Creating Everyday Miracles For Children

July 2 (NAPSI)-Finding the money to provide care for 17 million children at 170 children’s hospitals in the U.S. and Canada could be considered something of an everyday miracle.

That may be one reason the organization providing funding for that care is called Children’s Miracle Network.

For 25 years now, Children’s Miracle Network hospitals have provided state-of-the-art care, life-saving research and preventive education for children 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is a network hospital dedicated to serving children from nearly every community across the U.S. and Canada.

In fact, here in our community you probably know a child who’s been helped by a Children’s Miracle Network hospital or you’ve bought a Miracle Balloon to help raise money for your children’s hospital.

Children’s Miracle Network was founded in 1983 by Marie Osmond and John Schneider. One of the organization’s founding commitments was to keep funds within the community in which they are generated.

In its first year, the organization raised $4.7 million. In just 25 years, the organization has raised $3.2 billion for kids, with the help of 110 television and 340 radio sponsors and more than 85 corporate sponsors. All donations go directly to affiliated hospitals and are used to provide lifesaving pediatric care, education and research.

While $3.2 billion may seem like a lot of money, the 170 hospitals provide more than $2.5 billion in uncompensated care every year, so more funds are always needed.

The hospitals in this network treat 98 percent of all children needing heart and lung transplants, 88 percent of all children with cancer, 76 percent of all children with cystic fibrosis, 90 percent of all children with sickle cell anemia and 72 percent of all children with pediatric AIDS.

Sixty percent of their services are devoted to children under the age of 6 and 25 percent to newborns. The hospitals also help educate families about issues such as child safety seats, helmet safety and bike safety.

Corporate sponsors have grown to more than 85 from just one in 1983 and now include companies such as Wal-Mart, SAM’s Club, RE/MAX, Marriott, Ace Hardware, Dairy Queen, Delta Air Lines and Disney. Together these organizations raise more than $130 million a year.

To make a donation to Children’s Miracle Network, visit www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org or buy one of the paper “Miracle Balloons” the next time you’re in a Wal-Mart store or SAM’s Club.

Funds raised by the network are kept within the communities in which they are generated and used to provide pediatric care.