Citing a need for financial security while still providing family-centered care and seed grants, the University's Children's Medical Center announced it will establish an endowment through its fundraising efforts this year.
The Children's Medical Center consists of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Care Unit housed in the University Hospital, as well as the Kluge Rehabilitation Center on Ivy Road.
Timothy Garson, vice president and dean of the Medical School, has promised to make a substantial contribution to this endeavor.
"We all agree that CMC needs an endowment," Garson said in an official statement. "We have committed to contribute 50 cents for each dollar raised up to a maximum contribution of $2.5 million over five years."
CMC Medical Director Nancy McDaniel said the establishment of an endowment would be a big step in protecting the long-term financial security of the center.
McDaniel said CMC-specific fundraising is necessary because, like many peripheral parts of the University, very little of their budget comes from the state.
"The main reason we have to fundraise is that typically pediatrics are to medicine like teaching is in the rest of the country -- underpaid," McDaniel said. "Less than 9 percent of our budget comes from the state."
Patrick Belisle, director of annual giving for the CMC, explained that not all of the money raised this year is going to the endowment.
"Thirty percent of the unrestricted donations will go to renovations in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit," Belisle said. "So far, we have a little over $2 million, but need to reach $3 million before we can begin the work."
The renovations will include rooms for mothers to breastfeed and for patients to have private time with their family.
"We really concentrate on family-centered care, and since these types of renovations are not covered in the regular capital budget, this year's fundraising can really make a difference," McDaniel said.
McDaniel also expressed her gratitude to the University Dance Marathon, which has helped to raise nearly $190,000 over the past four years for the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
Most of the money raised at the 2003 Marathon will go to creating the private areas for patients' families, said second-year College student Mindy Longanecker, who is the chairwoman of Dance Marathon public relations.
"When you see the [premature babies], it's really amazing and you really want to help make a difference," Longanecker said. "Some families come from two or three hours away and they need these new living spaces."
According to Belisle, another 30 percent of the money raised will go to seed grants for CMC faculty and medical students. The seed grants help researchers complete the necessary preliminary work before applying for federal grants.
"For every dollar we spend on seed grants, we generally get 30 dollars from the government due to our great faculty," Belisle said.
The last 10 percent of the unrestricted funds raised goes to extra amenities, such as toys, books, rocking chairs and game systems such as Nintendo.
"Basically it's for everything we want to provide for the kids, but insurance just doesn't cover," Belisle said. "We want kids to just be able to be kids."
A contributing factor to the financial need of the center is that the CMC is a part of the Miracle Network, which means they accept all children regardless of finances or lack of health insurance.
"A fourth of our nation's children live in poverty, so few who come to us have insurance," McDaniel said.
Third-year Commerce student Quan Trinh, the chair of Dance Marathon, emphasized how traumatic the Newborn Intensive Care Unit can be for the families and how important fundraising is.
"These families go through a lot and what we do means so much to them
not just the technology but the comfort that the money we raise tries to provide," she said.
The CMC's fundraising goal this year is $1.8 million.
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