A Family Legacy of Caring

As plans for the long-desired Orlando Health Children’s Pavilion began to take shape, Steve and Linda Weisz were some of the first to hear about the vision for this new model of outpatient specialty care to be provided by Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children medical teams.

The Weiszes made a significant leadership gift to the project while still in its early stages, recognizing its value immediately, both clinically and emotionally, for children and families.

Steve and Linda built careers that reflect deep empathy, a strong commitment to service and a lifelong dedication to healthcare. Linda, a retired pediatric nurse, and Steve, whose professional path included executive leadership roles with Marriott, Marriott Vacations Worldwide and service on the Children’s Miracle Network Board, have raised their children and grandchildren in an environment where volunteerism and philanthropic support come naturally.

Their son, Scott, and his wife, Stephanie, have been involved with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer for nearly 20 years, with Scott serving as past chair of two hospital philanthropy councils and a longtime volunteer of Orlando Torch Relay for Children’s Miracle Network. Daughter, Kristen, and her husband, Dirk, are longtime advocates for pediatric healthcare as well, and Kristen serves as the Chief Programs and Foundation Partnerships Officer at Children’s Miracle Network.

We sat down with Steve and Linda to discuss their views on philanthropy and why the Orlando Health Children’s Pavilion is a project their entire family has committed to supporting.

Q: Why do you believe investing in the community is so important?

Steve: If you have the ability to give back to the community where you live, it’s incredibly rewarding. For us, it’s about knowing that if we contribute, those resources are truly being used to help people — especially children and families when they are in one of their most vulnerable moments.

Linda: From a healthcare perspective, you see very quickly that when a child is sick, the entire family is affected. Anything that can make that experience better — more compassionate, more coordinated — truly matters. Supporting organizations that genuinely put families first just feels like the right thing to do.

Q: Was there a defining moment that inspired your family’s passion for helping children?

Steve: Yes, there was. When Linda was working as a pediatric nurse in Dallas, she cared for a young boy who had cystic fibrosis and they formed a special bond. He loved football, and through my professional connections at the time, I obtained tickets for him and his father to attend a professional game. Sadly, he passed away just days before the game and his dad took the boy’s best friend to the game in his son’s honor. Seeing the joy and hope those tickets gave him stayed with us forever. Not working directly in healthcare, that experience made everything more real for me.

Linda: I’ve known since I was eight years old that I wanted to be a pediatric nurse. I’ve always loved children, and early in my career, I saw both how fragile life can be and how powerful compassionate care is. Those moments never leave you.

Q: How did your relationship with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children begin — and how has it grown?

Steve: My involvement grew naturally in my roles at Marriott and Marriott Vacations Worldwide. Over time, I got to know the people behind the mission at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer. Their sincerity, integrity and the organization’s commitment to excellence helped to showcase the need and a real opportunity to help.

Linda: With my nursing experience, I look closely at physicians, caregivers and programs, but also how families are treated. Over the years, I’ve watched the hospital grow not just in size, but in quality. The depth of pediatric specialties, the value placed on communication with families and the way they deliver heartfelt care have stood out to me.

Q: Multi-generational giving is a big part of your story. How have your children embraced these values?

Linda: Both of our children are incredibly hardworking and compassionate, each in their own way. They didn’t go into medicine, but they found their own paths to service.

Steve: Our son, Scott, became deeply involved through volunteer efforts and eventually took on leadership roles. Our daughter, Kristen, built her career with CMN and now supports children’s hospitals across the country. They now instill these same values in their children

Q: Why is supporting the Orlando Health Children’s Pavilion a priority to your family?

Steve: Very simply, if you have a sick child, the last thing you want is to shuttle them all over to see multiple specialists. That’s exhausting for the child and the family. The vision of bringing everything together in one place just made sense. This needs to happen right here in Central Florida.
Linda: It also improves communication. When physicians are working side-by-side, care becomes more efficient, more personal and more collaborative. That matters deeply in pediatrics.