The WakeMed Foundation announces that the Triangle-area has come together to raise the first $5 million for the Just For Kids Kampaign (JFKK), the $20 million initiative to fund the first-ever and much-needed Children’s Hospital in Wake County. Of the $20 million, the Foundation seeks to raise $8.5 million by the end of 2009 and the $5 million raised represents 60 percent of that goal.
“We are very appreciative of our community’s support of this campaign, particularly in this challenging economic climate,” commented Jack Radford, WakeMed Foundation executive director. “Demand for pediatric services currently exceeds supply, and the needs will continue to become more acute as our region continues its unprecedented growth. Reaching this fundraising milestone through broad-based support reinforces that the community understands the need for this wonderful resource for families. To make this hospital a reality, we need the community’s continued support and look forward to sustained momentum in our campaign.”
Campaign success to date has occurred through gifts from diverse contributors including individuals, families, foundations, corporations, other organizations, physicians and other practitioners, and WakeMed employees. To date, WakeMed employees have raised $1 million for this initiative. The Foundation’s Physicians Council, under the leadership of Raleigh Pediatric Associates’ Dr. Jerry Bernstein, recently launched P.A.C.T. fundraisers (Physicians Aligned with Children Today), challenging the physician community to raise a minimum of $1 million for the Children’s Hospital. To date, the P.A.C.T. challenge has raised nearly $400,000.
WakeMed currently provides care to more pediatric patients than any other hospital in North Carolina with over 142,000 pediatric patient contacts in 2008 alone. The new Children’s Hospital will enhance and expand the services that WakeMed can provide to children and increase much needed in-patient beds. The new 41,045 square foot, 45-bed Children’s Hospital will feature an inpatient unit with all private, kid-friendly rooms; a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU); an observation unit for children requiring less than a 24-hour stay; an expanded Level IV Intensive Care Nursery; and expanded surgical capabilities, new technologies and additional pediatric sub specialists. Amenities will also include significantly larger rooms, in-room accommodations for parents in the PICU, and teen and kid playrooms for patients. The hospital will have a dedicated elevator direct to the fourth floor from the lobby of the main hospital for increased privacy and security. Anticipated opening is spring 2010.
