100 Years of Le Bonheur Club

1923

Le Bonheur Club is formed.

1940

Le Bonheur Club holds the Le Bonheur Charity Horse Show with special host Bob Hope.

1944

The Memphis Pediatric Society approaches Club members with a dream: building a hospital dedicated to children.

1946

A goal of $2 million – ambitious in a post-war economy – is set to build a children’s hospital in Memphis.

June 15, 1952

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital opens its doors.

1950s

Le Bonheur Club members sew hospital gowns, bed linens and toys. 

1962

Le Bonheur Club begins selling Gold Tags to raise money for Le Bonheur.

1973

Le Bonheur Club celebrates its 50th anniversary and makes a $50,000 gift to the Hospital Building Fund.

1980s

Le Bonheur Club members revive the “Golden Girls” and raise funds for the hospital by singing at events.

1990s

Le Bonheur Club sponsors a new playground at the hospital.

1996

Le Bonheur Club adds “baby hugging” as a shift at the hospital for infants requiring extended hospital stays.

June 15, 2002

Le Bonheur Club helps celebrate 50 years of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

2003

A therapy dog program is started at the hospital and Le Bonheur Club members volunteer as guides for the dogs and handler teams.

2005

Plans are announced to build the new Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

February 14, 2008

Le Bonheur breaks ground for the new hospital. 

2010s

Le Bonheur Club establishes a $1 million Child Life endowment which today funds many things including a music therapist at Le Bonheur.

2012

Le Bonheur Club and Chef Kelly English present the first Le Bon Appetit to raise funds for the hospital.

2019

Le Bonheur Club donates a new specialized pediatric ambulance.

June 15, 2022

Le Bonheur Club hosts Le Bonheur’s 70th birthday party on the hospital’s front lawn.

2023

Le Bonheur Club celebrates 100 years!