An ardent supporter of the Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels, the Miami HEAT proudly presented a $200,000 check to help pay for the remodeling of the Holtz Children’s Center Pediatric Referral Unit (fifth floor) and the Pediatric Transplant Surgical Unit (sixth floor), creating a brighter and friendlier environment for seriously ill young patients. HEAT star Caron Butler joined Director of the Miami HEAT Foundation Steve Stowe to bestow the check on Thursday, June 12, just prior to the Public Health Trust Meeting in the hospital’s Diagnostic Treatment Center.

The new fifth-floor hospital rooms reflect soothing beach scenes and seascapes of children playing, while colorful wallpaper borders depict sand castles and designs in soothing colors. New hard wood floors, which replaced tiles, have reduced the noise levels on the floor. Renovations currently are underway on the sixth floor.

The HEAT Family Outreach Charitable Fund raised the much-needed funds this past February during the 6th Annual Miami HEAT Family Festival co-presented by Carvival Cruise Lines and Citibank, a spectacular beachfront fundraiser held each spring by the HEAT to raise money for a variety of local community outreach organizations. The event is organized by Chris Riley, HEAT Foundation Board Member and wife of President and Head Coach Pat Riley, and the HEAT players’ wives.

The HEAT Family Outreach Charitable Fund, established in 1997, exists to provide financial assistance to local causes in support of children and women at risk, domestic violence prevention and breast health awareness. To date, the fund has raised and donated more than $3 million to benefit the South Florida community. In addition to this year’s $200,000 donation to the Guardian Angels, the fund previously has supported the program with $300,000 in contributions.

The Guardian Angels is a membership support group of the Jackson Memorial Foundation, the primary fundraising arm of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. Founded in 1997, the Guardian Angels dedicate their efforts to the Holtz Children’s Hospital.