Our Impact
Research, fundraising and awareness are the pillars of our organization.
Learn more about what we’ve accomplished so far.
jump to: Research & Projects • Fundraising • Community Awareness • Giving Thanks
Funded Research, Quality Improvement Projects, and Education
"Bubaloo" Developmental Kits
For Theo's 4th birthday, physical and occupational therapists at Children's Wisconsin distributed our first batch of "Bubaloo" Developmental Kits in the cardiac ICU. Children born with congenital heart disease are at risk for developmental delays, especially when life begins with a long hospital stay. Each item in the box has been carefully selected to give parents the tools and guidance to promote typical motor and cognitive development.
Children’s Wisconsin CICU Feeding Project
Project Bubaloo is currently funding a quality improvement project at Children’s Wisconsin in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). The project targets nursing education in the CICU to enhance developmentally supportive care through cue-based feeding strategies.
Nurse Lectureship
Project Bubaloo funds an annual nursing research lectureship at Children’s Wisconsin. Last year, Dr. Amy Jo Lisanti shared her current research on parental stress and offered coping strategies for parents of infants with congenital heart disease.
Project Bubaloo Research Fund
Annually, medical professionals are invited to submit abstracts for funding consideration by Project Bubaloo’s Research Grant Committee. Learn more about the research fund and the grant recipients.
Elemeno at Children’s Wisconsin
At the end of 2023, Project Bubaloo funded a new, bedside education tool, Elemeno, at Children's Wisconsin on West 3. Elemeno is a digital tool that is a resource available to staff on their phones, iPads, in-room computers, and other computers on the unit. When the tool launched, it made available bedside education for Norwood Pathway Guidance, CVAD – Small French Catheter Dressing Change Guidance, Orientee and Preceptor Resources, Chest Tube Management, and Remodulin Pump.
Fundraising
Our Signature Event: Hops for Hearts
Our 1st annual Hops for Hearts took place on February 21st, 2020, at the Mitchell Park Domes in Milwaukee, WI. This sold-out event featured music, raffles, silent auctions and stations where local craft beers were paired with food from Zilli Hospitality. We were able to raise $40,000 to fund our mission and also provide direct support to a local heart family.
Our 2nd annual Hops for Hearts event took place on March 25th, 2022 at Coast/Miller Room in downtown Milwaukee. A sold out crowd enjoyed live music by Rebel Grace, food from Zilli Hospitality, craft beers from local breweries, and an exciting silent auction. We were able to raise over $60,000 for our CHD research fund.
Evidently we were just getting started, because our 3rd annual Hops for Hearts returned to Coast/Miller Room on April 21st, 2023 and raised $118,000 for our congenital heart disease research fund. Learn more about Project Bubaloo’s research fund.
Join us for the fourth annual Hops for Hearts event on Friday, April 19th at the Historic Pritzlaff Building in Milwaukee. Get your tickets here >
The Ultimate Heart Race 5k Run and Walk
A race and walk unlike any other, TUHR is a cooperative event, designed to allow each congenital heart disease advocacy group to raise funds for their mission, with a small percentage fee to Project Bubaloo as the event host and coordinator. By scaling resources and collaborating with other like-minded groups, an opportunity presents itself for significant exposure for all partners.
Our first annual walk took place on September 9, 2023 and raised $61,000 for congenital heart disease researche, education and awareness.
Heart & Sole Run and Walk
The 1st annual Heart and Sole 5K Run/Walk 2019 was hosted by the Project Bubaloo team in collaboration with the Pediatric Congenital Heart Association at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI on June 22nd. More than 1,200 participants raised $95,000 for CHD. The Heart and Sole promotional video has been watched by over 40,000 people all over the world!
The 2nd annual Heart and Sole 5K was hosted by the Project Bubaloo team on August 15-16, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was transformed into a virtual event so that everyone could participate safely. Participants from Hawaii to England signed up to help us raise $102,000 for Conquering CHD.
The 3rd annual Heart and Sole 5K was hosted by the Project Bubaloo team. We had over 1,000 participants signed up to help us raise $70,000 for Conquering CHD.
Community Awareness
Marquette Today: Theo’s Legacy
Callie sat down with Marquette Today to talk about the loss of the Theo and Project Bubaloo. The article also features Project Bubaloo Research Fund recipient Dr. Joy Lincoln, who emphasizes the continued importance of funding congenital heart disease research.
Future is Female: Callie Chiroff
Callie was featured in OnMilwaukee’s series, The Future Is Female, featuring the most interesting, innovative and intelligent women in the city of Milwaukee. As part of the series, Callie answered the 8 questions each featured woman is asked, and she shed light on Project Bubaloo and its mission.
Podcast
In May 2019, founder, Callie Chiroff participated in a podcast that included Marquette University president, Dr. Michael Lovell, Children’s Wisconsin president, Peggy Troy, Marquette men’s basketball head coach, Steve Wojciechowski, and Marquette basketball player, George Thompson. She was able to share Theo’s story and how CHD effects our community.
Miracle Marathon
The Miracle Marathon, an annual 48-hour radio show on 96.5 WKLH, raises money for Children’s Wisconsin. Callie was asked to share Theo’s story and engage in a discussion about loss, grief, the effects of congenital heart disease, and the impact that Children’s Wisconsin has on the community. Her live video was watched by over 8,000 people.
Public Affairs Interview with Alley Faith
Callie, Lindy Shaw (wife of Milwaukee Brewers 3rd baseman Travis Shaw) and daughter Ryann Shaw, met with morning show DJ Alley Faith, on KISS FM’s public affairs show to promote the Heart and Sole 5K. They also spent time telling their stories and sharing how CHD has affected their lives.
The Mighty
Callie has found writing to be therapeutic following Theo’s passing. Her article featured on The Mighty, “11 Things New Heart Parents Need to Know,” has been liked by over 10,000 people and has reached tens of thousands of readers.
Conquering CHD Advocacy Conference
In March 2020, Callie was asked by Conquering CHD to serve as the keynote speaker at their CHD Advocacy Conference in Washington DC. The weekend was filled with networking among medical providers, researchers, parents, and patients. Conference attendees marched together on Capitol Hill to ask state representatives for increased funding for CHD research.
“Greater Than One” Panel
Callie served, alongside other leaders in the community, on the “Greater Than One" panel at Marquette University. Students spent time with the panel asking how they can start making a difference and how to follow their passion in giving back. Callie shared her experience of loss and how the world of CHD has shifted her focus to philanthropy and making a difference in the world of CHD.
Giving Thanks
Nurses Week
To show our gratitude to the care nurses provide to those with CHD in their respective communities, we partnered with WKP Apparel to provide limited edition “Cities” Project Bubaloo shirts to five children’s hospitals in Chicago, Atlanta, Ann Arbor, Columbus and Milwaukee.
In 2021, we donated Pediatric Heart Surgery: A Ready Reference for Professionals by Eliot May, to each member of the nursing staff in the CICU at Children's Wisconsin. This picture book describes pediatric heart defects and their surgical corrections. It serves as an excellent resource and is a must have for any medical professional.
Staff Appreciation at Children’s Wisconsin
Every year, on Theo’s birthday and the anniversary of his death, we celebrate his life by providing an appreciation lunch for the staff at Children’s Wisconsin.
