Children's Hospital Dedicates The Helis Foundation Memorial Chapel

The interfaith chapel celebrates the lifetime giving of The Helis Foundation, in loving memory of Mrs. William G. Helis, Sr.

NEW ORLEANS – In April, Children’s Hospital New Orleans celebrated the naming and dedication of its new chapel, The Helis Foundation Memorial Chapel, in recognition of the lifetime giving of The Helis Foundation to Children’s Hospital totaling $1.7 million. The chapel was named in loving memory of Mrs. William G. Helis, Sr.

The new chapel was carefully designed to be a prominent and much needed feature of Children’s Hospital’s recent $300 million campus transformation, with spiritual care serving as an integral service provided for the hospital’s patients, families and team members who are often navigating difficult or stressful healthcare journeys.

“The Helis Foundation Memorial Chapel is a beautiful space that amplifies the meaningful work of our dedicated spiritual care team,” said Lou Fragoso, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “Through the generosity of The Helis Foundation, we are proud to provide a space that offers peace, comfort and healing on a daily basis.”

The long history of giving from The Helis Foundation has supported the vital mission of Children’s Hospital New Orleans for more than 25 years.

“The Helis Foundation has been a longstanding supporter of Children’s Hospital and its mission to improve the health of children across our region,” said David Kerstein, President of The Helis Foundation. “We are proud to honor the life of Mrs. William G. Helis, Sr. through dedication of the new chapel, a space that will positively impact countless children and their families for many years to come.”

In 2017, Children’s Hospital broke ground on the most significant expansion project in the hospital’s history. The campus transformation effort added 230,000 square feet of new clinical care space, bringing together infrastructure, technology, and unmatched expertise to deliver a healthier, happier future for Louisiana’s children. The expansion was completed in November 2021, and in 2022, the hospital cared for 65,000 more children than it did just five years prior.

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About The Helis Foundation

The Helis Foundation is a Louisiana private foundation, established and funded by the William Helis Family in 1955. The Helis Foundation’s resources and objectives are divided into two areas: the general fund, and the Diana Helis Henry and Adrienne Helis Malvin Art Funds. The general fund focuses on community needs primarily within the Metropolitan New Orleans area by granting funds to numerous local nonprofit organizations. The Art Funds were established by bequests from Diana Helis Henry and Adrienne Helis Malvin and were funded exclusively by Mrs. Henry and Mrs. Malvin’s personal and private resources upon their deaths. The Art Funds make grants to sustain operations, to provide free admission to, and to acquire significant art works on behalf of institutions within the Metropolitan New Orleans area. The Art Funds also helps underwrite major initiatives and special projects. Learn more at https://www.thehelisfoundation.org.

About Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Diamondhead, MS. Children’s offers primary care services at 12 convenient locations and remotely via its Virtual Care for Kids program. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Tulane Medical Center, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at chnola.org.