With advancements in neonatal care even the smallest of premature babies are enjoying healthy outcomes. One of those babies is Esther Catlett. Thanks in part to WHAS Crusade for Children funding to Baptist Health’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Catlett family is celebrating a milestone for Esther.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Down Syndrome continues to be the most common chromosomal disorder with about 6,000 babies born with Down Syndrome each year in the U.S. But 4-year-old Harrison is too busy enjoying life to be bothered with statistics thanks to the WHAS Crusade for Children and the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass at the University of Kentucky.
In the two years that Harrison has been coming to the Center, his parents say they’ve seen marked improvement in his physical movements and his social skills, as well as his vocabulary.
Since 1999, the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass has received $79,000.00 in WHAS Crusade grants to help children like Harrison.
According to the American Stroke Association the risk of stroke for children is greatest in the first year of life and peaks during the weeks before birth. The Holland family knows all too well about those risks. Their son, Trenton showed early signs of stroke. But with continuing therapy and support from Visually-Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) and WHAS Crusade for Children, Trenton is overcoming sight and mobility issues.
VIPS Executive Director, Diane Nelson says that Crusade funding becomes more important each year to be able to help youngsters like Trenton. VIPS started by serving 7 children in Jefferson County in 1985. Today that number has grown to 700 in Kentucky and Indiana. Since 1985, VIPS has received more than $1.5 million in WHAS Crusade grants.
Imagine spending your entire life in the hospital. That has been the reality for two-year-old Sofia but could soon change, thanks to the WHAS Crusade for Children and Rockcastle Regional Hospital.
The goal is to get Sofia back home with her parents as soon as possible. Until then she’s busy learning and growing with the members of her adopted family at Rockcastle Regional Hospital.
UPDATE: During the 24 hours of Give for Good Louisville that ended at midnight Thursday, September 13, 88 donors gave $5,576 to the WHAS Crusade for Children.
Click here to see the Crusade section of Give for Good Louisville.
On behalf of children with special needs, we say THANKS!
Here’s a story of your donations at work!
According to the Centers for Disease Control, cerebral palsy is the most common movement ailment for children in the U. S., and 1 in 323 children born in America will likely display some symptoms of cerebral palsy. Sixteen-year-old Reece was diagnosed at birth but thanks to the WHAS Crusade for Children and Wendell Foster’s Campus, Reece has big plans for the future. He’s working hard to fulfill his dream of being a preacher.
Since 2000, Wendell Foster’s Campus has received more than $70,000 in Crusade grants to help children like Reece.
Lip Sync Challenge video debuts!
“Don’t Stop Believin'” in the WHAS Crusade for Children! #GiveForGoodLou is on September 13, 2018. With your support it’s going to be “A Beautiful Day.” Don’t believe us? Just watch!
The WHAS Crusade for Children will help make history on September 13th by participating in the 5th annual Give for Good Louisville, a 24-hour day of online giving for local nonprofit organizations. We invite you to take part by rallying around the Crusade and to help connect us to the larger community.
Please join our campaign and help us raise thousands of dollars to make life better for local children with special needs. Donate, spread the word, be our social media champions – there are so many ways on this day to promote the impactful work the Crusade has been doing for 65 years!
How can you help?
• Click here for the Crusade section of Give for Good Louisville. Visit any time between midnight-to-midnight on September 13 to make a donation to the Crusade. Remember, 100% of your gift will go directly to the thousands of children who benefit from our funding.
• Become a “Crusader for Children” – and start your own personal fundraising page for Give For Good Louisville. Contact heather@whascrusade.org for help in setting it up.
• Simply tell your friends and family about Give for Good Louisville – in person, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, anywhere!
Thank you to your generosity to the WHAS Crusade for Children on September 13th. Now, let’s go make history!
Reprinted from the Owensboro Times – August 16, 2018
In 1954, WHAS-TV, an ABC-affiliated TV station in Louisville began the WHAS Crusade for Children. The annual telethon, hosted on radio, internet and television the first full weekend of June, benefits a wide range of children’s charities throughout all of Kentucky and southern Indiana. The Crusade returns 100 percent of its profits to organizations who apply for grants. Representatives also appear before a panel and once complete, the advisory panel determines which agencies receive Crusade donations.
The WHAS Crusade for Children announced the 2018-2019 grant awards, of 229 grants, beginning September 2018. Five Owensboro organizations are recipients and more than $66,000 in funding returning to the area through service.
Dawn Lee, President & CEO of the WHAS Crusade for Children shares “For 65 years, the WHAS Crusade for Children has been changing the lives of children who have special needs through awarding grants to agencies, schools and hospitals across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Thanks to the year-round fundraising efforts of firefighters, churches, businesses and individuals, the Crusade has raised more than $184 million since 1954. The best part is that 100% of that total has gone back into communities to make life better for these children. Every effort is made to ensure money raised in your community is returned to help local children through the grant awards.”
The program funded over $5 million to eligible organizations.
Owensboro beneficiaries of the grant are:
Dream Riders ($5,000.00)
Owensboro Dance Theatre ($13,000.00)
Owensboro Health Foundation, Inc. ($18,000.00)
Puzzle Pieces ($18,000.00)
Wendell Foster ($12,594.00).
With funding from WHAS, Executive Director of Dream Riders of Kentucky, Kelly Flick says they are able to provide 24 weeks (2-12 week sessions) of therapy to 24 riders (12 per session) at a subsidized cost to families by trained instructors. This allows Dream Riders to provide 288 equine-assisted therapy sessions to riders ages 3 years and older with a disability, making a great impact.
The Owensboro Health Foundation, Inc. will utilize their award to purchase a NextGen LOGIQ Digital Ultrasound System for use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
“We are most appreciative of this generous support from WHAS Crusade for Children,” said Pat Serey, Owensboro Health Foundation executive director. “Use of this technology will result in enhanced and life-saving care for sick newborns at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.”
“Umbilical venous catheter (UVC) is a specialized IV (intravenous catheter) that can be used in premature babies and sick newborns while in the neonatal intensive care unit. The UVC is used to provide life-saving medications, antibiotics, intravenous nutrition, blood products, and for blood sampling,” said Dr. Bridget Burshears, medical director of the Level III NICU at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. “The use of this new technology will allow for real-time assessment during the placement of the catheter and decrease the exposure to X-rays, which are currently used. This grant allows us to add yet another piece of state-of-the-art equipment to use in the care of our smallest and most vulnerable patients.”
The WHAS grant awards also benefit areas surrounding Owensboro/Daviess County. Additional counties include Breckenridge ,Hancock, McLean and Meade County organizations. Funding positively impacts the entire commonwealth. WHAS Crusade for Children is good for children, good for Owensboro and good for Kentucky.
At the birth of their son, Christian, the Wilson family was told he wouldn’t live more than a few hours. The family refused to give up hope. With the help of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System and the WHAS Crusade for Children, the Wilson’s faced what they call the longest night of their lives.
In his time with the therapists at the Appalachian Regional Hospital in Harlan and now at the Hyden location, Christian has worked consistently to overcome the effects of cerebral palsy. The family is truly grateful for Christian’s continuing progress.
Since 2014 the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System has received $56,000 in Crusade grants to help youngsters like Christian.
The WHAS Crusade for Children annual variety show originates LIVE from The Kentucky Center’s Bomhard Theater. Each year, different genres of music are presented as people come together to make life better for children with special needs.
Michelle Sydnor & Friends sang the roof off The Kentucky Center with their rendition of Total Praise at the 65th WHAS Crusade for Children Variety Show.