBlanc doubled donations during dedicated matching hours.

“I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who helped us reach our goal during this year’s Radiothon,” said Jessica Brandt, co-founder of the Ray and Jessica Brandt Family Foundation and CEO of the Ray Brandt Auto Group. Brandt also serves on the Children’s Hospital board of trustees. She continued, “It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but we can’t forget about those in need. Every donation helps Children’s Hospital New Orleans change someone’s life for the better — truly bringing a special kind of joy this time of year.”

As Louisiana’s first freestanding children’s hospital, Children’s Hospital New Orleans has delivered expert healthcare for children across Louisiana and the Gulf South for more than 65 years. With a recently completed campus expansion, Children’s Hospital New Orleans provides the highest level of pediatric care in the State, backed by more than 600 pediatric-trained providers and specialists. Children’s Hospital also offers a vibrant academic medical community through partnerships with LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane University School of Medicine, the only pediatric facility in Louisiana to incorporate two pediatric medical programs under one roof.

For more information about Children’s Hospital New Orleans, visit chnola.org. 

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*Editor’s Note: High-resolution images from the on-site Radiothon broadcast can be found here.

About Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Children’s Hospital is a 267-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Bay St. Louis, MS. Children’s offers primary care services at 12 convenient locations and remotely via its Virtual Care for Kids program. The Trauma and Grief Center at Children’s Hospital provides evidence-based assessment and treatment for children and adolescents, ages 0 to 21, who have experienced any form of trauma and/or the death of a loved one. Using state-of-the-art screening tools, the TAG Center ensures that youth receive the most appropriate and effective treatments. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, and East Jefferson General Hospital. Learn more at chnola.org.