When Alan Blake was invited by friends to a charity golf outing, he and his wife, Penny, had no particular connection to Children's Specialized Hospital (CSH). For most of the day, it was a great day of golf, like any other.

And then came the cocktail hour.

A young patient took the stage to share her story, one of the many "miracle stories" that happen at CSH every day. She had arrived at the hospital facing tremendous challenges. Now she was thriving: playing sports, attending school, living a full life.

"It brought tears to everybody's eyes," Alan recalls.

When the presentation ended, Alan walked up to the CSH Foundation president at the time, Philip Salerno III, tapped him on the shoulder, and said, "You don't know me. My name's Alan Blake. I want to write a check to this foundation."

“That moment,” Alan says, "was the start of a long and beautiful relationship." Since that day, Alan and Penny Blake’s generosity has quietly touched nearly every corner of Children's Specialized Hospital, from funding critical programs and equipment to serving on CSH Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

When iPads were brand new, the Blakes helped put them in the hands of patients and clinicians. When CSH pioneered the use of VGo telepresence robots (the first pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the country to use the technology), the Blakes helped make it possible. They supported Camp Chatterbox, the beloved overnight camp for children who use communication devices. They've contributed to the Family Benefit Fund, easing the financial burden on families when insurance falls short. They invested in the Transforming Lives 2.0 campaign, helping expand access to specialized care to more children.

Most recently, when the Blakes were informed that the accessible bus supporting children at the CSH inpatient hospital and long-term care centers was no longer operable, they agreed that purchasing a new bus was a priority. Their gift of this bus allows children in the hospital to participate safely in external rehabilitation opportunities, social outings, and real-life practice experiences that prepare them for discharge.

With assistance from CSH Foundation Board Member and President & CEO of FTMobility, Nicole Bryson, the new therapy bus is already in service. “This bus is more than accessible transportation, it’s a bridge between the hospital and the real world,” remarks Bryson. “It gives these children the chance to experience life beyond the hospital walls in a safe way, building confidence, independence, and moments that are just as important to healing as anything happening inside. FTMobility is proud to be part of that journey.”

For Alan, the bus is simply the latest chapter in a commitment that began with a single moment of connection. It's proof of what happens when generosity meets purpose and when donors trust an organization enough to show up, year after year.

The Blakes aren’t inspired by legacy. They are inspired by results. "It's not like you're giving money to some anonymous organization, and you don't know what happens," Alan says. "You actually see the results, and they're working miracles."

When asked why he gives, his answer cuts to the heart of what it means to be a Children's Champion: "Because you're supposed to. If you've been lucky enough in life and have been blessed, you give back. That's just how I was raised."

“Alan and Penny Blake are the model of what transformational giving looks like,” says Alissa Memoli, President and Chief Development Officer at Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation. “Over 25 years, they have leaned in and said yes when needs arose that would help the hospital deliver life-changing care. Their most recent gift of this fully accessible bus will make a real difference in our patients’ progress and recovery. We are endlessly grateful for their trust, their partnership, and their extraordinary commitment to the children and families we serve.”

Alan Blake remains as moved by CSH's mission as he was at that first golf outing. "You're financing miracles," Alan says. "You're giving children lives. I'm just as amazed now as I was 25 years ago."

The Blake’s sustained generosity and commitment to changing children’s lives have truly created ripple effects that last for generations. We are so grateful for their support of our mission.