March 13, 2024
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Kim-Ngan (Kimmy), a senior from Green Mountain High School and participant in Denver Health's Medical Career Collaborative (MC2) program, recently undertook a remarkable project. For her school's senior capstone, Kimmy decided to blend her love for baking with a heartfelt mission – to support Denver Health's and Children's Hospital Colorado's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). What started as a simple idea evolved into a labor of love, as Kimmy dedicated a remarkable 60 hours, creating 400 delectable cake pops that she sold within her school and community.
Balancing school, the MC2 program, and various extracurriculars, Kimmy spent her weekends crafting these sweet treats, investing around eight hours per batch. The endeavor, which began in October, resulted in a generous donation of $350 to Denver Health's NICU.
The heart behind Kimmy's project lies in her personal connection to the NICU. In an intimate reflection, she shared, "I wanted to donate the money to the NICU because I had a personal experience with my two nephews having been admitted due to them being premature and having several health problems. I wanted to help those in need because I experienced how scary it is firsthand. I believe that any funds towards the NICU would be helpful, and my capstone project was a great way for me to give back!" Kimmy was further inspired to give back after spending one of her junior year internship shifts in the NICU as part of the MC2 program.
On Feb. 15, 2024, Kimmy, accompanied by Marisa Valeras, MC2 program director, Madilyn Snyder, MC2 program coordinator, Danielle Ivanovich, foundation relations manager and Christina Robinette, development specialist, toured the NICU with Charge Nurse Carol Cavazos. Kimmy had the privilege of personally handing off her generous donation, a heartfelt gesture that brought joy to the NICU and its dedicated staff.
Kimmy’s dedication to community service and the well-being of NICU families is truly inspirational, reflecting the spirit of compassion that we cherish at Denver Health. Looking ahead, Kimmy's aspirations extend beyond her capstone project. With plans to major in Business, she aspires to start her own nonprofit in the future, with the ultimate goal of expanding her impact and assisting those facing challenges.
As we celebrate Kimmy's remarkable journey, we are reminded that the true essence of humanity lies in our ability to uplift and support one another, one small act of kindness at a time. We applaud Kimmy for her outstanding efforts and eagerly anticipate the positive change she will continue to bring to the world.
For more information on the MC2 program, visit the website here.
