The Humana Challenge golf tournament takes place every January in La Quinta to benefit Coachella Valley nonprofit organizations.
For the past three years, former President Bill Clinton and his Clinton Foundation have become involved with the event, sponsoring several health-related symposia and other programs to focus local and national attention on health and wellness.
Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital had a booth at the golf tournament, and the Children’s Hospital Foundation sponsored a viewing area for friends of the organization.
Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, president of Loma Linda University Health, visited the final day of play on Sunday, Jan. 25, to meet with LLU Children’s Hospital Coachella Valley Guild members and donors.
By chance, Hart was invited to meet with former President Clinton, and he spent 45 minutes privately with him, just before the tournament ended.
Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea Clinton, was the featured guest at a related Clinton Foundation event in Palm Springs the same day — “Day of Action.” She and Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet and invited dignitaries planted fruit trees at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center.
Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health coordinated a health study of the community in summer of 2014, which led to the Clinton Foundation’s interest in drawing attention to the area’s health needs.
Juan Carlos Belliard, PhD, assistant vice president for community partnerships and diversity, and other community engagement staffers from Loma Linda University Health attended the ceremony.