Simon’s Fund Annual Gala: Simon’s Soiree
Phyllis and Darren Sudman, founders of Simons Fund, with their children Jaden and Sally.
Simon’s Fund held its annual gala, Simon’s Soiree, on Saturday at the Sheraton Hotel in Valley Forge in honor of Darren and Phyllis Sudman’s son Simon, who died suddenly of a heart defect in January 2005 at the age of 3. After Simon died, the family learned that children aren’t regularly checked for heart defects; that’s why they started Simon’s Fund with money raised from friends and Philadelphia-area businesses. The nonprofit goes to schools where it administers EKGs to students.
In the 11 years since the founding of Simon’s Fund, the organization has raised more than $1 million and provided free cardiac screenings to more than 11,000 kids. They have uncovered treatable, and in some cases potentially fatal, heart problems in nearly 100 kids. Saturday evening many of the organization’s friends and supporters came to the Sheraton Hotel to help raise more money toward their goals, as well as honor Dr. Brian Hainline, the Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA, with the Protect This Heart Award for his work recommending that NCAA sports require EKG exams.
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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.