Celebrating 70 Years

This year, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital is celebrating 70 years of serving children in the Memphis area and worldwide. The journey began in 1944, when Memphis was in need of a hospital committed to children. Le Bonheur Club, a group of women dedicated to serving underprivileged children in the community, answered the call raising more than $2 million to build the facility.

On June 15, 1952, Le Bonheur Club’s president released red balloons with keys to the hospital attached — signifying that the doors would always be open to any child in need — and officially welcomed families to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

In the course of 70 years, Le Bonheur has transformed from a small community hospital to a nationally ranked health care leader caring for children across the globe. Strong programs of excellence provide cutting-edge treatment and groundbreaking discoveries that save lives.

Though technology has changed and medicine has advanced in the last 70 years, one thing remains the same: Le Bonheur Children’s commitment to kids.

Today Le Bonheur heals the tiniest neonates with critical needs, operates on young adults who require complex brain surgeries and cares for children with serious heart defects. Because of Le Bonheur, children who might not have survived a few decades ago are now thriving.