ORANGE, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2026) —Rady Children’s Health, Orange County (Rady Children’s), formerly CHOC, announced today a transformational $10 million gift from Mrs. Cari Peets and family to expand its Resilience Program. The program provides comprehensive, trauma-informed care for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
The gift names the Mrs. Cari Peets and Family Resilience Clinic, which opened last month and unites medical care, mental health services, social work, care coordination, and caregiver support in one place, making it easier for children and families to access the individualized services and support they need.
The Resilience Clinic provides a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to identify needs early, close care gaps, and connect children who have been impacted by abuse, neglect and trauma with the timely services they need. More than 3,000 children in Orange County are in foster care, and about half are age 6 or younger. Many face complex medical, developmental, behavioral, and social needs that often require navigating multiple providers and systems.
“Children need to know they are safe, cared for, and supported—especially in the wake of trauma. The Peets family’s generosity helps us to do more for vulnerable children, and this work would not be possible without philanthropy,” said Dr. Charles Golden, vice president and assistant chief medical officer at Rady Children’s. “We are honored to carry this vision forward and deeply grateful for the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of these children and their caregivers.”
The Resilience Clinic prioritizes timely health assessments, comprehensive medical evaluations, behavioral health services and social support, and provides ongoing preventive and acute medical care. Its multidisciplinary team includes a pediatrician specializing in child abuse, a general pediatrician and/or nurse practitioner, a child psychologist, a social worker, and two care managers. It also plans to add a foster parent coach and a child life specialist. Together, they provide coordinated support that promotes healing, stability, and long-term well-being.
The gift also establishes the Mrs. Cari Peets and Family Chair in Childhood Resilience, Rady Children’s third endowed chair. The endowment will fund the Resilience Program in perpetuity, ensuring that innovative, trauma-informed care continues to evolve and reach children for generations. Dr. Golden, who leads the Resilience Program, will serve as the inaugural chairholder.
“Our family believes every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported,” said Cari Peets. “We are so proud to elevate this important cause and partner with Dr. Golden and Rady Children’s to bring compassionate care and protection to children who need it most.”
The Peets family’s transformative philanthropy at Rady Children’s now exceeds $11 million. For the past two years, they have served as presenting sponsor of the CHOC Let’s Talk: Mental Health Luncheon, which supports the hospital’s mental health programs. The family has also supported groundbreaking research to advance understanding and treatment of rare pediatric metabolic disorders.
Most recently, the family received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award at the CHOC Foundation’s Charley Awards, which celebrates individuals whose generosity and leadership have advanced children’s health and well-being.
“We are deeply grateful to Cari and her family for their extraordinary generosity and unwavering commitment to children and families in our community,” said Jessica Miley, senior vice president and chief development officer at the CHOC Foundation. “Their remarkable philanthropy, coupled with their heartfelt advocacy, will make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families, helping them heal and thrive.”
About Rady Children’s Health
Rady Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest pediatric healthcare systems, recognized for excellence in clinical care, research and innovation. Established in January 2025 through the merger of the parent companies of Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, Rady Children’s Health brings together two nationally recognized, award-winning pediatric organizations with a combined legacy of more than a century of caring for children. With three hospitals, a growing network of primary and specialty care centers across six counties, and two of the region’s Level 1 pediatric trauma centers, Rady Children’s Health provides exceptional, compassionate care to children and families throughout Southern California and beyond. Building on its longstanding strengths in scientific discovery and advanced medicine, the health system is dedicated to advancing hope, health and healing through leading-edge research, innovative treatments and expanded access to specialized pediatric care.
About the CHOC Foundation
As a nonprofit organization, the CHOC Foundation is committed to caring for every child in need by fostering a dynamic culture of generosity through philanthropy. This passion lives in the individuals, families, foundations, and corporations who generously propel our mission—advancing hope, health, and healing for the kids in our community.
By supporting the Foundation, supporters join a rich legacy of community partners working to ensure that exceptional pediatric healthcare is available and accessible to all children, regardless of their family’s circumstances. By joining the Rady Children’s family as a volunteer, donor, or champion, generosity stays local—directly supporting programs, services, and research that transform children’s health today and for generations to come.
