(San Diego, CA) – Star 94.1 morning show host AJ Machado has been awarded the Outstanding Celebrity Volunteer award by The Association of Fundraising Professionals San Diego chapter. Machado was presented the award during the 39th Annual National Philanthropy Day Award Luncheon on November 1st.
“I am honored to be chosen for this award,” said Machado. “I’ve made friends with many of the patients I met over the years at Rady Children’s; this partnership is very dear to my heart.”
Since 2003, Machado has collected toys valued at more than $2.5 million and raised more than $200,000 for Rady Children’s. Machado has also hosted radiothons that have raised nearly $5 million for the Hospital.
Every year during his AJ’s Kids’ Crane event Machado sets a goal and remains atop a crane in a parking lot until his listeners and supporters help him reach his goal. In 2009 it took him seven days to reach the goal of 101,000 toys. Last year Machado surpassed that goal and collected 106,000 toys in seven days.
“AJ is a dedicated friend, advocate and donor to Rady Children’s and we are grateful for his support of our patients and their families,” said Carol Damon-Scherer, Vice President, Development, Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation. “He’s touched the lives of thousands of children during the last decade; it is wonderful that he is being recognized for his commitment and leadership as the Outstanding Celebrity Volunteer.”
About Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego:
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, the largest children’s hospital in California, is a 442-bed pediatric care facility providing the largest source of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, Southern Riverside and Imperial counties. Rady Children’s is the only hospital in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric healthcare and is the region’s only designated pediatric trauma center. On October 10, 2010, Rady Children’s opened the Acute Care Pavilion, a LEED-Certified (green) building that is home to the incredible Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, the state-of-the-art Warren Family Surgical Center, and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for our community’s most fragile newborns. In May 2011, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rady Children’s among the best children’s hospitals in the nation in all ten pediatric specialties the magazine surveyed. For more information, visit www.rchsd.org and find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.