The Killian Foundation announced today the successful completion of a month-long holiday fundraising initiative to benefit pediatric cancer patients and their families at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC (CHP).
The 9th floor at CHP is dedicated to pediatric cancer patients, many of whom will be receiving treatment during the holidays. CHP Child Life Specialists and social workers identified patients and their families who are under the most severe financial hardship this holiday season. The Killian Foundation raised $8,500 in cash and donations to provide gifts and assist with basic living needs for these families.
“Although this particular fundraiser was outside the scope of our Foundation’s core mission, we were presented with a need and our community responded in a big way,” said Chris Killian, Director of The Killian Foundation. “Our original goal was to focus on pediatric cancer patients, but the sheer volume of generosity shown by our community allowed us to extend this to other patients.”
Gifts were purchased for 24 specific CHP patients and their immediate family members. An additional 300 gifts were provided to CHP staff to distribute directly to hospital patients.
Nearly 1000 handmade cards and letters of encouragement were produced by grades K-7 Hermitage school district students and community members. Hermitage middle and high school students and staff also produced video cards for distribution.
“This was only possible due to the spirit of cooperation we received from our local community,” said Killian. “Over 70 people rolled up their sleeves to help wrap the gifts including several Hermitage school district principals and Superintendent Dan Bell. When the challenge of how to transport this many items to Pittsburgh was surfaced, Elite EMS (a local ambulance service) stepped in with two vehicles to deliver them.”
“I know firsthand what it means to be on the 9th floor. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor at CHP in 2011 and I continue to receive treatment there,” remarked 7th grader Lauren Killian whose own experience with cancer and the subsequent outpouring of support from her community inspired her family to establish the Killian Foundation in 2012. “If we can bring a little holiday cheer or put a smile on a kid’s face for even a moment, then we’ve accomplished our goal.”
The 9th floor at CHP is dedicated to pediatric cancer patients, many of whom will be receiving treatment during the holidays. CHP Child Life Specialists and social workers identified patients and their families who are under the most severe financial hardship this holiday season. The Killian Foundation raised $8,500 in cash and donations to provide gifts and assist with basic living needs for these families.
“Although this particular fundraiser was outside the scope of our Foundation’s core mission, we were presented with a need and our community responded in a big way,” said Chris Killian, Director of The Killian Foundation. “Our original goal was to focus on pediatric cancer patients, but the sheer volume of generosity shown by our community allowed us to extend this to other patients.”
Gifts were purchased for 24 specific CHP patients and their immediate family members. An additional 300 gifts were provided to CHP staff to distribute directly to hospital patients.
Nearly 1000 handmade cards and letters of encouragement were produced by grades K-7 Hermitage school district students and community members. Hermitage middle and high school students and staff also produced video cards for distribution.
“This was only possible due to the spirit of cooperation we received from our local community,” said Killian. “Over 70 people rolled up their sleeves to help wrap the gifts including several Hermitage school district principals and Superintendent Dan Bell. When the challenge of how to transport this many items to Pittsburgh was surfaced, Elite EMS (a local ambulance service) stepped in with two vehicles to deliver them.”
“I know firsthand what it means to be on the 9th floor. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor at CHP in 2011 and I continue to receive treatment there,” remarked 7th grader Lauren Killian whose own experience with cancer and the subsequent outpouring of support from her community inspired her family to establish the Killian Foundation in 2012. “If we can bring a little holiday cheer or put a smile on a kid’s face for even a moment, then we’ve accomplished our goal.”
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