Pediatric Clinic Fundraiser Nets Nearly $10K

Nearly 500 people turned out Saturday for the grand-opening ceremony for a new nonprofit pediatric clinic in Lake Forest.

The aMAYZing Kids clinic is the namesake of Hailey Mayz Vassilaros, the daughter of Sean and Wendy Vassilaros, who passed away at the age of 3.

The couple teamed up with three longtime therapists who had treated Hailey—born in 2006 with a congenitial abnormality of the esophagus—to  this September.

The nonprofit clinic, which assists under-insured or uninsured families with pediatric care, raised nearly $10,000 at the weekend event.

At the event, founders revealed their plan to build an indoor, two-story playhouse to be used as a therapy environment for teaching real-world skills to young patients. [See photos of renderings of the "My Life Gym" to the right.]

Volunteers—friends, family and members of youth groups—played an essential role in making the event a success, Sean Vassilaros said.

Reality television stars Dana Wilkey, from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and Peggy Tanousco from the Real Housewives of Orange County, co-hosted the event.

Local businesses donated food for attendees. The total amount raised was bolstered by a successful raffle of a piece of jewelry donated by Black, Starr & Frost as well as a silent auction that included a vacation trip to the Bahamas, Vassilaros said.

Also Saturday, the new Bake Parkway business was formally welcomed by the  and by the city with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.