Harry Winston donates $1M to hospital

Maureen and Bryan Stockton received the Humanitarian Award at the Kaleidoscope Ball, benefiting the UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute, where Harry Winston also announced it was donating $1 million to a fellowship program.Los Angeles--Harry Winston Inc. has made a $1 million gift to the UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute to create the Harry Winston Fellowship Fund.

The donation makes the jewelry and watch company, which is owned by the Swatch Group, the first corporate sponsor of the pediatric fellowship program at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA. It will support the work of young pediatric physician-scientists who are conducting research to prevent, treat and cure diseases and illnesses of children.

An internal selection committee led by Dr. Sherin Devaskar, physician-in-chief of Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA and executive director of the UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute, will chose the Harry Winston fellows and fund recipients each year.

The three selected fellows will be physician-scientists in their second and third year of fellowship who have “demonstrated a commitment to a career in academic medicine,” the company said in a statement. The winners will be announced in the coming months.

“The Los Angeles community holds a very special meaning for Harry Winston. It is where Mr. Winston spent his own childhood, and first began to realize his passion and future would be in precious jewels,” said Harry Winston CEO Nayla Hayek. “Through the Harry Winston Fellowship Fund, we are so proud to support the vital work of these talented young physician-scientists. It is our hope that through their innovative research and groundbreaking ideas, all children will have the opportunity for a more brilliant and healthy future, to realize their own dreams.” 

The fellowship program officially was announced at the second annual Kaleidoscope Ball, a benefit for the institute held Thursday at the Beverly Hill Hotel in Los Angeles. The event included a cocktail reception, dinner and a special performance by Grammy Award-winning musicians Vince Gill and Amy Grant.

It was hosted by Extra’s Maria Menounos, and honored brother-and-sister entertainers Julianne and Derek Hough with the Kaleidoscope Award, given to members of the entertainment industry who help improve the lives of children through their professional achievements and personal humanitarianism.

Maureen and Bryan Stockton also received the Humanitarian Award for their commitment to civic philanthropy, and 9-year-old Grace Suomi, a former patient of Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, received the Innovator Award.