American Hospital Association honors community-based initiatives at Valley Children’s for improving the lives of children and families in Central California.

Valley Children’s Healthcare has been selected as one of three national finalists for the 2026 Foster G. McGaw Prize, an honor presented by the American Hospital Association (AHA). The award includes a $10,000 prize and recognizes healthcare organizations that go beyond traditional care delivery to create lasting improvements in community health outcomes.

“The mission of Valley Children’s is rooted in serving the children of this Valley since we opened in 1952,” said Valley Children’s Healthcare President and CEO Todd Suntrapak. “Our responsibilities to care for kids extend far beyond the walls of our hospital. The needs of our Valley are immense, and we are honored to work to improve the health of our kids with our partners across the region.”

The AHA recognized Valley Children’s for a range of community health initiatives that address critical needs across the Central Valley, including:

• Adaptive Sports Program, offering free, year-round recreational and athletic experiences for children and young adults with physical disabilities or mobility impairments.
• The Guilds Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Center, providing comprehensive services for children and families affected by suspected abuse or neglect while working closely with law enforcement and partner agencies.
• Central Valley Safe Sleep Coalition, a nine-county collaboration focused on reducing infant mortality disparities related to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sudden unexplained infant death (SUID).
• Epilepsy Family Support Program, delivering free support services for children with epilepsy and their families, addressing stigma, mental health, school safety, and inclusivity.
• Basic Needs: Food Security, a partnership with the Central California Food Bank (CCFB) that works to improve access to healthy food for children and families in need.

“Valley Children’s is committed to improving the conditions in which our kids live, learn and play. From neighborhoods and schools to community-based organizations, we work every day to build partnerships, provide resources, deliver diapers, stock school food pantries and more—all based on the needs of each community and all intended to give kids the best chance we can for a healthier future,” said Lynne Ashbeck, Valley Children’s senior vice president and chief community impact officer. “It is both a privilege and a responsibility for us—one that we take very seriously.”

Learn more about the Valley Children’s Guilds Center for Community Health by visiting valleychildrens.org.

About Valley Children’s Healthcare

Valley Children’s Healthcare provides Central California’s only high-quality, comprehensive care exclusively for children, from before birth through young adulthood. Its network offers highly specialized medical and surgical services at a 358-bed stand-alone children’s hospital and includes 28 NICU beds at partner hospitals. The Valley Children’s Healthcare network also includes specialty care centers, pediatric primary care practices, and women’s health services.

Its family-centered pediatric services include a leading pediatric cancer and blood diseases center on the West Coast, a nationally recognized pediatric heart center, and 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 & World Report named Valley Children’s one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals in pediatric pulmonology. With more than 740 physicians and 4,000 staff members, Valley Children’s serves more than 1.3 million children from Kern County to the state capital and from the Central Coast to the Sierra.

For more information, visit www.valleychildrens.org.

About the Foster G. McGaw Prize

The Foster G. McGaw Prize recognizes healthcare organizations committed to community service through programs that demonstrate a sustained commitment to making communities healthier. First awarded in 1986, the prize is sponsored by the Baxter Foundation and administered by the American Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.aha.org/fostermcgaw.

About the American Hospital Association

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a nonprofit association representing nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems, healthcare organizations, clinicians, and healthcare leaders committed to improving community health. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education, advocacy, and information on healthcare issues and trends. For more information, visit www.aha.org.

About the Baxter Foundation

The Baxter Foundation partners with organizations worldwide to increase access to healthcare for underserved communities, support the next generation of healthcare innovators, and create lasting positive impacts in communities around the globe. Its work advances Baxter’s mission to save and sustain lives. For more information, visit Baxter’s Sustainability page.