Margaret and Kip Porter

Margaret Porter knows all too well the importance of and need for Children’s of Alabama—and that’s not because she has spent the last 25 years-plus on its board of directors. It’s an experience with the hospital that goes back much further. “I am a child of Children’s,” Margaret says. “When I was 10 years old, I had major surgery at Children’s. I remember with great fondness my stay in the hospital and how compassionate and friendly the staff was. That was my introduction to Children’s of Alabama.”

That introduction turned into a longstanding relationship—one that gave Margaret and her husband, Kip, a firsthand look at the organization’s growth over the years. They have seen the hospital not only meet the needs of its community, but also grow to meet needs of patients statewide and even nationally. Through all of that growth, they have seen Children’s maintain its strong commitment to providing the absolute best care with the absolute best staff. “Children’s has never been content with the status quo,” Margaret adds. “The hospital has always strived for improvement while keeping an emphasis on quality and safety. They also put a sincere emphasis on family-centered care and improving patient quality, and those are things I value too.”

The Porters know that much of the hospital’s growth and excellence is thanks, in part, to the generous gifting to the hospital. From her role on the board, Margaret has seen the positive effects of donations firsthand. “I have seen everything from building the new hospital to most recently purchasing the ECMO machines,” she says. “I’ve seen it with movie night, and with the Sugarplum Shop. I’ve seen it with the new helicopter flying in patients. Philanthropy has been at the core of Children’s and its success, and there have been many very generous people.”

Fully believing it’s up to donors to continue building upon that strong foundation and help carry on the mission of Children’s, the Porters have generously elected to donate to Children’s over the years, whether it be through specific gifts or as part of capital campaigns. “One of the biggest gifts Children’s gives is enabling kids to reach their potential, whatever potential that might be,” Margaret adds. “They are dedicated to that. Children’s has given me a lot more than I’ve given it. They helped me reach my potential by giving me my health back. My gratitude is something I would like to pay forward.”

Taking it a step further, they have also added Children’s in their will as part of their final estate plan, ensuring that they will continue to take part in the life-saving work of Children’s even when they are no longer here. “When you look at the hospital’s history, it sheds light on what they will do in the future,” says Kip. “They have always been good stewards of everything they have been given, and that gives you confidence. It makes you want to give even more when you see that continuous commitment, and Children’s has certainly shown that over the years.”