History of Friends

Brenner Children's Hospital & Health Services of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is a "hospital within a hospital", dedicated to patient care and to education and research on the special problems of children.

Through a generous gift from the Brenner family in 1986, the long awaited dream of a children's hospital became a reality.  Between July of 1989 and April of 1990, the Children's Hospital moved its facilities to a three-floor unit in the North Tower.  In April of 2002, the Brenner Children’s Hospital – Ardmore Tower West celebrated its Grand Opening.  The new facility consists of 160 private rooms, six playrooms, interactive video wall and a rooftop garden with playground equipment. 

The Friends of Brenner Children's Hospital & Health Services is a group of dedicated volunteers who support the hospital through fund-raising and community awareness activities.  In 1987, a steering committee of eight interested people was developed to initiate the introduction of Brenner Children's Hospital to the community and to set up the Friends organization.

By 1988, the first Board of Friends was formed and many fund-raisers were underway, including the Antiques Show and Sale, the WGHP-Fox 8 Holiday Special, Festival of Trees and the Christmas Tag Sale.

Friends now has more than 650 members and organizes events such as the Festival of Trees, Cheers! A toast to children’s health, and the Celebrity Golf Classic.

Volunteers enjoy one of the many Friends of Brenner Meetings.