December 2019 Young Children Bulletin

Good Morning fellow Kiwanians!

Fact: Medical equipment, treatment and facilities designed for adults just don't fit when treating an ill or injured child.

Fact: It costs around four times as much money to treat a child as it does to treat an adult with the same ailment.

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS AND KIWANIS….A STRONG PARTNERSHIP

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals was founded with the sole purpose to help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals and keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

The organization was founded by Marie Osmond and her family, and John Schneider, Mick Shannon and Joe Lake.

Kiwanis International was the first association based sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, joining the charity as a partner in 1982. Key Club and the many other arms of Kiwanis joined later on as they became recognized programs of Kiwanis.

In 1997, Key Club made Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals an official charity of choice for their members to support. Kiwanis-raised funds have enabled the networks' 170 member hospitals to provide medical care, research, and education to benefit children. Since 1983 Kiwanis has donated more than $25 million to CMN hospitals. CMN hospitals train 60% of pediatricians and 80% of all pediatric specialists.

HOW CMN HOSPITALS WORK?

To provide the best care for kids, children’s hospitals rely on donations and community support, as Medicaid and insurance programs do not fully cover the cost of care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has helped fill those funding gaps by raising more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through Miracle Balloon icon campaigns. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.

EVERY DAY CMN HOSPITALS TREAT:
Kids with Trauma 16,200
Kids with Diabetes 935
Kids with Cancer 2,128
Kids for Surgeries 2329
Babies in NICU 925

DID YOU KNOW?

• 62 Children enter a CMN Hospital every minute
• 1 IN 10 Children in North America are treated by a CMN Hospital each year
• 32 MILLION Patients visits are provided for 10 million kids every year by CMN Hospitals

There are 6 CMN Hospitals in New England.

• Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA. serves eastern MA and eastern and southern New Hampshire
• Baystate Children's Hospital, Springfield, MA.
• Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME. serving children and families from all over northern New England.
• Vermont Children Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT.
• Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT.
• Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence RI.

How Can Kiwanis Clubs Help?

If your Club is located near a CMN Hospital, contact an administrator and ASK how your Kiwanis Club can help. Many volunteers are needed to help at the information desk etc.

Here is a brief description of the two main roles which are open to volunteer applicants.

Inpatient/Clinic Volunteers - Interact with patients, siblings and families at the bedside, in the playroom or waiting room area to provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate play and socialization which may include holding infants/toddler, engaging in art, reading and taking part in structured activities with patients. Additionally, the volunteer would assist their supervisor with any other needs, such as unit programming, preparing materials for special events and helping organize and maintain a safe, clean environment while assisting with toy washing.

Customer Service Volunteers - Create welcoming atmosphere at main entrance of hospital and provide way finding assistance to all patients, families and guests. Assist patients and families at time of discharge from the hospital. Additionally, customer service volunteers engage with patients and siblings through play-based activities in the Hale Family Center for Families.

Volunteers are allowed to play with children or to complete non-medical tasks.

Fundraising ideas:

1) Organize a "Miracle Mile of Quarters" fundraiser

2) Organize "Duck Races" with your Key Club

3) Sell "Miracle Balloons"

4) Organize a Blood Drive/give blood.

Support -

Celebrate National Pancake Day® at IHOP® and get a FREE short stack of our Original Buttermilk Pancakes!

February 25, 2020

In return, IHOP asks that you make a donation to their charitable partners. Every stack served helps reach the goal of raising $3.5 million for children battling critical illnesses. Proceeds support CMN Hospitals, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. ALL PROCEEDS GO TO LOCAL CMN HOSPITALS!

Official National Pancake Day® Volunteer

On February 25, 2020 club members can support National Pancake Day by serving as ambassadors to encourage restaurant patrons to support Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Beginning each January, watch for information from Kiwanis International about registering to volunteer on National Pancake Day.

For more information go to:
childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org


Ava Adams, District Chair
Young Children Committee
Member, Kiwanis international
Committee on Young Children
Scarborough Maine Kiwanis Club
New England and Bermuda District of Kiwanis
email: faithava2008@yahoo.com