Bill and Sandi Kuhn

Longtime donors, Bill and Sandi Kuhn belong to the Tammen Society, having included the hospital in their wills, and they are enthusiastic new members of The Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Planned Giving Committee.

 “Giving to Children’s is exciting because it makes us feel like we’re a part of the mission,” Sandi said.

The Kuhns’ involvement with Children’s has increased over the years, and most recently has included tours of the research facilities. Both Bill and Sandi are thrilled with the new research, quality of care, and overall environment Children’s provides and share an  interest in medical technology.

They were impressed recently by a tour of Dr. Bruce Appel’s stem cell research lab. Dr. Appel is director of The Children’s Hospital’s new Pediatric Stem Cell Biology Program in his role as inaugural holder of the Diane G. Wallach Chair in Pediatric Stem Cell Biology. He is also associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.

“It was exciting to hear Dr. Appel’s presentation about the cooperation and synergy that goes into working at Children’s and the University,” says Sandi. “Rather than picking a disease, he is picking an area to focus on which can give much greater benefits to the foundation of any research program. We walked away thinking, ‘Wow! The work coming out of his lab could lead to so many cures!’”

Sandi’s interest in medical research stems from her professional life as a medical technologist. Bill’s interest stems from his childhood. He had polio when he was young; after being treated at a great New York hospital, he left with his health restored and a lifelong curiosity about the medical world.

“I always admired and respected the way Children’s treats kids,” said Bill, and he recalled the care his daughter and son received at Children’s in the 1960s – his daughter twice for encephalitis; his son for a fall from a high bunk in an Aspen cabin. He remembers the late night drive back to Denver from Aspen, and how impressed he was with the dedicated, specialized care Children’s offered, late into the night.

“When you think about the limited endowment Children’s has compared to other hospitals consistently listed among the top 10 best hospitals for kids, it’s remarkable. Children’s is a very special place. There are quantum differences financially between other top ten hospitals and Children’s and still, Children’s is up there. It’s such an accomplishment.”

He adds, “The more we’ve learned about The Children’s Hospital, the more we’ve gotten to like and admire the work Children’s does. We think the world of it.”