ANN ARBOR, MI - Long before University of Michigan head football coach Lloyd Carr started leading his team to victory, and long before David A. Brandon became a part of the U-M Board of Regents, they were unknowingly making a difference in children's health care at U-M.

Forty years ago, Carr, then a sophomore in college, worked as a rod-buster transporting the steel rods used to reinforce the concrete that would become the foundation of U-M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Nearly 20 years later, Brandon sat vigil within the walls of that hospital as his newborn twin sons were cared for in Mott's neonatal intensive care unit.

Now Carr and Brandon, along with wives Laurie and Jan, are making official their commitment to the future of children's health at U-M by becoming the co-chairs of the U-M Health System's campaign to build a new children's and women's hospital.

“We are very pleased and excited that the Brandons and Carrs will play such an integral role in the future of C.S. Mott Children's Hospital,” says Robert P. Kelch, M.D., executive vice president for medical affairs at UMHS. “Our hope is to build a new facility that will provide the necessary tools and support to allow our superb staff to provide the most modern, most compassionate, and most effective care for expectant mothers and children of all ages. With our co-chairs' support, I am confident we will succeed.”

In May, Brandon , along with Carr, helped kick-off the Champions for Children campaign, part of the University's $2.5 billion Michigan Difference campaign. At the event, Brandon reminisced about the premature birth of sons Chris and Nick in 1980 and their time at Mott. At the time, the boys' future was so uncertain Brandon says they were only known by faculty and staff in the neonatal ICU as “Brandon Boy A” and “Brandon Boy B.”

“It was a time of incubators and tubes and bilirubin lights and fear,” says Brandon, chairman and CEO of Domino's Pizza LLC of Ann Arbor. “We were able, years ago, to witness first-hand the skill and expertise of the U-M – and its caring doctors and nurses. I vowed that someday I would figure out a way to help this place for the gift of life it gave to my sons. As co-chairs for Champions of Children campaign, Jan and I now have that opportunity. “

With six children and seven grandchildren, the Carrs are equally committed to building a solid foundation again for children's health care in Michigan .

Relating the campaign to coaching, Carr says he tells his players that extraordinary performance comes only to individuals who are devoted to something larger than themselves.

“This is a cause greater than I am,” says Carr of the Champions for Children campaign. “From the tiny newborn with a congenital heart defect to the teenager losing her hair during chemotherapy treatments, battles are being waged by the children, families and doctors who, I've come to believe, are the bravest of the brave. They are the reason why my wife, Laurie, and I have made a commitment to help build a new hospital facility. And I believe the day the new hospital is built will be one of the greatest victories in Michigan history.”

Even though football season is still a few months away, Carr, along with the coaches and players from the Wolverines' 2004 squad, already has one big win on the record at U-M.

In June, they hosted "Carr's Wash for Kids," a community event sponsored by Michigan International Speedway, at Michigan Stadium. After a day of suds and signing autographs for fans, Carr and his team washed 509 cars and raised more than $75,000 for the campaign.

While Mott is recognized nationally and internationally for its experience and advances in many areas of children's health, the time has come to build a new hospital for the future of children's health in Michigan and across the globe, says Kelch.

“To remain among the top five children's hospitals in the nation, we need to create a facility for the 21 st century to allow U-M to advance technology, conduct research and meet the increasing needs of our patients to provide them with the best care possible,” he says.

Since the Mott facility was designed in the 1950s, patient care, research and medical technology have made extraordinary advances. Working within a facility built long before pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was invented and treatment for childhood leukemia was not available, Mott is struggling to keep up with current advances in medical technology and treatment due to space limitations.

To meet increasing patient clinical, surgical and inpatient needs, Mott and Women's hospitals have been maximized to their fullest potential. In fiscal year 2003, more than 8,400 children were admitted to Mott, and more than 9,000 operations were performed. Each year, Mott surgical services alone have increased 5 percent to 10 percent.

Although its patients are small, Mott's needs are great. The UMHS hopes by increasing its capacity and clinic space, it will be able to meet that need by providing sick and injured children in Michigan , the United States and across the globe with even greater access to U-M's world-class medical care.

To learn more about the Champions for Children watch our video.

Contact: Krista Hopson

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