Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures: Partnering to Heal and Educate the Valley’s Children

Formed in 2022, Valley Children’s 10-year partnership with Fresno State is already changing the lives of children in our region as we collaborate to deliver top-quality care and education across the Valley. The partnership will continue to have long-lasting impact on students, faculty and the community by also providing funding for scholarships and internships for students pursuing degrees in healthcare, particularly those for roles which talent is in short supply.

This year, in our second year of the partnership, we continued the momentum by launching Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures, a regional community health initiative that focuses on improving the mental health and physical well-being of children and young adults in the Central Valley. With mental and behavioral issues increasing in children and teens, “Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures” aims to promote mental health awareness and wellness activities with events and activities at Fresno State and other local schools.

Mental health PSA that appeared on ABC30 and Univision.

Jakob’s Story: Surviving, Thriving and Giving Back

Former patient Jakob Barrera is bringing the partnership full circle.

At the age of two, Jakob was diagnosed with pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had to endure three chemo port surgeries, multiple spinal taps and bone marrow biopsies which required many inpatient stays at Valley Children’s by the time he was five. Fortunately, with recent advancements in treatment, the five-year survival rate has increased to roughly 90%.

Still, the process can be long and grueling for children and families, but Jakob perservered.

“My life was saved by the wonderful doctors and nurses at Valley Children’s and I want to be able to help kids just like myself.”

Jakob Barrera, former Valley Children’s patient and cancer survivor

Now a senior majoring in public health at Fresno State, Jakob is not only surviving and thriving, he’s giving back. Jakob was the first member of the Survive and Thrive Squad at Valley Children’s, a group of cancer survivors that engages in various activities, including advocacy and awareness campaigns. The Squad plays a significant role in supporting and empowering patients who have survived cancer, giving them a place to share their experiences and contribute positively to similar causes.

“There is a constant joy and happiness that runs through my system, and sharing my story has been one of the greatest decisions I have made in my life,” Jakob said.

In 2023, Jakob’s story and his legacy of providing help and support to other cancer patients and survivors was celebrated broadly when he was one of 50 recipients in the U.S. to receive a $10,000 scholarship through Northwestern Mutual’s Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship Program. His continued community involvement with Valley Children’s and educational excellence at Fresno State are just a few of the reasons why he was selected for the scholarship, which has gone toward tuition, books and living expenses.

Looking back on his illness and recovery, Jakob credits Valley Children’s for providing the treatment, care and support he and his family needed to tackle the challenge of surviving childhood leukemia. “My life was saved by the wonderful doctors and nurses at Valley Children’s and I want to be able to help kids just like myself,” Jakob said.

Game Days at Fresno State Take on Meaning and Purpose

Valley Children’s partnership with Fresno State is having a lasting impact on students, faculty and the community at large. We’re working on a plan to provide funding for scholarships, degrees for health professions in short supply in our region and other collaborative opportunities to strengthen children’s health.

Under the lights of Valley Children’s Stadium, we again offered memorable Game Day experiences in 2023 at six Fresno State football home games. Dozens of patients, families and care teams were treated to a tailgate and box suite experience where they were honored with hospitality, socializing, activities and photo booth snaps. The red-carpet treatment continued with photos on the sideline with TimeOut, Victor E. Bulldog, cheerleaders and football players, but the real magic happened when a Valley Children’s Kid Captain led the mid-field coin toss, greeted by a warm Bulldog welcome.

2023 by the numbers:

• 300 guests at the Valley Children’s Patient Gameday Tailgate space
• 6 celebrations for cancer survivors, children with craniofacial and limb differences, Charlie Mitchell Children’s Center and Willson Heart Center patients, and pediatric intensive care and ECMO graduates
• 1,200 tickets for Section 26 Fan Zone
• 144 guests invited to the Valley Children’s Sky Box Suite experience

The goal of our partnership with Fresno State and the tailgate experiences is to not only honor and show gratitude for our amazing patients and staff, but to provide opportunities for students to learn more about healthcare careers and demonstrate to the community how we are living up to our motto: doing our best, knowing children are counting on us.