Pure Romance CEO donates $2M to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for transgender patient care

Sharon Coolidge | Cincinnati Enquirer

Show Caption Hide Caption Living with Change: New foundation will support transgender clinic Living with Change: New foundation will support transgender clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Jessica and Chris Cicchinelli announced a $2 million donation Wednesday to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center', money that will go toward training doctors and nurses to care for transgender patients.

Cicchinelli, the CEO of Pure Romance, and his wife launched the Living with Change Foundation in January, which is dedicated to providing education, resources, and financial assistance to the families, friends and teachers or transgender people.

It grew out their experience with their 10-year-old child, LC, who is transgender. Children's Adolescent and Transition Medicine Clinic helped them accept her as a girl.

“Studies show that (LGBTQ+) youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth,” said Chris Cicchinelli. “It wasn’t until our own child came out as transgender that we truly understood. Our daughter opened our eyes – in more ways than one – to the fact that something must be done."

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The $2 million gift will come to the hospital over the next five years.

The clinic, founded in 2013, has served over 1,000 patients since it opened its doors, tripling its patient base in the past two years.

“This ... is pivotal in uplifting a community that has been historically marginalized,” said Dr. Lee Ann Conard, the clinic's director.