The Chairman of Acorns Children’s Hospice, Mark Hopton has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours, announced on Saturday (15th June), in recognition of his services to education, healthcare and charities in the West Midlands.
Mark, who has been Chairman of Acorns since 2017, dedicated his award to the charity which provides specialist palliative care to hundreds of life limited and life threatened children and support for their families across the region.
He said: “To receive an MBE is a great honour and I’m deeply humbled to be recognised in this way. This award is testament to the vital work of Acorns and organisations like it across the children’s hospice sector who work with countless children and their families, every single day.
“It’s a profound privilege to be involved in a charity like Acorns, an organisation with the most dedicated staff and volunteers imaginable, and whose high level of expertise and compassion makes our care possible.
“Most importantly, this award bears testament to the children and families we are here to serve, whose courage and strength inspires us every day to continue in our mission.”
Prior to Acorns, Mark enjoyed a diverse and rewarding career with the global business advisory firm KPMG and has also held roles as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Governors at Birmingham City University and Chairman of Governors at Solihull School.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and support for their families.
In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 750 children across the West Midlands, and supported almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.
Two thirds of the amount needed to continue the charity’s care comes from fundraising, donations and the profits from its charity shops.
Find out more about Acorns by visiting www.acorns.org.uk