- Morgan Shandler

A new fundraising record was set at the 37th Annual Tiny Tim Holiday Fantasy event, held Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018. The event raised more than $1.3 million for the B.E. Smith Family Center, which is under construction on the Shawnee Mission Medical Center (SMMC) campus to serve children of the Kansas City community. The Center is expected to open in May 2019.
More than 1,200 guests attended the sold-out event at the Overland Park Convention Center. Funds raised will benefit the B.E. Smith Family Center, the future home of the Lee Ann Britain Infant Development Center (Britain IDC) and the Shawnee Mission Health (SMH) Early Learning Center (ELC). The event was co-chaired by Kyle and Carlye Ehman, who have been part of the Shawnee Mission Health family since 2010.
After their son Jacob was diagnosed with Autism, he began receiving services at Britain Center. Immediately, the Ehmans became actively involved in the Center; Carlye working as a paraprofessional and both serving as volunteers for the 2017 Tiny Tim Executive Committee.
The Britain IDC serves children from birth to age six with developmental challenges. The ELC provides faith-based education for the children of SMH associates and physicians. The two-story, 63,000 square-foot B.E. Smith Family Center will replace the outdated facilities where the programs currently operate and enhance their therapeutic and educational offerings. Designed to provide a modern learning environment for children of all ability levels, the Center will foster collaboration and connection between children, families and staff, and promote understanding and inclusion of children with special needs.
Through the Tiny Tim Holiday Fantasy event and the Children’s Capital Campaign, the Foundation for SMMC has raised more than $20 million for the new Center.
“We are grateful for the incredible generosity of each of our donors, which enables us to serve children in the community with vital therapies and educational programming,” said Jennifer Fink, major gifts officer of The Foundation for SMMC.
Each year, the Tiny Tim Holiday Fantasy event also presents the Richard V. Edmonds Award for Exemplary Service, which was created in 1995 in recognition of the years of leadership and service Richard Edmonds gave to SMMC and the community. The 2018 Richard V. Edmonds Award for Exemplary Service honors Doug and Nan Smith. The Smiths made a lead gift to The Foundation for SMMC in 2016, igniting the campaign to build the B.E. Smith Family Center.
“Receiving the Edmonds Award is truly a great honor,” said Doug Smith. “Nan and I hope the B.E. Smith Family Center will allow children to benefit from the enhanced programming and will alleviate some of the financial burdens their families may be experiencing, in addition to providing affordable, Christian-based child care for the associates of Shawnee Mission Health.”
Smith is the former CEO of the national health care leadership solutions firm B.E. Smith, which his father founded. The B.E. Smith Children’s Center is named for his father and represents an opportunity to give back to the regional community and the health care industry.
For further information on Tiny Tim or the Children’s Capital Campaign, contact the Foundation for SMMC at Call913-676-2055.
Recent News
Dr. Jason Jennings, orthopedic surgeon with AdventHealth Medical Group Colorado Joint Replacement at Porter, was selected to present his research findings at the 3rd International Consensus Meeting on...
When it comes to back health, how you sleep matters just as much as how you move during the day. According to Dr. Sharad Rajpal, a neurosurgeon at AdventHealth Avista, your nighttime habits can either...
Personal experiences and the desire to give back inspired AdventHealth Avista ICU Manager Megan May to pursue a career in nursing. Her journey began in the very halls of Avista, where as a child she...
July marks Fibroid Awareness Month—a time to spotlight a condition that affects an estimated 26 million women across the United States.
Aimee Keller-Pickford to serve as CEO of AdventHealth Winter Garden; Sheila Rankin to lead AdventHealth Winter Park.
AdventHealth Waterman becomes the first and only hospital in Lake and Sumter counties to offer Aquablation therapy, a new option for men with an enlarged prostate.
Dr. Tim Hendrix, chief medical officer at AdventHealth Centra Care, shares simple, smart tips to help you and your family stay healthy and feel whole all summer long.
For Amanda Jackson, ICU Manager at AdventHealth Porter, nursing is more than a profession—it’s a calling shaped by profound personal experiences and a deep-rooted desire to care for others.
Dr. Gupta joins the team at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Medical Group General Surgery at Bolingbrook and Carol Stream, enhancing our commitment to exceptional surgical care.
AdventHealth Castle Rock, AdventHealth Littleton and AdventHealth Parker are named among the nation’s top hospitals for treating heart attack patients.
AdventHealth Manchester is proud to recognize a group of exceptional seniors from Clay County High School who have been awarded scholarships in support of their academic and professional aspirations. ...
Sandra Valaitis, MD, has joined UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Medical Group Urogynecology at 301 Hinsdale.