Beach Kiwanis present check to children’s hospital
The Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers Beach has contributed to Lee Memorial Health System for many years, including more than $100,000 in donations prior to 2011 and a $80,000 commitment to the children’s hospital over a four-year period that was pledged in the fall of that same year.
Last Friday, the local Kiwanians reached the half-way point of that goal by presenting a $10,000 check to Barbara’s Friends Chairman Al Kinkle at Lexington Country Club. Barbara’s Friends, known as the Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund, supports the pediatric oncology and hematology programs. Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 29 and is projected to be open in 2017.
“Kiwanis stand for helping children. That is our family focus,” said Beach Kiwanis President Flip Harby. “We do that through various avenues, and helping Barbara’s Friends is one of the avenues that we have taken.”
“The Kiwanis are one of our biggest donors that we have had on a continual basis,” said Kinkle. “It is a tremendous commitment on their part.”
Beach resident and Beach Kiwanian Tim Cherry is on the board of Barbara’s Friends.
Kinkle stated Barbara’s Friends and the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation is in the middle of a capital campaign for the children’s hospital, one that has raised more than $80 million. The check will go to the funding for the new children’s hospital.
“Barbara’s Friends has raised approximately $15 million,” said Kinkle. “For this campaign, Barbara’s Friends commitment to the children’s hospital was $10 million, and we have raised $7.2 million as of today.”
The current children’s hospital is within HealthPark Medical Center and has 98-beds, servicing 5,000 in-patient visits, 4,000 out-patient visits and 28,000 pediatric emergency visits each year. Due to the limited number of beds, some children are transported to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg or Miami Children’s Hospital.
“There is a great need here for a children’s hospital here,” said Kinkle, who complimented the children’s hospital staff, particularly Dr. Salman. “The commitment is there from the community. We’ve been very, very fortunate that the citizens of Southwest Florida have been very generous and have big hearts.
The new children’s hospital will open with a total of 128 total beds, with the possibility of expanding to 160 if needed; new state-of-the-art equipment; an expansion of private rooms in the NICU, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Medical/Surgical Unit; 12-beds in the Chrissy Brown Hematology/Oncology Inpatient Unit; and increased space for examination rooms, playrooms, a family resource center, and more.
“(Lee Memorial Health System President) Jim Nathan and the Foundation’s Sharon McDonald with their team have been banner carriers for this,” said Kinkle. “This is something the whole community can be proud of.”
About Barbara’s Friends
Barbara’s Friends is named after Barbara Haskell, a lady who was 36-years old when she lost her battle with cancer. She often remarked about the bravery of the youngest cancer patients. In her memory, Frank and Betty Haskell (Barbara’s parents) began a mission 16 years ago.
Money raised for Barbara’s Friends is used to provide the children’s hospital with a strong cancer program that provides everything needed to give local children a fighting chance to win their battle with the horrible disease.
Funding for the new children’s hospital is expected to reach $100 million by the end of the 2014-15 fiscal year.
The current outpatient center within HealthPark Medical Center began in 1994 with 60 dedicated pediatric beds with some for premature babies. Annual numbers include 5,000 inpatient admissions and close to 60,000 outpatient visits.
During a recent five-year period, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was rated No. #1 and No. #2 in the state based on patient outcomes.
Specialized, family centered care services include child life specialists, music therapy, a full-time school teacher and comprehensive injury and illness prevention programs.
There is a great need for the children’s hospital to expand to meet the growing demands of critically injured and ill children in the area. It is part of one of the state’s largest non-profit safety-net hospital systems with a commitment to providing the highest level of care to sick and injured children and families of Southwest Florida.
About Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers Beach
Kiwanis clubs, located in 80 nations, help their communities in countless ways. Each community’s needs are different-so each Kiwanis club is different. By working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. When you give a child the chance to learn, experience, dream, grow, succeed and thrive, great things happen.
The Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club was founded on May 31, 1968. The club began with just 25 members and has grown to more than 50. Over the years, the club has held many fundraisers, including pancake breakfasts, spaghetti feeds and other events. Today, it operates a Thrift Shop on the corner of Pine Ridge Road and Summerlin Road. The Thrift shop evolved from annual rummage sales held for many years. Proceeds from our Thrift Shop allow Kiwanians to help out in the community in a variety of ways, including sponsoring youth groups, highway clean-ups, raising money to benefit children and children’s support groups and providing scholarships.
The club has enjoyed a rich history over the years, with its members coming from fields like accounting, civil service, education, management, and many more.
Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club sponsors a K-Kids club at Beach Elementary School. K-Kids is the youngest and fastest growing service organization for elementary students worldwide. Club members work with children to help them learn leadership skills, develop strong moral character, and encourage loyalty to the school, community and nation. K-Kids are generally aged 6 to 12 and provide our club members with a constant reminder of what is right in our community.
The Beach Kiwanis sponsor the Kiwanis Key Club at South Fort Myers High School. Key Clubs provide an opportunity for students to gain leadership skills while helping improve the environment at school and the community. Key Club is an international student-led organization which provides its members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership.
Go to www.fortmyersbeachkiwanis.org to learn more.