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ORCHID ISLAND COMMUNITY RAISES OVER
$251,000 FOR
PEDIATRIC SPINE SURGERIES IN NICARAGUA
Local family's mission to help
children with severe spinal conditions
inspires extraordinary generosity from
the Orchid Island community
More than 120 residents of the Orchid
Island Golf & Beach Club gathered at the
home of Jim and Meg McLaughlin for a
heartfelt cocktail reception benefiting
SpineHope, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
dedicated to bringing advanced spinal
treatment to children in underserved
communities around the world. The event
raised over $251,000 to fund essential
spinal surgeries for children in
Nicaragua.
The event was hosted by Orchid Island
residents, David and Silvia Illingworth,
who share a deep personal connection to
the cause. Their son, Dr. Kenneth
Illingworth, a pediatric spine surgeon
at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los
Angeles, has volunteered with SpineHope
since early 2024, traveling with a team
to Nicaragua three times over the past
year to perform complex life-saving
surgeries.
“These are kids with conditions that
would never be treated otherwise,” said
David Illingworth, who also attends the
missions alongside his wife, Silvia.
“There’s no capability in Nicaragua to
perform these kind of pediatric spine
cases, if SpineHope doesn’t do it, no
one else will. Our son and the SpineHope
team bring everything with them—from
surgical tools to implants—and perform
these surgeries for free.”
Each mission trip includes a team of 15
to 17 volunteers and sufficient
equipment to establish a functioning
operating room. During a single trip,
the team can treat up to ten children.
Surgeries can last last 6 to 8 hours and
can cost upwards to $300,000 each in the
U.S., but the SpineHope team can
complete a full mission (which includes
travel expenses, equipment, and
treatment) for approximately $50,000.
“Every single dollar raised is going
directly to help these kids,”
said Mr. Illingworth. “With only one paid staff member at SpineHope,
almost every penny supports the mission.
That was important to us, and I think
that’s why so many Orchid Island
residents felt compelled to give.”
Dawn Deakin, SpineHope’s executive
director, is also gratified by the
community’s goodwill and
humanitarianism. “Thanks to the
incredible generosity of the Orchid
Island community, children with
debilitating spinal deformities have
real hope,” said Deakin. “On behalf of
SpineHope and the kids, we extend our
deepest gratitude, your impact is
profound. Thank you for making a
difference.”
The evening’s special guest, Dr. Kenneth
Illingworth, flew in from
Los Angeles to speak about the mission.
His heartfelt presentation, which many
attendees described as “emotionally
moving,” underscored the urgent need for
support and the incredible impact the
community’s donations would have.
“We weren’t planning for anything this
big,” said Silvia Illingworth. “Jim and
Meg McLaughlin kindly offered to host a
small event, and it just grew from
there. We had to cap attendance at 120
because of space, and yet we still
raised over $251,000. The generosity of
this community blew us away.”
The event was catered by Orchid Island’s
culinary team, with elegant hors
d'oeuvres and cocktails served in a
relaxed, resort-casual setting that
allowed guests to connect personally
with the cause. The story of Dr.
Illingworth’s work resonated deeply,
especially given his ties to Orchid
Island and his Nicaraguan heritage (his
mother, Silvia, is Nicaraguan).
“People know our son,” Mr. Illingworth
said. “He’s played in the Orchid Cup,
attended events, and has been part of
this community for years. The Orchid
Island community supports many
worthwhile charitable causes, but this
was directly connected, something very
personal and people responded to that in
a very generous way.”
Headquartered in Austin, Texas,
SpineHope has been delivering pediatric
spine surgeries globally since 2008,
with missions to countries such as
Ukraine, Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa
Rica. Nicaragua is among the
organization’s more recent focus areas
and the Orchid Island fundraiser fully
covered the costs of an April 6–13
mission and enabled eight life-changing
corrective spine surgeries and 33
patient examinations. Donations will
also be used to build a sustainable
pediatric spine program in the Central
American region.
“We wanted to ensure every donor knew
that their contribution was directly
changing a life,” added Mr. Illingworth.
“And I believe we have accomplished
that. The generosity of our community
has changed the trajectory of
SpineHope’s ability to transform the
lives of these kids and for that we are
deeply grateful.”
For more information or to contribute to
SpineHope’s mission in transforming
children’s lives worldwide through spine
surgery, education, and research, visit
www.spinehope.org
Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club is
located at One Beachside Drive, Vero
Beach. For more information, visit
www.OrchidIslandFL.com
About Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club
Spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Indian River, Orchid Island Golf and
Beach Club is highly sought-after for
its laidback waterfront lifestyle. The
Beach Club serves as the heart of the
community, with a resort-style pool,
world-class fitness center, day spa, and
contemporary dining venues, some
offering stunning views of the azure
Atlantic Ocean. Residents also enjoy
nearly a mile of a secluded beach, an
Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf
course, and an Audubon Cooperative
Sanctuary. Located along Florida’s
Treasure Coast, Orchid Island showcases
a wide variety of premier riverfront,
oceanfront and estate homes, cottages,
and luxury condominiums. For more
information, call (772) 388-3888 or
visit
www.OrchidIslandFL.com
About SpineHope
SpineHope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization dedicated to transforming
the lives of children with complex
spinal deformities through expert
surgical care, education, and support.
Founded in 2002, SpineHope partners with
medical professionals, hospitals, and
volunteers around the world to bring
life-changing treatment to underserved
communities. By providing advanced
spinal care, training local teams, and
building sustainable medical
infrastructures, SpineHope creates
long-term, meaningful impact in the
lives of children and their families.
For more information, visit
www.spinehope.org
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