Good News for Tiny Livers & Big Hearts

As the greatest professor character ever written used to say, "Good news, everyone!" Positive efforts are verifiably leading to upward movement in the world around us and I am stoked to share this with you.

Prepare yourselves! For what Michael Van Laeken* , has done for the betterment of humanity:

"My wife and I have been raising money for Riley Hospital for Children since we lost our first daughter, Makenna, to acute liver failure back in 2008. We established the Makenna Van Laeken Endowment Fund for Liver Research to help advance research and advocacy for liver related diseases/conditions. The interest from the endowed fund is used to host a semi-frequent symposium for doctors and nurses as well as annual research projects for between 2 and 4 medical students. Our annual fundraiser is today!..... I should also note we have raised over $500,000 since the first event held in 2008."

Michael Van Laeken, who founded The Makenna Van Laeken Pediatric Liver Disease Endowment Program with his wife.

Check out this heartwarming annual event benefiting Riley's Children's Foundation started an endowment fund with his wife through for Riley Hospital for Children. The annual fundraiser for The Makenna Van Laeken Pediatric Liver Disease Endowment Program is tomorrow! There's even a brochure from a previous symposium, so grab some tea and learn yourself while choosing a Treat to Yo'Self from the auction list.

There are items for auction at the Annual Riley Haystack Fundraiser and it closes at noon on Sunday - THIS SUNDAY! Which is March 8, 2026. Better yet, this wholesome liver-treating event has quite the robust track record. Here are some links to explore The Makenna Van Laeken Pediatric Liver Disease Endowment Program connections and past engagements:

Indiana University, 2015

Cub Scouts, 2023

Symposium, 2021

I love this. Art & Other fundraisers are punching up through the nonsense to support sheltering folks in the Twin Cities, fertility empowerment for females in Wisconsin, suicide prevention for trans peeps, and all manner of internationally stressed groups among us.

One more time [Daft Punk plays in the background], you can follow the link embedded at the end of this sentence to support this year's Riley Haystack Fundraiser!

Be good & rockosophize well,

Rock Rat

* MVL merits a biography in conservation restoration in the age of....well, modern America