“The Guilds are the soul of Valley Children's Hospital. Valley Children's was built on love that came from all over the Valley -- and it's still there.”

– Carolyn Peck, Founding Mother, Valley Children's Hospital

 

Who We Are: The History of Valley Children's Guilds

In 1949, a group of civic-minded women saw a need for a dedicated pediatric hospital in our Valley. As these five women moved forward with their vision of creating a "hospital for children only," so emerged the idea of a guild system. Since their inception, the Guilds have been a vital part of Valley Children's.

The Guilds have two primary objectives: to raise financial support and develop ongoing community support for Valley Children's. It was through the fundraising efforts of the original Guilds that Valley Children's Hospital was constructed in 1952 at its original site.

Today, our Guilds are the largest financial contributors, having raised over $30 million, net.

Our Founding Mothers

We honor our founding mothers and thank them for their vision of establishing Valley Children's Healthcare, which cares for 1.3 million children in our service area.

All Guild Picnic: A Time-Honored Tradition

As a way to celebrate the annual funds raised by the Guilds, at the end of each calendar year, the Guilds hold the time-honored "All Guild Picnic" and present a check to Valley Children's.

This event takes place each year on the fourth Wednesday of May, and all Guild members are encouraged to attend.

Guild Coordinating Council

The Guilds Coordinating Council was established in 1949 to ensure each Guild stays up-to-date. A representative from each Guild attends the quarterly Council meeting and reports key information back to their Guild.