MADERA, CA – Valley Children’s Hospital is proud to announce a transformational $8 million gift from Table Mountain Rancheria to build a new inclusive playground experience on its campus – designed to support healing, joy and connection for children of all abilities.
“This gift is more than a playground – it’s a promise to our children that their well-being matters,” said Todd Suntrapak, President and CEO of Valley Children’s Healthcare. “We are deeply grateful to Table Mountain Rancheria for their vision, generosity and enduring partnership.
This new space on the hospital’s South Lawn will feature adaptive equipment, sensory-friendly zones and shaded areas, and serve as a cornerstone of Valley Children’s commitment to holistic pediatric care.
“Every child deserves a place to play, grow, and heal, right here at home,” said Table Mountain Rancheria Tribal Chairperson Michelle Heredia-Cordova. “We are honored to support Valley Children’s Hospital in creating an inclusive play area where children of all abilities can come together, have fun and find comfort during their journey to wellness.”
Construction is expected to begin in early 2026 and the new features will be adjacent to the existing playground.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated team members at Table Mountain Rancheria and Table Mountain Casino Resort,” Heredia-Cordova added. “It is through their hard work and commitment that we can give back to our community through meaningful donations like this. Together, we continue to look out for the well-being of the next seven generations.”
“This is the kind of partnership that brings our mission to life,” said Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation President Robert Saroyan. “Table Mountain Rancheria has been a longtime supporter of Valley Children’s, demonstrated over a decade-long loyal commitment of the Tribal Council, Table Mountain Casino Resort and individual tribal members who experienced compassionate care firsthand. This latest demonstration of their generosity will help create a space where children can experience joy and healing in ways that truly matter.”
About Valley Children’s Healthcare
Valley Children’s Healthcare provides Central California’s only high-quality, comprehensive care exclusively for children, from before birth to young adulthood. Our network offers highly specialized medical and surgical services to care for children with conditions ranging from common to the highly complex at its 358-bed stand-alone children’s hospital. In addition, the Valley Children’s Healthcare network includes specialty care centers, pediatric primary care practices and women’s health services.
Our family-centered, pediatric services extend from a leading pediatric cancer and blood diseases center on the West Coast, and a pediatric heart center known for its expertise and pioneering treatments, to an 88-bed Regional Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the highest-level referral center between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
Valley Children’s was the first children’s hospital west of the Rockies to receive Magnet Nursing designation, the highest nursing benchmark in the world. In 2025, U.S. News and World Report named Valley Children’s one of the best children’s hospitals in the country in pediatric pulmonology. With more than 670 physicians and 3,500 staff, Valley Children’s delivers high-quality, comprehensive care to more than 1.3 million children from Kern County to the state capital and from the Central Coast to the Sierra. For more information, please visit www.valleychildrens.org.
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