Connect Newsletter (Dec. 19, 2024)

Season's Greetings from Cook Children's

Nothing is quite like the magic of the holidays at Cook Children's. We're spreading holiday cheer wherever you see one of our blue peaks. We wish you and your loved ones a season filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments.

Please read a special holiday message from Mr. Merrill here.

Join us for a glimpse of the festive spirit and experience the joy you will find during this special time of year with two very great videos.

Click here for a glimpse of the holiday season in Fort Worth and join us for the festivities in Prosper here. 

Wherever you are located, we want to thank you for all you do to keep our Promise and to take care of our patients, their families and each other. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays.

Cook Children's Town Hall Highlights

Before the Thanksgiving holiday, members of our leadership team recorded a video in front of a live audience. We want to provide you with the opportunity to view this informative messaging at your convenience. Please block 1 hour and 10 minutes to watch two roundtable discussions, an update on our financial status, and a video featuring important updates regarding artificial intelligence. Thank you for dedicating your time to this important content. Note: You must be on the Cook Children's Network to view this video.

Framing the Future: Internship Program Empowers Students and Gives Hope to Families

We want to share this powerful video and story that we believe will touch your heart. Watch Eduardo's story here and then read about the Jane Justin School's post-graduate Program where job coaches equip students like Eduardo with job skills and pair them with community organizations, including Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth, for volunteer opportunities or internships that provide students with on-the-job training.

Note: It may take a moment for the video to load. Please be patient. It's worth the wait!

12 Days (and more) of Holiday Magic Featuring Cook Children’s Health Care Heroes

The holiday season is a time for gratitude, reflection, and joy, and at Cook Children’s, we find ourselves in awe of the incredible people who make magic happen every day. Across both of our medical centers, the health plan, home health, the urgent care centers, neighborhood health clinics, and primary and specialty care offices, countless unsung heroes dedicate themselves to bringing hope and healing to children and families. You are the heart of our Promise—turning our words of “everything for the child” into actions, and ensuring that every child and their family can see and feel the love and care that defines us.

As we shine a spotlight on 12 (or more) of our remarkable unsung heroes, let this tribute serve as a celebration of each of you. From all of us to all of you—may your holidays and every day ahead be filled with the values we cherish: kindness, respect, generosity, imagination, collaboration, and safety.

Please click here to celebrate those who inspire us all.

‘A Time that Represents Real Life’

“It is a season of paradoxes; a time to manifest an alternative world; a time to raise big questions; a time to prepare for something new and different and never before experienced. Advent is a time that represents real life—the joy and the sorrow. The already and the not yet. The vulnerable and the protected. The need for connection and the need to unplug.”

Only our own Jennifer Hayes, MDiv, BCC, director of Spiritual Care, could write this funny, thoughtful and powerful message as we head into the holidays. Read the entire message here.

The Season of Joy: Winifred ‘Wini’ King, Senior Vice President, Chief of Communications & Employee Connections, Cook Children’s Health Care System

Newsweek has named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place.

From her early days as a news anchor in Oklahoma to the nearly 12 years she spent as an assistant manager of promotions at The Walt Disney Company, and now as Cook Children’s senior vice president and chief of communications and employee connections, Wini King has met every moment. She joined Cook Children’s 19 years ago as director of Media Relations and has been shaping the reputation of the organization since. Along the way she’s racked up a reputation of her own. Fearless, sage, evolving, empowering, inspirational, tenacious and bold are just a few of the words her colleagues use to describe her.

Her first name, Winifred, was chosen to honor her Uncle Fred and as a playful tribute to Princess Winifred from The Princess and the Pea, a fairy tale her mother adored. Yet, it’s her middle name, Joy, that holds the deepest meaning to her.

“I love the idea of joy as opposed to happiness, because you can become unhappy, but you can’t get un-joyed,” Wini said. “Joy tends to run deep and happiness tends to be a little more fleeting. So, joy is a constant stream for me.”

Read more about Wini's career journey on Checkup.

Untold Episode 6: Frances Wampler

Frances Wampler, a program coordinator at Cook Children's Center for Community Health, faced incredible challenges from birth, including being told she might never walk. Now, as a mother and advocate, she reflects on how Cook Children’s not only helped her overcome physical obstacles but also inspired her life’s work.  

To listen to Frances' story, please click on one of the following:

• Apple
• Spotify

Leave a Light On Album Drops Friday, Dec. 20

Look for the release of our Christmas EP from our own Sparklefly Studio, featuring music from our patients, that will be available on Friday, Dec. 20. Find out more about the album by clicking here. Here's more information on the upcoming release:

While the sunlit days grow shorter and the winter nights longer, “Leave a Light On” wards off the icy chill like a welcomed cup of steaming ginger tea.  While celebratory bells ring out the advent of holiday cheer, for many, those bells are a painful reminder of a year of sadness, and even loss. Our hope is that you will turn on this warm sonic blanket as a gentle encouragement to BE light during this season.  From the ever-inspiring “Grown Up Christmas List”, to a heartfelt original song, “My Wish”, to contemplative instrumentals, we hope you find your shoulders relaxing a little…and your hope rising even more.  Leave a light on.  You may never know who will be drawn to that light to experience warmth; or, someone may need a spark of light to see a way forward on the path ahead.  So, as often as you can, leave a light on.

To access the album by QR code, scan the image below:

Feeling Festive Yet?

Congratulations to all Feeling Festive contest winners! Thank you to everyone who participated in the Feeling Festive in person and virtual contest this year. The holiday spirit was felt through your creative attire and accessories. Voting is now closed but to view all virtual contestants again, visit the voting page on the Team Experience CookNet site.

Winners will be contacted by Dec. 20 with their prizes!

Also, the Team Experience site has photos from our Jingle Mingles throughout the system that you can view here.

Note: You must be on the Network to view all the pages.