THE WOMEN’S BOARD OF WOLFSON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Kendra McCrary, 904.202.2886 or kmccrary@me.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Carl Hiaasen appears at the Florida Forum Speaker Series
Speaker Series event benefits Wolfson Children’s Hospital
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2025) – Carl Hiaasen, Floridian, journalist and novelist, recently shared memorable insights during an appearance at the Florida Forum Speaker Series, presented by The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Hiaasen discussed Florida’s culture, politics and environment during a thoughtful conversation with Florida Times-Union Columnist Mark Woods. A longtime Miami Herald columnist, author and three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, Hiaasen shared numerous personal insights about his life and career including his early days as a newspaper reporter, the Apple TV adaptation his novel, Bad Monkey, and his deep love for Florida.
The Florida Forum Speaker Series supporting Wolfson Children’s Hospital is made possible by long-time partners and generous sponsors Landstar, Wells Fargo and Florida Blue.
The Florida Forum raises awareness and funds for Wolfson Children's Hospital, supporting its mission to ensure the finest available pediatric healthcare for all children. The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital is committed to raising $1.5 million for two new Kids Kare Mobile Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and other Wolfson Children’s Hospital programs. The Kids Kare Mobile ICUs are part of Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal and Pediatric Critical Care Transport fleet and include necessary life-support equipment for the transportation of critically ill and injured infants and children. Kids Kare vehicles and helicopters safely transport nearly 3,000 infants and children a year to Wolfson Children’s Hospital for emergency neonatal and pediatric critical and trauma care. For more information, visit womensboardwch.com.
Photography:
Carl Hiaasen shared memorable insights during an appearance at the Florida Forum. From left,
Maxine McBride, Co-Chair, Florida Forum
Courtney Harris, Chief of Staff, Office of the CEO, Florida Blue
Carl Hiaasen, Floridian, Journalist and Novelist
Allegra Jaros, President, Wolfson Children’s Hospital
Kendra McCray, President, The Women’s Board
Randy DeFoor, Co-Chair, Florida Forum
About The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital
Established in 1973 by Ellen Cavert, the ongoing mission of the all-volunteer Women’s Board is to raise community awareness and fund state-of-the-art infrastructure, programming and services for Wolfson Children’s Hospital—the only dedicated children’s inpatient healthcare facility in the region. Since its inception, The Women’s Board has raised more than $36 million in support of Wolfson Children’s Hospital to ensure the advancement of first-rate medical care for all children. Two annual fundraisers, the First Coast Design Show (formerly the Art & Antiques Show) and the Florida Forum speaker series, enable The Women’s Board to donate almost $1 million a year to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
About Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville
Nonprofit Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, is a part of Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s most comprehensive health system serving every stage of life. Wolfson Children’s is the only children’s hospital in Northeast Florida and serves as the pediatric referral center for North Florida, South Georgia and beyond. Staffed 24/7 by pediatric nurses and other healthcare professionals specially trained to work with children, the 281-bed, patient- and family-centered hospital features the latest pediatric medical technology in a welcoming, child-friendly environment. At Wolfson Children’s, nationally recognized pediatric specialists representing nearly every medical and surgical specialty work with pediatricians to provide care for children of all ages with congenital heart conditions, cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes and endocrinology disorders, orthopedic conditions, behavioral health conditions, traumatic injuries, and more. Wolfson Children’s collaborates with pediatric organizations, including Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, the University of Florida College of Medicine — Jacksonville, Emergency Resources Group, and Mayo Clinic Florida. A Magnet™-designated hospital since 2010, Wolfson Children’s Hospital has been named among the U.S. News & World Report 50 Best Children’s Hospitals year after year, and in 2024, was selected as one of only eight children’s hospitals in the country as a Leapfrog Top Children’s Hospital, a recognition of patient quality and safety. For additional information, please visit wolfsonchildrens.com.
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