“Dishes for Wishes” guild event raises over $113,800 for NICU medical equipment

Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild held their annual “Dishes for Wishes” event Wednesday, October 14, raising funds toward the purchase of new Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) monitors for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital’s (LLUCH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

The event raised over $113,800.

WHY NIRS MONITORS MATTER 

NIRS monitors, which measure oxygen in tissues, are crucial when it comes to treating preterm infants that are more susceptible to cerebral injury and other complications. They are also non-invasive, meaning they can monitor oxygen levels through a patch placed on the skin. 

Andrew Hopper, MD, a neonatologist at LLUCH, said other monitoring equipment that checks blood pressure and vital signs are great, but they do not tell the whole story.  

“Those tools don’t directly show how much oxygen is reaching specific organs, like the brain or the kidney,” Hopper said. “Preterm infants and critically ill newborns can be at risk even when other vital signs seem to be normal.” 

AN ANNUAL TRADITION WITH LOCAL FLAIR 

This year’s event was held at Loma Linda Korean Seventh-day Adventist Church in Redlands, California.  

Martha Green, Inland Empire celebrity chef, returned to emcee the event alongside Lee Burton, local chef and culinary instructor, and Neal Waner, a financial advisor, who also stepped in as auctioneer for the night. 

Guests participated in a live auction for big-ticket items, like VIP tickets to an Angels baseball game and a mystery dinner at the historic Burrage Mansion. A silent auction also took place with items donated by vendors from the surrounding area. 

Throughout the evening, local restaurateurs provided signature dishes for attendees and demonstrated how to cook them from a table on stage. Small plates were served by a waitstaff made up of local law enforcement officers. 

“SOMETHING THAT TRULY MATTERS” 

Krissy Salvesen, guild co-chair, said “Dishes for Wishes” is a special event because it brings the community together for something that truly matters.  

“It’s amazing to see how willing our local restaurants, businesses, and volunteers are to give their time and resources to help others,” Salvesen said. “We all know someone whose life has been touched by Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and knowing that we’re helping make a difference for these children and their families makes all the hard work worthwhile.”