The foundation hosts the exclusive annual golf event for UCH. This 2005 donation represents funds raised at the 4th Annual Rocky Start Foundation Charity Golf Tournament in September at the prestigious Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast.

Underwritten by presenting sponsors Moore Electric and Rohm Insurance, participants included SunCal Companies; Electro Dynamic Services; Tiempo Escrow II; ABD Insurance; SAF-T-CO; Walter's Wholesale; Vineyard Bank; Lluella Morey Murphey Foundation; Crest Steel; Wayco Insurance; University of California, Irvine; Wiegel, Szekel & Walker, CPAs; Arch Insurance; Pediatrix Medical Group; Pechanga Resort & Casino; RMD Rebar and Pindroh and Frame families.

Following the golf tournament, the event featured a sit-down dinner and program, with Kent French of the Mighty Ducks Hockey Club serving as this year’s guest emcee, a silent auction and awards. Highlighting the evening program was the exciting live auction, during which dinner guests and golfers alike sponsored individual pieces of NICU equipment, raising over $50,000 – all in about 10 minutes!

“We want to thank all the participants in this year’s benefit,” said Roscoe Moore, foundation co-founder and CEO of Moore Electrical Contracting, Inc. of Corona, Calif. “This event is our way of ‘paying it forward’ to the hundreds of babies treated at the UCI Medical Center NICU each year. Thanks to the expertise of the neonatal staff there, our son Rocky is alive today, and together they are the inspiration for us to start the foundation and this annual golf tournament.”

The Rocky Start Foundation was created in 2002 by grateful parents Roscoe and Barbara Moore. It is named for one of their twin sons, Rocky, because of his “rocky” start in life that included a stay in UCI Medical Center’s NICU. The foundation’s sole purpose is to raise funds and awareness for the unit; its founders have a deep-seated appreciation of the doctors and nurses who saved the life of their infant twin son.

“We experienced firsthand the anguish of a child born with complications due to premature birth, something thousands of other families face every year in Southern California,” explained Barbara, Rocky’s mother and foundation co-founder.

“We’re dedicated to ensuring that other families receive the same premier treatment and care that we experienced during a very traumatic time, while our son was in the care of the wonderful physicians and nurses at the NICU at University Children’s Hospital,” added Barbara. “That is what this foundation is all about.”

Now a happy and healthy five-year-old, Rocky was born prematurely with lungs that were not fully developed. His serious respiratory difficulties were complicated by a heart valve that did not close. Critically-ill at birth, an emergency NICU transport team whisked him from a community hospital to the NICU at UCI Medical Center. Following a 13-day fight for life, Rocky joined his twin brother, Hank; sister, Anjolie; and parents at their Yorba Linda home.

More than 500 children are cared for in the NICU at University Children’s Hospital every year. “We’re proud that Rocky is a testament to the miracles that UCH works every day,” added Roscoe, Rocky’s father and foundation co-founder.

“By joining the Rocky Start Foundation effort, your support directly benefits University Children’s Hospital that treats more than 30,000 children annually,” added Roscoe. “It is hailed in the community for its innovative, life-saving pediatric medical technology.”

The foundation has purchased sophisticated equipment that helps the smallest, most critically-ill infants at UCI Medical Center. The 2005 live auction generated 12 individual pieces of equipment, all of which are designed to minimize the stresses of critical care of tiny infants. “This is the one charity golf tournament that will impact the lives of hundreds of babies in Southern California,” said Barbara.

“Barbara and Roscoe Moore demonstrate their gratitude as parents in both words and deeds,” commented Dr. Feizal Waffarn, Chief of the Department of Pediatrics and Rocky’s doctor in the NICU. “They continue to express this by making invaluable contributions-both intangible and tangible. The intangible contribution is the joy they bring to physicians, nurses, and all NICU staff members experience when they see the happy faces of grateful parents. The tangible contributions are self-evident, and include sophisticated pieces of equipment, such as the state-of-the-art Giraffe Isolette and other non-invasive monitoring devices.

“We need more parents like the Moores in the community,” added Dr. Waffarn, “to educate the community of the excellence in care provided in the NICU at UCH and inspire other leaders to use their positions to build a base for our university hospital.”

Plans are already underway for the 5th Annual Rocky Start Foundation Charity Golf Tournament in September 2006. For more information about the Rocky Start Foundation, please contact Judy Michaels, Director of Development, at (714) 538-7873 or visit www.rockystart.org.

About UCI Medical Center: UCI Medical Center is the only university hospital in Orange County, offering acute- and general-care service. It has the county's only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Included in its University Children's Hospital is the county's most sophisticated neonatal unit, caring for more than 500 premature and at-risk infants a year. UCI also is the only hospital in Orange County recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s annual listing of “America's Best Hospitals” and to the first to receive Magnet Designation for nursing excellence.