Annabelle’s Journey: Finding Strength Through Care and Support
At 17, Annabelle knows what it means to persevere. Diagnosed at age 10 with multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE), a rare genetic condition that causes benign bone tumors to form along her bones, she faced a future of surgeries, challenges and unknowns. But Annabelle’s story isn’t defined by her diagnosis — it’s defined by her strength, compassion and the community that lifted her through her hardest moments.Open to learn more
Over five years at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Annabelle underwent 15 orthopedic surgeries. Each procedure was part of a coordinated plan created by specialists committed not only to treating her condition but also to protecting her mobility and quality of life. “They focused on what she can do, not what she can’t,” her mother said. “That’s invaluable.” Their guidance helped Annabelle stay active, keep dancing and continue doing the things that made her feel like a normal teenager.
For Annabelle, Children’s Colorado isn’t just where she had surgeries. It’s where she found hope, resilience and connection. It’s where she was encouraged to see her strength, not her limitations. And now, she’s determined to make sure other kids receive the same compassion and support that changed her life.
2025 Enterprise Zone Funding Areas
Improving Youth Mental Health Statewide
Last year, for the first time since 2007, Colorado saw its first decline in suicide rates among youth ages 10–18, a hopeful and significant milestone. This progress reflects the collective efforts of our dedicated team members and partners across the state, all working together through the Children’s Hospital Colorado Preventing Suicide Initiative (PSI). Philanthropic support, including through the Colorado Enterprise Zone, has been instrumental in advancing this work, helping us build a stronger, more coordinated response to youth mental health needs and driving measurable change. We made meaningful strides in suicide prevention this year, strengthening protocols across our System of Care. Through system-wide suicide prevention efforts and the recruitment of leading experts, we’re building a stronger foundation for interventions. As we roll out these efforts, philanthropy is powering our ability to expand, innovate and reach more lives. We’re proud of the progress, but there’s still much more to do to reduce youth suicide. With continued support, we can support children and families in need.
“This progress is powerful, but it’s not the finish line. We’ve made meaningful strides, and now we must keep going to ensure our patients receive the support they need.”
-Ron-Li Liaw, MD Cannon Y. & Lyndia Harvey Chair, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Chair, Pediatric Mental Health Institute Mental Health In-Chief, Children’s Hospital Colorado Director, Division of Child & Adolescent Mental Health
London’s Mental Health Lifeline: Children’s Colorado Partial Hospitalization Program
In middle school, London fell into a deep depression. At just 12 years old, she bravely told her parents the terrifying truth: “I don’t want to be here anymore.” For her mom, Melissa, and dad, John, those words were shattering — and marked the beginning of a long, uncertain journey through multiple hospitals, countless medications and a darkness that felt impossible to escape.Open to learn more
After a year of trying different treatments, London entered the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) at Children’s Colorado. PHP is an intensive, structured program for kids and teens who need more support than traditional therapy but don’t require overnight care. For London, the program brought more than stability. Through family therapy, structured milestones and creative outlets, she learned practical tools to manage ADHD, anxiety and severe depression. Art became her lifeline. In her darkest moments, her drawings were stark black-and-white reflections of the pain she carried. As healing began, color slowly returned to her artwork.
For the first time in years, London felt safe to feel. She discovered her voice and its power.
Today, London is thriving in high school, co-chairs Children’s Colorado’s Youth Advisory Council and inspires others with her resilience.
“This hospital saved my life, now I want other kids to know it’s okay to ask for help.”
New Treatment for Kids with Cystic Fibrosis: Transformative Drug Approved
Thanks to philanthropic and other funding over decades, dedicated researchers on the Anschutz Medical Campus have helped move cystic fibrosis (CF) from a fatal childhood disease to a condition managed into adulthood, a significant and life-changing achievement.
Researchers and clinicians at Children’s Colorado, including Scott Sagel, MD, the Asher Accurso Endowed Chair for Cystic Fibrosis, and pulmonologist Jordana Hoppe, MD, have been leading numerous multi-site clinical trials to bring new treatments and the development of the drug Trikafta to patients with CF, from infants to adolescents. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Alyftrek, a new once-daily drug available for approximately 90% of people with CF 6 years of age and older based on their genetic variants. Like Trikafta, the new medication targets mutations in a cystic fibrosis gene. Dr. Hoppe led the pediatric study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Alyftrek, which ran concurrently with adolescent and adult studies. “The earlier we are able to start highly effective CFTR modulators, such as Alyftrek, the better the long-term outcomes are going to be,” she said. Even with these incredible advances, Dr. Hoppe says there’s still more work to do. Around 10% of people with CF are not eligible for CFTR modulator therapy due to their genetic variants. Researchers are committed to exploring new treatment approaches to enhance the health and quality of life for everyone with CF.
Using Robots to Assist in Adolescent Bariatric Surgery
In 1985, a robot, originally designed for automated manufacturing, made medical history by performing the first robotic surgery, precisely placing a needle for a brain biopsy. Aided by specialized computer software and fueled by a doctor’s bold vision, the impossible became reality. Driven by the same innovative spirit, Children’s Colorado is becoming a leader in pediatric robotic-assisted surgery.
Children’s Colorado is an innovator in adolescent bariatric surgery, hosting one of the largest programs in the country. Much of this surgery is done robotically using the da Vinci Xi® Surgical System. “This is absolutely the standard of care in the adult world. We’re not reinventing the wheel here; this is proven technology, and we’re just applying the newest technology to our adolescent patients,” said Jonathon Hills-Dunlap, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital Colorado Pediatric Surgery. “We’ve done more than a dozen adolescent bariatric surgeries using the surgical robot and have had zero major complications, no reoperations, very short hospital stays and no hospital readmissions, and we’re hoping it stays that way,” he continued.
