Little Warriors, Big Victors,

About the event

The mission of the Fund is to further research at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital that is focused on uncovering avenues to save premature babies and enhance their outcomes, as well as prevent premature birth.

We invite you to support the Fund in fulfilling our mission to enable more of our littlest babies to go home with their families and thrive.

Little Warriors, Big Victors

Thursday, November 17, 2016

The Detroit Athletic Club

241 Madison Avenue

Detroit, Michigan  48226  

Strolling small plates, Daniel Cascardo Art Action Experience, and Silent Auction

6 pm-8 pm  

Dueling Pianos “Piano Wars” Entertainment

7 pm-9 pm

 Business/Cocktail Attire   

Event Website: http://littlewarriorsbigvictors.com

Donations to the event are tax-deductible as permitted by law.

"Little Warriors, Big Victors" We invite you to join us as we raise awareness and funds to support groundbreaking research benefiting the lives of premature babies and their families. Net proceeds from the event will be donated to the Warren E. Korneffel Neonatal Research Fund at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, a 501(c)3 organization.  

Please join us for a fun and inspirational evening including small plates, wine, beer and cocktails designed by renowned DAC mixologist Lola Gegovic.  The entertainment includes dueling pianos from "Piano Wars." Daniel Cascardo will be interacting with guests during the Cascardo Art Action Experience, where he will invite guests to contribute to his custom work of art. In addition, there will be unique silent auction items suitable for holiday gift giving.  A brief program will feature the Medical Director of C.S. Mott Children's Hospital’s Brandon Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Robert E. Schumacher.  

Warren's fund was founded in 2013 in memory of Warren E. Korneffel, a twin born at 28 weeks 5 days, who was taken from us too soon as a result of neonatal sepsis.  Our mission is to improve results for premature babies through research that shows a measurable, clinical impact on outcomes.

Our first project funded two years of groundbreaking research from an up and coming superstar, Dr. Jenni Bermick.  She has already shown measurable and clinically applicable results in just seven months of having her study up and running.

We would like to continue to fund her groundbreaking investigation, as well as support other research and programs that enhance the outcomes of premature babies.

Please contact *****@****.*** or visit http://littlewarriorsbigvictors.com 

Why should you sponsor?

Help support lifesaving research saving premature babies.  Additionally, 200-400 high net-worth, college-educated community leaders will be gathered at the prestiguous Detroit Athletic Club.  We will have attendees from the entire metro Detroit area, especially Ann Arbor, the Grosse Pointes, Grosse Ile, and the Bloomfield Hills suburbs.  Our network is extensive and varied due to committee members that have associations with the University of Michigan, Michigan State University Medical School, Beaumont Health, the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, The Old Club, the Detroit Athletic Club, various industry and business associations, and many business owners. The cause is appealing to many people and not divisive.  Who doesn't want to help save our littlest babies?

Stephanie Korneffel

 

Warren Korneffel and his twin brother Kohler were born three months prematurely. Shortly beforehand, at 26 weeks pregnant, their parents found out that Warren had a condition in which the blood traveling through the umbilical cord was not nourishing him properly, and that an urgent C-section was required at 28 weeks and 5 days to deliver the boys safely. Despite several challenges, Warren and Kohler entered the world relatively healthy on October 23, 2013, weighing in at 1 pound 15 ounces and 2 pounds 10 ounces, respectively. Their parents fell in love at first sight with both of their precious boys.

Knowing their road would be a bit bumpy at the start, mom and dad rented a condo close to the hospital to be close to the boys while they remained in the NICU. The first few days were difficult, watching as they were intubated and extubated, and feeling somewhat helpless as parents; but, it seemed both boys were doing better. Warren, in particular, was very alert for hours at a time, showing his spirit and his feistiness, kicking his legs and staring up at his parents. He was their “little warrior.”

On day seven, however, mom just knew something was not right with Warren, and had a sudden urge to stay with him. Mom and dad would then find out that bacteria had invaded Warren’s lungs and airway, causing an infection. And, while the medical team gave their best effort to save him with CPR and medical interventions, on October 31, 2013, eight days after the boys’ birth, Warren passed away surrounded by his parents and extended family.

Determined to create a legacy for Warren — to continue parenting him, to show the world how important he is, and to set an example for his twin brother — the Korneffels established the Warren E. Korneffel Neonatal Research Fund in his memory. Their vision is to further research at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital focused on uncovering avenues to save premature babies and enhance their outcomes, as well as prevent premature birth. As a first step, the fund is supporting new groundbreaking research around immune dysregulation in neonatal sepsis. It is the Korneffels’ hope that no other parent has to experience the loss of a child.

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