Dixie Watkins and Eloise Habekost honored with 2024 Nancy B. Varner Lifetime Achievement Award

Since its establishment in 1999, the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guilds have made a significant impact. With three chapters – Desert, Loma Linda, and Riverside – boasting more than 40 board members and 365 annual members, these guilds have united communities throughout the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, raising over $13 million for Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

Dixie Watkins, Nancy Varner, and Eloise Habekost founded the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guilds with a clear mission: to enhance the experiences of young patients at the hospital. The guilds aim to bring joy to these children by organizing patient diversionary activities and fundraising to improve medical services. Events such as the Gingerbread Village, Teddy Bear Event, arts and crafts sessions, and Reading Books programs offer uplifting experiences for those undergoing medical treatment.

The founding members, Dixie Watkins and Eloise Habekost epitomize the dedicated spirit of fundraising volunteers, affectionately referring to themselves as "shameless beggars." Their efforts extend beyond their own contributions, as they actively recruit friends and family to support the cause, providing crucial funds to further the hospital's mission of providing quality care to children in need.

Through their commitment, compassion, and innovative fundraising endeavors, the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guilds continue to make a positive impact on the lives of the children and families served by Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.