Parents of children with special needs tell us that when their awareness of their child’s needs occurs, either at birth, diagnosis of a medical condition or when their gut tells them that something is not right with their child, it feels as if the ground has been pulled out from under them. They are unable to breath at times.

Parents tell us that Children’s Village gives them the “grounding” or “scaffolding” to get through the most challenging times. When you are a parent of a child with special needs, those times continue throughout your child’s life, at each change or transition there are new difficulties. Additional “scaffolding” is needed. That scaffolding includes more trained professionals, funding for services and the physical space to provide that service.

Our community is working to provide the scaffolding for children and families through the expansion of Children’s Village. Thank you for being a part!

[View with PicLens]

The Florence Wight Guild from Memorial Hospital just brought us a check for $13,000 for the expansion campaign.  They worked very hard staging their annual Field Day event to raise this.  Thank you SO MUCH!

The Washington Dental Service Foundation has granted $166,000 to expand the children’s dental clinic at Children’s Village.  We have recently solicited our dental community for matching funds, and are eagerly waiting for our local dentists to make their gifts in next week’s mail.

This brings our campaign gifts and pledges to (drum roll, please…. $4,395,339).

If you send us your pledge today, perhaps we’ll reach $4.5 million by July 1.

Children’s Village steps forward again

This editorial appeared April 23, 2009, in the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Last week’s groundbreaking to expand Children’s Village in Yakima, a nationally recognized health care center for children with special needs, is the continuation of a promise to bring quality care within a quality facility.

View a PDF of the editorial…

But supporters of Children’s Village are only a little daunted.

“This is uncomfortable to some degree, but I am the queen of optimists,” said Anne Caffery, president of the Memorial Foundation.

The Foundation, an arm of Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, raises funds for Children’s Village and other local health programs.

by LEAH BETH WARD
Yakima Herald-Republic
Read the full article at the Yakima Herald Republic

View the PDF

5 photos View the gallery

Children’s Village officially broke ground on their expansion project Friday morning. Families, volunteers, staff, and trustees all came out for the event.
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10203386