On Thursday, March 22, Walter's Children's Charity Classic presented a check for $240,000 to Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

Over the past 11 years, the Walter's Children's Charity Classic has successfully raised more than $1.9 million for LLUCH. This year's donation came from the organization's 11th year celebration on Oct. 16, 2006, at Victoria Country Club in Riverside. Guests enjoyed a fun day of golf and a Monte Carlo night during the evening.

This year's proceeds will go to the Child Protection Center/Child Abuse Prevention Program, a hospital-based effort that is shaped by the real-life tragedies that clinicians encounter. The program has also been significantly inspired and influenced by successful prevention programs operating in other states which have seen a 50 percent decrease in abusive head trauma.

"There is not a shadow of a doubt that we will be able to make a difference," states Clare Sheridan-Matney, M.D., chief of the division of forensic pediatrics at LLUCH. "Our program has given more than 1,900 presentations at the Children's Hospital. The Walter's generous donation will help expand the program to other community hospitals."

While the current program focuses primarily on infant abusive head trauma, the goal is to reduce the incidence of all types of child abuse, first in the Inland Empire, and eventually spreading to other counties throughout southern California, as well.