“We’re not reinventing the wheel here; this is proven technology — we’re just applying the newest technology to our adolescent patients.”
Jonathan Hills-Dunlap, MD
Building Bridges Through Language Equity in Our Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Thanks to philanthropic support, Melanie Stall, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Children’s Colorado, will develop educational tools designed to make pediatric cancer clinical trials more accessible for families who speak languages other than English by producing videos centered on participation in pediatric cancer clinical trials in a variety of languages. Through clinical trials, survival rates for pediatric cancer patients have dramatically increased over the past several decades. However, Dr. Stall explains that children of families who speak other languages are underrepresented in clinical trials.
By expanding distribution of these videos, Dr. Stall aims to make sure families have access to cutting-edge treatments, regardless of what language they speak. “My hope is that this project will be able to give introductory knowledge about clinical trials and help ease any concerns families may have to open the door for a better conversation with the clinicians,” Dr. Stall says.
“Philanthropy is taking everything to the next step,” Dr. Stall says. She explains that philanthropic funding will extend her research to two additional sites, develop resources in languages beyond Spanish and English and deepen engagement with impacted families to gather more feedback.
“When we’re explaining treatments or diagnoses to families, they’re going through an unthinkable tragedy with their child, any family, even one who speaks English, has a hard time recalling everything said by a care team in those moments.”
Melanie Stall, MD
Innovating Through Precision Medicine
Since July 2023, the Precision Medicine Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado has been reshaping how we diagnose and treat children with rare diseases by integrating highly individualized genomic insights directly into clinical care. In 2025 alone, our teams completed more than 9,000 genetic tests, more than twice the number performed in 2023, reflecting both rapid growth and a deepening commitment to bringing advanced genomic medicine to our patients. What makes Children’s Colorado unique in our approach is a continuously evolving system that links genomic data with patient’s medical records. As global scientific understanding of genes and diseases evolves, that new knowledge is automatically incorporated into our clinical systems, allowing care plans to update in real time and ensuring that our physicians and care teams always have the most current information at their fingertips.
Our infrastructure supports more than 45 multidisciplinary clinics dedicated to treating rare diseases and genetic disorders, where experts across specialties collaborate to deliver coordinated and comprehensive care. With three state-of-the-art sequencing machines, our teams can diagnose complex conditions faster and with greater precision, giving families clearer answers and more targeted treatment options. Philanthropy has been essential in building this ecosystem, funding technology, expertise and innovation that make tomorrow’s medicine possible for kids today.
One example of this success is the Precision Medicine Institute’s ExACT program (Excellence in Advanced Complex Therapeutics) is a first-in-the-nation initiative designed to ensure a standardized, collaborative framework for the safe, scalable and sustainable delivery of Advanced Complex Therapeutics, from early-phase research to FDA-approved standard of care.
Using Innovative Technology to Improve Surgical Techniques
In 2016, Children’s Colorado established the Center for Innovation with a mission to transform pediatric healthcare through innovative solutions. By harnessing the expertise and creativity of our clinical leaders and connecting them with leading technology, we can drive progress for treatments and procedures that make a lasting difference on patient outcomes. These innovations are brought forward through exceptional collaboration with medical experts and industry leaders in technology.
In an incredible example of medical innovation, the Mazor X robot, affectionately nicknamed “Mazie,” has revolutionized pediatric spine surgery at Children’s Colorado. Led by Mark Erickson, MD, and a specialized surgical team, Children’s Colorado has completed more than 500 robot-assisted spinal surgeries. Mazie enhances precision by allowing preoperative planning and real-time guidance during procedures, especially in high-risk areas like the cervical spine.
The team uses Mazie in every spine surgery, not just complex ones, to ensure consistency and streamline the surgical process. This collaborative and protocol-driven approach has established Children’s Colorado as a national leader in pediatric robotic spine surgery. Our expertise is shaping research and best practices and advancing the broader adoption of robotic surgery in pediatric care nationwide.
Philanthropy ensures that we continue to bring forward innovative technology that leads the way for better pediatric health and outcomes.
“We use it in every case, so we know every nuance. And then for us, the more challenging cases are not that tremendously different.”
MARK ERICKSON, MD
Investing in the Future of our Nationally Ranked Heart Institute
Ranked No. 2 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the Heart Institute at Children’s Colorado is dedicated to offering the highest level of pediatric care for our patients and their families. In 2025, more than 750 cardiac surgeries were performed in the Heart Institute with a survival rate of 98%, an outcome 0.7% above the national benchmark, and a huge accomplishment for this nationally ranked team. Part of the Heart Institute’s success is due to investments made in exceptional caregivers, physicians and researchers.
This past year, Dustin Nash, MD, received a Pediatric Heart Network (PHN) Scholar Award — a grant to support outstanding young researchers in the field of pediatric cardiovascular disease — and a Research and Innovation Scholar Award (RISA). The RISA supports early-stage child health investigators in their first faculty position. Dr. Nash will receive $100,000 per year for two years with the opportunity to extend an additional year by demonstrating progress. The study aims to use an artificial intelligence-based algorithm called Factor ECG to look for small changes in electrocardiograms of patients who have had a Fontan procedure, which in turn can help identify and prevent complications in these patients.
Each year, the Colorado Child Health Research Institute awards grants to advance promising research. Funding such as the RISA award received by Dr. Nash enables centers of excellence like the Heart Institute to pursue innovative studies that help shape the next generation of cardiology care. More than one-third of RISA awards are philanthropically funded.
Thank you for your generosity!
None of the incredible work and care at Children’s Hospital Colorado would be possible without your support. We’re excited to once again offer the chance to support innovation, research and children’s health through the 2025 Colorado Enterprise Zone philanthropy opportunities.
2025 Enterprise Zone Opportunities