Retired boxer Oscar De La Hoya's charitable foundation donated $100,000 to the Adventist Health White Memorial Cleft Palate program, Adventist officials announced Monday.
"Oscar is a major philanthropist and donor to our hospital," said John Raffoul, president of Adventist Health White Memorial. "Over the years, he has named the Cecilia Gonzalez De La Hoya Cancer Center, the Oscar De La Hoya Labor & Delivery Center and the Oscar De La Hoya Neonatal Intensive Care Center. We are continually honored by the generosity of his gifts."
Adventist officials said the donation will benefit "life-changing services to newborn babies who are born with cleft palate." Health system officials said the cleft palate program is aimed not just at correcting the physical deformity, but also helping patients "develop into confident and active young adults."
"Though the physical symptoms of a cleft palate are what many people see, the other problems including speech and dental issues can be even more damaging to children," De La Hoya said in a statement released by the hospital. "For decades, White Memorial (has) provided high-quality health care to a population in need, and through this donation, kids born with a cleft palate will have a real chance at living a better life."
