

12th Annual CHOC Classic
APRIL 15, 2024 | Pelican Hill Golf Club
Our prestigious tournament promises a day of world-class golf with great ocean views at one of the world’s finest golf destinations. Enjoy 18 championship holes on Pelican Hill’s picturesque north and south courses, continental breakfast and box lunch, followed by a raffle and an awards reception.
Thank you to everyone who helped sell out this year’s CHOC Classic. If you’d still like to participate or learn more about future opportunities, please let us know.

Learn about where your gift goes.
Join our compassionate experts in preserving the magic of childhood.

See the impact of your generosity.
Hear real stories of hope and healing made possible by our community.

Become a part of our community.
Help us treat more patients, find better cures and send more kids home.

What was ailing 5-year-old Max was a mystery. Fortunately, he was in CHOC’s expert, caring hands, where we diagnosed him with acute lymphoblastic leukemia—along with providing him and his family with a comprehensive array of supportive services. This and everything we achieve for all our patients and families begins with our community’s support.
Read Max’s Story
The crystalline, green-blue ocean beckoned.
Max, 5 at the time, wasn’t interested.
It was July 2021, and the Anayas – Max, his two younger brothers, Leo, 3, and Lucas, 2, along with older sister Keira, 15, and father Luis and mother Lisbeth – were vacationing in La Paz, on the Baja California peninsula.
For a kid who practically lived at the beach back home in Southern California, Max’s disinterest in dipping into the 82 F-degree waters of La Paz was alarming.
He had complained about lower back pain. His parents thought it was from the two-day drive to the coastal city in Mexico.
“After the second day of him not wanting to go to the beach,” Luis recalls, “I definitely knew something was up.”
Luis drove Max to an emergency room in Cabo San Lucas, about 125 miles south, where his blood was analyzed.
The doctor told Luis he didn’t know what was ailing Max, but that his spleen and liver were swollen. He recommended Max stay for a week for observation.
Luis had enough medical background to be concerned. He was a Navy medic attached to a Marine unit who, between his service from 2002 to 2009, twice was deployed to Afghanistan.
The Anayas cut their summer vacation short and took Max to Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD).

Emergency visit to CHOC
Max had more bloodwork done at NMCSD, but doctors there thought he had a virus or was getting over one.
Max’s diagnosis remained a mystery after they later saw their pediatrician.
About a month after the trip to La Paz, when Max’s back pain had worsened and he became even more lethargic, the Anayas took him to the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department at CHOC Hospital.
During his two-week stay, pediatric oncologist Dr. Jamie Frediani diagnosed Max with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a rapidly growing cancer that starts in the white blood cells in bone marrow.
“It was heartbreaking,” Luis says, “the worst news I’ve ever been told.”
Dr. Frediani started chemotherapy treatment on Max, who was a trooper when getting his chemotherapy port, a quarter-size reservoir through which medications go directly into a large vein.
“His energy and how he’s been dealing with all of this – my wife and I get our strength from him,” Luis says
Oncology research studies at CHOC
As part of his chemotherapy care, Max was getting his blood and spinal fluid evaluated routinely. During his treatment at CHOC, Max’s parents Luis and Lisbeth agreed for some of these samples to be used in six research studies to advance the fight against childhood cancer.
Among pediatric and adolescent young adult cancer patients, improvements in survival have been attributed to enrollment in clinical trials. And such research can pay huge dividends for other patients down the line.
The promising studies Max has been enrolled in include some led by CHOC’s own doctors.
For example, one study is trying to reduce the potentially harsh side effects of the chemotherapy drug used to treat Max’s cancer. Another is looking at a possible marker in blood and spinal fluid that can indicate a loss of mental function during treatment. While a third is exploring why Hispanic children with acute leukemia, like Max, do not do as well on treatment as non-Hispanic children—and how to improve their outcomes.
Full of energy
Max’s treatment is going great, his parents say.
On a recent Zoom call, the now-7-year-old was bubbling with energy.
Max says he enjoys how CHOC treated him. He takes a pill daily at home and goes to the hospital for chemotherapy treatment every three months.
Max is scheduled to end his chemotherapy with us soon and is doing really well.
Lisbeth raves, “All of the nurses have been great. We are super happy with the treatment Max has received.” Luis adds, “Since day one, everyone’s been great. Everyone has treated us with respect.”
And when it comes to their young son, Luis confides, “His energy and how he’s been dealing with all of this—my wife and I get our strength from him.”
Max, in turn, is receiving tremendous strength from the love and support of his devoted family.
For instance, when he lost his hair because of the chemotherapy, Max’s dad and two brothers shaved their own heads in solidarity.

