Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital has joined 52 U.S. hospitals to form the nonprofit foundation Together for Kids™, which will raise funds nationally to help member hospitals cope with dramatic increases in children's health care needs.
The new foundation will target accident prevention and childhood obesity as its top priorities.
"Children in Houston, across Texas and nationwide are facing serious challenges to their health, including the steadily climbing statistics on childhood obesity, the staggering toll of accidental injuries and the growing number of uninsured youngsters," said Craig Cordola, CEO of Children's Memorial Hermann. "We are delighted to be part of this exciting initiative and its mission to rally resources to improve children's health in the U.S."
Children's Memorial Hermann, in partnership with the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, provides a full spectrum of care--from life-threatening injuries to routine medical procedures-to children of all ages, from premature infants to 16-year-olds. The hospital, whose medical professionals treat more than 91,000 children annually, also is home to the Life Flight® air ambulance service and to Houston's largest Level 1 pediatric emergency center.
Together for Kids consists of 34 children's hospitals and hospital systems, representing 53 individual facilities serving children in 47 U.S. cities. As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity, the foundation will raise funds through corporate sponsorship, events, grants and other forms of philanthropy, distributing the funds to member hospitals to address the most urgent children's health needs in their communities.
In April 2008, Children's Memorial Hermann and other member hospitals will participate in Together for Kids' first annual national fundraising campaign, Come Out to Play!-a month-long series of events around the country to raise funds for hospitalized children and encourage families to take part in healthy, active play.
NFL Star Sehorn Helps Launch New Children's Charity
At a press conference at the National Press Club, Crystal Hinson Miller, chair of Together for Kids presented retired NFL star Jason Sehorn with a jersey officially making him a member of the Together for Kids team. Together for Kids is a new nonprofit foundation that will raise funds nationally to help member hospitals cope with dramatic increases in the health needs of children. The nonprofit alliance will help 53 hospitals in 47 cities care for seriously ill and injured kids, and target childhood obesity and injury prevention as priorities. Sehorn urged support for the new group on behalf of himself and his actress wife, Angie Harmon, who served as honorary co-chairs for the foundation's launch.
About Together for Kids
Together for Kids is a national alliance of children's hospitals and other hospitals serving children, dedicated to building a healthier future for America's kids. The organization provides an urgently needed national fundraising mechanism for its member hospitals, helping them care for seriously ill children and tackle the toughest health issues facing all kids, with a focus on childhood obesity and accident prevention.