Night of Giving raises more than $520,000 to support pediatric prosthetics program partnership

On Monday, August 31, more than 75 guests gathered at Bella Piatti in Birmingham for Night of Giving. This year’s event, which was sponsored by Dana, TI Automotive, and Tenneco, was created by Nino and Liz Cutraro. The event raised more that $520,000 to support children and families through three remarkable organizations: Corewell Health Children’s, Variety the Children’s Charity of Detroit, and the Children’s Scholarship Fund of Grammichele, Italy.

The impressive guest list that hosts Nino and Liz Cutraro gathered for this event included executive leaders from many of Detroit’s first-tier automotive suppliers. The event highlighted Corewell Health Children’s pediatric rehabilitation program partnership with the Variety Myoelectric Center, which provides state-of-the-art prosthetic technology and individualized patient services for children with limb loss or limb differences.
Unlike traditional prosthetics, myoelectric limbs use electrical signals from surrounding muscles to control movement, allowing children to perform everyday tasks like tying their shoes, riding their bike or carrying their school supplies.

“These moments may seem small,” said Ryan Barto, an occupational therapist at Corewell Health. “But for these children and their families, they are life changing.”

Attendees also heard the inspiring story of pediatric patient Katarina, whose treatment journey demonstrated the transformative impact myoelectric prosthetics can have on a child’s development.

Despite the difference they can make for children and their families, insurance often does not cover these advanced medical devices. Each limb costs upwards of $25,000 and many children go through seven or eight prosthetics before reaching adulthood. This expense, in addition to the cost of ongoing physical and occupational therapy, can place an enormous financial burden on families.

Thanks to the generosity of our Night of Giving attendees, more children will be able to access the myoelectric prosthetics — as well as the related assessments, evaluations and therapy sessions — they need to live their happiest and most fulfilling lives. Generous guests concluded the event by making personal gifts of $500 to $25,000 to underwrite a the next year of myoelectric device enhancements for children in the program.

“Because of your support, these children will gain more than a prosthetic limb,” Barto said to guests at the event. “They will gain independence. They will gain confidence. They will gain opportunities to participate fully at home, at school, on the playground, with their friends and in their communities. Thank you.”