WineFest awards
2012 recipients
Imagine Award
Steve and Landyn Hutchinson
During the past three years, Minnesota Viking Steve Hutchinson and his wife Landyn have been true champions for children’s health. In the fall of 2007, Steve Hutchinson reached out to University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital with a desire to sponsor a Thanksgiving celebration for patients and families in the hospital. This dinner offered families, not only a wonderful meal, but also a much needed and appreciated distraction from their rooms and treatments.
In addition, these dinners were coordinated to include high profile patient visits from Steve’s fellow Vikings players and team wives, bringing the hospital greater visibility in our community. Inspired by the families, Landyn asked to sponsor additional events for the patients which led to the Hutchinson Christmas party fully furnished with toys, and the Hutchinson Halloween Huddle.
Also, Steve has hosted our annual Champions for Children Celebrity golf tournament since its inception. While Steve is modest about his celebrity, he has been willing to use his media access to advance the tournaments’ visibility and growth—helping us to raise more than $350,000 since its start.
We are honored to highlight their commitment to the community and to children’s health.
Corporate Citizen Award
St. Jude Medical
St. Jude Medical has helped to strengthen and sustain the University of Minnesota’s work for nearly 50 years. Together, St. Jude Medical and its affiliates have contributed more than $16 million to initiatives that have spurred technological innovation and improved our community by raising awareness about pediatric and adult cardiovascular health.
Specifically for children’s health, they have supported WineFest – A Toast to Children’s Health through lead sponsorships and the equipment and special appeals. More recently, they led the efforts as a Presenting Sponsor for Goldy’s Run, an incredible first-time event which provided funding for our pediatric cardiology program and great visibility for Amplatz Children’s Hospital.
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