CANCER FIGHTERS: FMB Kiwanis present check to Barbara’s Friends
The Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers Beach has made another contribution to Lee Memorial Health System, specifically the Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund.
Recently, the local Kiwanians presented a $20,000 check to Barbara’s Friends Chairman Al Kinkle at Lexington Country Club. The benefit funds are a part of an overall commitment to the children’s hospital over a four-year period that was pledged in the fall of 2011. So far, the Beach Kiwanis have contributed $60,000 of the $100,000.
“While I believe that most everything we do is a wonderful endeavor, I think that donating to Barbara’s Friends is the most worthwhile project, locally, to which we have contributed and am so proud and overjoyed to be a part of this,” said Beach Kiwanis President Eryka Aptaker. “While we have been thanked for our donations, I must thank Barbara’s Friends/ LMHS Foundation for the opportunity to be involved with their fundraising project toward the children’s hospital. I am elated that the Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers Beach has made a long-term commitment and am looking forward to seeing the end result, knowing that we were able to assist. I sincerely thank them for all they do. God Bless.”
With a manta that states, ‘Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time,’ Aptaker said she is pleased to be involved with the non-profit organization and its dedication to helping youngsters and others.
“I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful organization,” she said. “It is truly an honor and a privilege to be involved with this wonderful and dedicated group of people who, seemingly, are tireless in their efforts to help children and their community in every way possible.”
Proceeds from the Beach Kiwanis Thrift Store on the corner of Summerlin and Pine Ridge roads allow the local Kiwanians to help out in the community. Besides the children’s hospital project, they help out by sponsoring youth groups and highway clean-ups and raise money to benefit children and children’s support groups while providing scholarships.
“Our thrift shop has been blessed with much success and gives us the ability to donate to wonderful causes,” said Aptaker.
Barbara’s Friends is known as the Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund and the non-profit entity supports the pediatric oncology and hematology programs. Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is projected to be open in 2017.
Prior to 2011, Beach Kiwanis donated more than $100,000 to the hospital causes.
“The Kiwanis are one of our biggest donors that we have had on a continual basis,” said Kinkle last May. “It is a tremendous commitment on their part.”
Last year, 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 $20,000 check will go to the funding for the new children’s hospital.
“Barbara’s Friends has raised approximately $15 million,” said Kinkle earlier. “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.
The new children’s hospital is expected to 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.
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.