Miguel Cervantes brings heart and song to Words & Wisdom event
The ninth annual Words & Wisdom presented by Spurrier Group raised more than $460,000 for CHoR, marking another record-breaking fundraising year for the event. Hosted by the Senior Board of Children’s Hospital Foundation, guests enjoyed an evening with Miguel Cervantes, best known for his standout performance as Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton: An American Musical on Broadway.
A personal connection to pediatric healthcare
Cervantes, who was personally selected by Hamilton creator Lin-Manual Miranda to take over his role of Alexander Hamilton on Broadway in New York and performed the role for 4 years, has a powerful tie to CHoR’s mission. Driven by his family’s experience with pediatric epilepsy, Cervantes is a devoted advocate for advancing epilepsy research. At the sold-out event, he shared the powerful story of his daughter, Adelaide, and her diagnosis of a rare and severe epileptic disorder.
Adelaide was born in October 2015, and her family recognized early developmental delays before she experienced her first seizure at just 5 months old. The timing of Adelaide's diagnosis coincided with one of the most pivotal moments of her father’s professional life — his casting as Hamilton in Chicago. He described going straight from his audition to the hospital, and the surreal experience of navigating both simultaneously. "It was like having a rocket ship in one hand and a parachute in the other," he said.
Over time, the family found footing. "We found a rhythm and a doctor that gave us a system. We had people and a team that understood us. They cared for us, not just Adelaide." But in the summer of 2019, an MRI revealed that Adelaide's brain was shrinking, and the family engaged hospice care. After Adelaide passed, Cervantes reflected on the enormity of the experience. "There was something missing more than just her — it was the energy of the people caring for her." His mother had given the community that surrounded the family the name “Adelaide’s Army.” "We missed those people, the people that helped us love her."
A visit to CHoR’s epilepsy monitoring unit – and the impact of every donated dollar
While in Richmond, Cervantes visited the Children’s Tower, including spending time on the epilepsy monitoring unit. His visit brought him back to the essence of what families in crisis truly need – a compassionate team providing expert care for the whole family. Meeting Dr. Monica Islam, interim chief of pediatric neurology, and her team reminded him of the compassionate, family-centered care that had been so meaningful. “These unsung heroes deserve the standing ovations; they have superhero status.”
To the audience of more than 400 at Words & Wisdom, Cervantes offered a personal message of gratitude and encouragement, and a reflection on the event’s larger purpose. "Maybe something that happens in a room like this changes the world just a little bit and makes it better."
Since 2018, Words & Wisdom has raised nearly $1,500,000 for CHoR. Proceeds from the event are unrestricted, providing the most flexible form of philanthropic support for the hospital and the more than 80,000 children and families who rely on it for care each year.
“Flexible funds are incredibly important to our ability to be nimble and respond to the needs of the hospital,” says Lauren Moore, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation. “In fact, funds like these were instrumental in elevating our epilepsy program to the Level 4 pediatric epilepsy center it is today. The impact of these dollars cannot be overstated.”
“It’s amazing to see how far we have come with this event,” says Robin Schilling, current president of the Senior Board. “We started out as a ladies’ luncheon 8 years ago and raised $40,000. We just continue to grow, which is a testament to the community’s personal investment in the great work happening at CHoR.”
That investment is evident in the growing support from sponsors for Words & Wisdom. Lead supporters for the 2026 event included Spurrier Group, Vince and Sharon Ferranti, Primis, Haley Automotive Group, Genworth │ CareScout, Karen D. Higgins of Harbor Haven Wealth Advisors and QubicaAMF.