By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN —The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Beaumont Health Systems expanded their partnership to support Beaumont Children’s programs with $1 million in funding.
During a press conference April 19, Beaumont Foundation Vice President Tom McGannon said the funding will be used across the health system’s hospitals and centers for pediatric programs.
“Overall more than 140,000 children in southeastern Michigan will benefit from the $1 million gift from Children’s Miracle Network,” he said.
Beaumont Hospital-Dearborn President Kelly Smith accepted the check on behalf of the campus.
“This funding is very important for our campus,” she said. “We are going to be able to fill needs in the pediatrics and material units along with the clinic and center for exceptional families.”
Dearborn residents Zena Farhat and her daughter, Sara, 5, spoke about their experience at the Beaumont Dearborn Center for Exceptional Families.
“The services and atmosphere at the center are very important,” Farhat said. “We went to Boston and Cleveland, but only the center understood my daughter’s needs.”
She also said the check may be for $1 million, but to her its priceless.
At Beaumont — Dearborn, part of the $1 million will be used for a central monitoring unit for inpatient pediatrics, Sibshop sibling program and therapy equipment at the Center for Exceptional Families.
“With the generous support of CMN Hospitals, we have been able to fund programs, expertise and equipment to provide children with the compassionate, extraordinary medical care they deserve,” Beaumont Children’s Pediatrician-In-Chief Brian Berman said. “This latest round of funding allows us to advance medical care for children in more locations than ever before.”
Along with the support of Beaumont team members through an annual employee giving campaign, and donations from individuals in the community, many corporate sponsors reach out to their employees and consumers through fun promotions, generating large donations gathered $1 at a time.
Some of the corporate sponsors include Costco, Rite Aid, Speedway, Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club, Dairy Queen, Kroger, Ace Hardware and RE/MAX.
At the press conference, a six-foot-tall Beaumont Children’s Beau the Bear mascot statue was revealed with the help of Sara Farhat which stood with a CMN Hospitals Miracle Balloon icon.
“We are proud to increase the visibility of our CMNH partnership through the placement of Beau the Bear statues at four of the major facilities where we serve children,” Beaumont Health Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer Margaret Casey said. “They will greet visitors and patients when they come for care.”
For more information about Beaumont Children’s, go to beaumont.edu/childrens or call 855-480-5437.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])