Orchid Island Raises Over $250K for Pediatric Spine Surgeries in Nicaragua

VERO BEACH, FL – 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 spinehope.org.
 
Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club is located at One Beachside Drive, Vero Beach. For more information, visit 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 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 spinehope.org.