Kids Wish Network

Charlotte, N.C. – A very special celebration is being held at Levine Children’s Hospital on April 25^th, 2008 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Pediatric patients at the hospital will be enjoying an exciting party in their honor thanks to Kids Wish Network, a national charity dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. The organization is honored to be able to provide toys with a retail value of over $65,000 to Levine Children’s Hospital to be given to its young patients. This exciting event is being sponsored by Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry.

During the party, the brand new, donated toys and games will be given out to the kids by hospital staff and representatives for Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry; all of the leftover toys will be distributed throughout the year to children coming in to Levine for medical treatment.

“It’s like having Christmas all over again. The expression on the patient’s faces is such a joy to see. Thanks to Kids Wish Network and Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry for helping us bring a smile and some fun to our kids during their hospitalization,” said Susan Goode, Coordinator of the Child Life Program at Levine Children’s Hospital.

A spokesperson for Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry said the company was pleased to participate. This is the third year they have sponsored a Kids Wish Network Holiday of Hope Gift Bank. “Why is Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry participating in the Gift Bank event again?  Because every year, after we give out the toys, see the smiles, receive the hugs and hear the laughter, we walk away with tears and know we have touched many hearts."  
As just one of the programs that makes Kids Wish Network different from similar organizations, its Gift Bank is an uplifting, gift-giving program that brings cheer to children admitted to the hospital for treatment. The brand new toys, donated by some of America’s top toy manufacturers, are distributed to sick youngsters when they come to children’s care facilities for treatment. The Gift Banks help alleviate fears and anxieties by allowing youngsters to temporarily forget about the stinging needles and painful treatments often endured while undergoing medical care.
For more information on Kids Wish Network’s programs and upcoming events, please visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org. If you know of a hospital that could benefit from its Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program, please call 727- 937-3600 or toll free at 888-918-9004.
Carolinas HealthCare System (www.carolinashealthcare.org) is the largest healthcare system in the Carolinas, and the third largest public system in the nation. CHS owns, leases or manages 23 hospitals in North and South Carolina, including Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte and CMC-NorthEast in Concord, a 457-bed medical center which is home to the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital.
CHS employs over 1,000 physicians who practice in more than 250 locations. CHS also operates rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgery centers, home health agencies, radiation therapy centers and physical therapy facilities. Together, these operations comprise approximately 4,900 licensed beds and employ more than 35,000 full-time or part-time employees.
CHS’s flagship facility is Carolinas Medical Center (www.carolinasmedicalcenter.org) in Charlotte, an 874-bed hospital which includes a Level I trauma center, a research institute and a large number of specialty treatment units (heart, cancer, organ transplant, behavioral health, etc.). CMC also serves as one of North Carolina’s five Academic Medical Center Teaching Hospitals, providing residency training for over 200 physicians in 15 specialties. CMC is listed as a “Best Hospital” by U.S. News & World Report for urology and orthopedics, and has been designated 10 times as Charlotte’s “Consumer’s Choice Preferred Hospital” by the National Research Corporation. HealthGrades, a leading healthcare ratings company, named CMC-NorthEast “The Best Hospital in North Carolina” for cardiac services
Written by   Robyn Larson

Charleston, WV – A visit to the hospital will be made a little easier for pediatric patients at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital thanks to Kids Wish Network, a national charity dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. The organization is honored to be able to provide toys with a retail value of over $60,000 to the hospital through its unique Holiday of Hope Gift Bank. This special Gift Bank is being sponsored by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., Morgantown, WV and Wal-Mart in Nitro, WV.
A special ‘kick-off’ celebration will be held at the hospital on Friday, April 11^th, 2008 at 2 pm. The brand new, donated toys and games will be given out to the kids during the party and all of the leftover toys will be distributed throughout the year to children coming in to CAMC for medical treatment.

As just one of the programs that makes Kids Wish Network different from similar organizations, its Gift Bank is an uplifting, gift-giving program that brings cheer to children admitted to the hospital for treatment. The brand new toys and games, donated by some of America’s top toy manufacturers, are distributed to sick youngsters when they come to children’s care facilities for treatment. The Gift Banks help alleviate fears and anxieties by allowing youngsters to temporarily forget about the stinging needles and uncomfortable treatments often endured while undergoing medical care.

For more information on Kids Wish Network’s programs and upcoming events, please visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org. If you know of a hospital that could benefit from its Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program, please call 727- 937-3600 or toll free at 888-918-9004.

Charleston Area Medical Center is the flagship of the CAMC Health System. CAMC is a non-profit, 893-bed, regional referral center with more than 5,000 employees. More than 600 physicians have admitting privileges at CAMC which is also West Virginia’s premiere medical teaching facility, hosting, on any given day, more than 500 students in programs leading to degrees or certifications in health professions. CAMC is home to one of the top heart programs in the United States; the only kidney transplant center in the state; West Virginia’s only free-standing Women and Children’s Hospital; and one of the busiest Level I Trauma Centers. For more information, visit www.camc.org.

Written by   Robyn Larson