Max still doesn’t completely understand his condition.
Recently, he asked his father why he got sick.
“In Mexico, when he managed to go into the water once, he got hit by a wave and tossed around,” Luis says. “He thought that was the onset of all of this.”
No, it wasn’t. And hopefully soon, Max will be back celebrating at the beach.
Thank You to Our Participants and Sponsors
You are the reason why the CHOC Classic has raised nearly $5 million to help kids get back to being kids. Thank you to everyone who helped sell out this year’s CHOC Classic. If you’d still like to participate or learn more about future opportunities, please let us know.
Meet Our Sponsors
Tee-off

Fairway


“All of the nurses have been great. We are super happy with the treatment Max has received – Since day one, everyone’s been great. Everyone has treated us with respect.”

Lisbeth Anaya
Grateful Family & Max’s Mom“We are different and our quality of care is higher because of the philanthropic support that we receive… We cannot and would not ever be able to do what we do for these kids without what the donors are doing for us.”

Dani Milliken
Clinical Director, The Cherese Mari Laulhere Mental Health Inpatient Center“So grateful to be at CHOC. Our experience here so far has been exceptional! The nurses, doctors and all staff are so inviting and professional. CHOC will always be my recommendation.”

Anonymous
Grateful FamilyWhy CHOC?
At CHOC, Long Live Childhood is our mantra. It is our rallying cry. We live it. We breathe it. We practice it. Every day. In every way. That’s why we’ve assembled a mighty brigade of nationally-recognized pediatric experts, premier facilities and generous donors dedicated to giving kids the best chance of growing into healthy and happy adults.
Contact Us
Use the button below for any general questions, and a member of the CHOC Classic team will get back to you as soon as possible. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact our event leads directly.
Event Details
Date and Location
Monday, April 15, 2024
Pelican Hill Golf Club
22800 S Pelican Hill Rd, Newport Coast, CA 92657
Parking
Complementary Valet
Event Schedule
Coming Soon…
Course Rules
Visit Pelican Hill Golf Club Course Rules
Event Questions
Emily Bartlett
Assistant Director of Community Engagement, CHOC Foundation
714-509-8269 | Emily.Bartlett@choc.org
Sponsorship Questions
Winnie Tran
Senior Director of Community Engagement, CHOC Foundation
714-509-4229 | wtran@choc.org
Are donations tax-deductible?
All monetary donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information, please email foundation@choc.org.
Where should I mail donation checks?
Please mail all check donations to:
Attn: CHOC Classic
CHOC Foundation
1201 W. La Veta Avenue
Orange, CA 92868
Who should I make my check out to?
Please make all checks payable to the CHOC Foundation.
Can I mail in a cash donation?
We do not recommend using mail to send cash donations. Instead, you may drop off the cash at the CHOC Foundation along with your information. You can also deposit the cash into your checking account and send a personal check from your account.
What is CHOC Foundation’s tax ID number?
The CHOC Foundation tax ID number is 95-6097416.
How can I get a receipt for my donation?
If you donated online, you should receive an e-receipt to your email at the time of your donation. If you donated by mail or in person, a receipt will be mailed to your address. If you have not received a receipt, please call the Foundation office at (714) 509-8690.
Where is the CHOC Foundation located?
The CHOC Foundation’s physical address is
1120 West La Veta Ave
Suite 500
Orange, CA 92868
Our mailing address is
1201 West La Veta Ave
Orange, CA 92868
Where is CHOC’s donor privacy policy?
CHOC’s full privacy policy and Donor Bill of Rights can be found here.
Can I donate to CHOC through my donor-advised fund?
Yes, however, there may be some restrictions. Donor-advised funds are acceptable for straight donations, but there are restrictions on ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorships as they may provide goods or services. Please contact your donor-advised fund manager if you have any questions.