The Kiwanis Foundation of Niceville-Valparaiso presented a donation of $8,638 to the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation in memory of Phinley Huisken.
- Kiwanis Club President JD Cameron formally presented the donation during the club’s May 21 meeting to Dr. Jason Foland, president of the hospital.
Also in attendance were Adrienne Maygarden, president of the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation; Michaela McCarthy, Children’s Miracle Network coordinator; and Jessie Huisken, Phinley’s mother.
The funds were raised through community donation drives held at Walmart and Publix stores in Niceville during April and May. Kiwanis members volunteered a combined 32 hours collecting donations from the public, raising approximately $2,800. The club’s board of directors contributed an additional $4,000 from general fundraising efforts, and individual member donations brought the final total to $8,638.
“Our community consistently demonstrates its generosity and compassion for children and families facing difficult medical challenges,” Cameron said. “We are honored to support the incredible work being done at Studer Family Children’s Hospital and to make this contribution in memory of Phinley Huisken.”
The Kiwanis Club of Niceville-Valparaiso has supported the Studer Family Children’s Hospital since 1987 and has contributed more than $144,000 over the years. The club also has a dedicated room named in its honor within the hospital’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
In addition to the monetary donation, the club presented 100 Kiwanis trauma dolls created by the K-Kids Club at Edge Elementary School. The handmade dolls help young patients communicate where they are experiencing pain and provide comfort during hospital stays.
“These trauma dolls serve both a medical and emotional purpose,” Cameron said. “They help children feel safer, heard, and supported during some of their most difficult moments.”
