photos c/o of Larry SengbushKidLinks hosted its sixth annual “Symphony of Chefs” fine dining event on Monday, February 29th at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Approximately 200 attendees experienced an evening of fine dining with renowned local chefs as they each prepared a five-course dinner tableside. Attendees also experienced an intimate musical performance by the Dallas Electric String Quartet. “Symphony of Chefs was a resounding success this year thanks to our amazing chefs, including Chef Dean Fearing, who all donated their time and talent to our cause,” says Diana Crawford, CEO of KidLinks. “But what made this year extra special was our ability to announce that, thanks to the money raised at last year’s Symphony of Chefs, we’ve been able to launch Hugworks Children’s Network in record time.” The music and the messages lovingly created by KidLinks over the years take on new life and meaning as part of an entertainment service accessible via the internet. Hugworks Children’s Network gives hospitalized children the ability to enjoy – free-of-charge –positive, original content developed specifically to ease fears prior to admission, provide comfort while hospitalized, and inspire long after discharge.
Hugworks Children’s Network is currently running in two major hospital networks – Cook Children’s in Fort Worth and Greenville Children’s Hospital in Greenville, SC. In those hospitals, HCN is meeting with great success. It is enhancing pediatric patent care while expanding the reach and impact of their Child Life and Music Therapy departments. This year’s Symphony of Chefs raised more than $130,000 with all proceeds going directly to the enhancement of Hugworks Children’s Network – adding new artists to the KidLinks family; developing new music, videos and interactive content; and launching the network at additional hospitals across the country. The proceeds will also help fund in-person therapeutic music entertainment and music therapy programs for children in DFW and across the country that are critically ill or have other special needs. KidLinks has raised nearly $4.5 million at its two annual events since its inception in 2001. For more info on the work of KidLinks, visit www.thekidlinks.org.
