Wellness, revolutionized. - Children's Hospital Central California

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47
There is no such
thing as a child
we shouldn’t
care for.
Campaign
Co-Chairs Bill and
Linda Smittcamp
were also early
contributors.
(Continued from page 46)
nothing, to children that have everything. They are treated all the same with
the best care.”
“The generosity of this wonderful family is vital in helping us fulfill our
mission. Their reason for giving serves as an inspiration for others,” said
Children’s Vice President of Philanthropy Jim Meinert. “Just like Children’s,
they have roots in the Central Valley. We cared for their children growing
up and they want to make sure that same care is around for generations of
children to come.”
A well defined plan.
The Campaign for Children’s is the blueprint of how we’ll provide for the
daily needs of our patients, a large facility expansion and three separate
endowments.
Every year, the Hospital’s Foundation raises millions of dollars that can
be applied where the need is greatest. The Campaign calls this segment of
giving The Children’s Fund, and it is used to address immediate program
needs, provide for capital expenses and do everything necessary to maintain
the highest levels of pediatric care.
The second component of The Campaign, and the most visible, is the
Paramount Farms Plaza, the 60,000 square-foot, expansion of Children’s
Emergency Department (ED), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Surgical
Suites and Imaging Center. The largest grower and processor of almonds
and pistachios in the world, Paramount Farms donated $4 million to The
Campaign for Children’s. Children’s named the expansion in their honor.
Since 2007, the company donated an additional $417,000, of which $385,000
came from their employee-giving campaign.
The last component is the funding of three separate endowments. As
seen in the “Wellness, Well Managed” section of this book, some institutions
have endowments in the hundreds of millions of dollars, grown with seed
money planted long ago. The interest is used without affecting the initial
sum. We don’t have that at Children’s, but we are doing something about it.
The Endowment for Excellence will support the whole of Hospital operations
including direct patient care, physician recruitment, The Craycroft
Cancer Center, The Pediatric Diabetes Care Center, Child Life, and many
more aspects of what we do. You could consider it the endowment version
of The Children’s Fund.
Philanthropist Jane Seddon Willson, President of Sunnyland Farms in
Georgia, donated $1 million to seed an endowment for The Willson Heart
Center. The plan to grow The Willson Heart Center Endowment is part of
The Campaign for Children’s. Mrs. Willson’s gift honors her daughter Jane
H. Willson, vice president of corporate development at Children’s, and her
son-in-law, Dr. Malcolm J. MacDonald, a pediatric cardiac surgeon at the
Heart Center.
The Guilds Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Endowment is the
third part of The Campaign for Children’s endowment plan. Up to 5 percent
of the inpatient population at Children’s come through our doors because
of suspected abuse or neglect, the majority under age 5. About one-third of
our trauma cases under age 1 are non-accidental injuries.
This Guilds’ endowment will provide long-term support for the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, including a medical clinic, SCAN
(Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect) Team and community outreach and
education.
The Guilds are Children’s all-time largest financial contributor, having
raised more than $22 million in 61 years. The 1,200 devoted women and men
have pledged a record $5 million for the endowment.
Committed leadership.
The Campaign for Children’s is led by devoted community members, with
Bill and Linda Smittcamp co-chairing. The Smittcamp’s commitment of time
was given an exclamation point with a $500,000 early gift to The Campaign.
“There is no such thing as a child we shouldn’t care for, whether they are
ours, our neighbor’s or from across the Valley,” said Bill, President of Wawona
Frozen Foods. “The opportunity to invest in one of the community’s greatest
resources is truly rewarding.”
Over the past 30 years, Wawona Frozen Foods has donated about $1.1
million to the Hospital. Bill also became one of the first lifetime cornerstone
members – a $25,000 membership – in the Hospital’s Corporate Council, a
group of area business leaders with a goal of raising $100,000 in membership
fees as part of The Campaign. Linda is a long-time La Feliz Guild member
who has raised funds for Children’s for many years.