WakeMed Announces Just for Kids Kampaign to Fund New Children’s Hospital
RALEIGH, N.C. (October 13, 2008) – Today, the WakeMed Foundation is pleased to announce a $20 million Just For Kids Kampaign to help fund the construction of a new children’s hospital on the fourth floor of a new patient tower currently under construction on the WakeMed Raleigh Campus. The new Children’s Hospital will be the first of its kind in Wake County and is being constructed to meet the increasing demand for children’s health care in our community.
Already, WakeMed is one of the largest providers of children’s health care in North Carolina. Last year alone, WakeMed cared for nearly 80,000 pediatric patients with more than 113,000 patient visits for acute and intensive inpatient care, outpatient care, diagnostic procedures, emergency visits, surgeries, physical rehabilitation and more. Now, the goal is to expand these highly specialized children’s services to make them even more readily available in Wake County.
The announcement of the campaign comes on the heels of a generous pledge of $1.5 million made by General Parts International, Inc. which goes to market as CARQUEST Auto Parts. General Parts is headquartered in Raleigh, NC, and is a premier supplier of replacement products, accessories, supplies and equipment for automobiles, off-road equipment, buses, recreational vehicles and agricultural equipment.
“We recognize that first-rate health care is fundamental for the viability of any community and it is important that the children of our teammates, their families and this community have access to it,“ says O. Temple Sloan, III President and COO, General Parts. “The investment we are making in the WakeMed Just for Kids Kampaign recognizes our desire to help ensure WakeMed is well prepared to address the projected population growth and the needs that go along with it.”
“We are extremely grateful to General Parts, for their donation and commitment to helping children of our community,” says Tom Oxholm, chair, WakeMed Foundation Board and member, WakeMed Board of Directors. “This campaign is critically important to our future. The pillars of any community are its schools, houses of worship and hospitals. Non-profit hospitals like WakeMed are often on their own when it comes to improving and expanding. Declining reimbursements and a rising uninsured population leaves little room for funding large capital projects. Therefore, private support from the communities we serve is critically important.”
Growth in Wake County is expected to continue at record pace, and by 2010 there will be an estimated 300,000 children. In response, the new 34,000 square foot Children’s Hospital will feature a 23-bed inpatient unit with all private, kid-friendly rooms, a 10-bed pediatric intensive care unit, a 12-bed observation unit for children requiring less than a 24-hour stay, an expanded Level IV intensive care nursery and expanded surgical capabilities, new technologies and additional pediatric sub specialists. The hospital will have a dedicated elevator direct to the fourth floor from the lobby of the main hospital. Completion is slated for early 2010.
“As our community continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for our services, and each year we commit millions of dollars to new services, emerging technologies, as well as new and expanded facilities – all while remaining true to our mission of providing outstanding compassionate care to all who seek our services,” comments Dr. Bill Atkinson, president and CEO, WakeMed Health & Hospitals. “It is through the outstanding support of our community that we will continue to make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of children.”
About WakeMed Foundation
As the philanthropic partner for WakeMed Health & Hospitals, the WakeMed Foundation supports WakeMed’s mission to provide outstanding and compassionate care to all who seek our services by raising friends, funds and future leaders for the hospital system. With the substantial growth in our area and the need for enhanced pediatric services, the Foundation recently launched the Just For Kids Kampaign (JFKK), a $20 million initiative to build a much needed Children’s Hospital in Wake County. Anticipated to open in early 2010, the Children’s Hospital will substantially increase pediatric services for our community. For more information about the JFKK and how your support can help make the new Children’s Hospital a reality, contact the WakeMed Foundation at (919) 350.7656 or visit foundation.wakemed.org.
About General Parts
CARQUEST Auto Parts is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and has more than 3,400 locations throughout North America. It is the premier supplier of replacement parts, accessories, supplies and equipment for virtually all makes and models of automobiles, as well as light and heavy-duty trucks, off-road equipment, buses, recreational vehicles and agricultural equipment. Additionally, CARQUEST distributes and sells tools, equipment, chemicals, paint and accessories.
For more information, please visit CARQUEST.com
CARQUEST, in all CAPS, is a registered trademark and should always appear in capital letters.
