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Caring Kids Program

The Caring Kids Program is an easy and fun service program that gives kids the opportunity to help advance the health and well-being of individuals by raising money and awareness for Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

The Caring Kids Program offers guidance on how you can help others within your community. The program supports and teaches students about community involvement and good citizenship, while raising awareness about the unique health care needs of their own community. It also provides assistance with starting your own school/community fundraiser.

Spectrum Health Foundation and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation make fundraising easy, fun and free for teachers, students and community members! The best part is that 100 percent of funds raised stay local to help support vital programs and services of patients cared for at Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital!

Building a New Generation of KindnessEngaging students in a meaningful cause helps them develop leadership skills and enhance their community awareness. Children’s understanding and participation in philanthropic events increase classroom engagement and active participation.

Philanthropy develops many other great qualities.

• Kids develop leadership skills they can use throughout their lives.

• Good citizenship and community activism help kids build character and integrity.

• Involvement promotes the spirit of giving to the community.

• Volunteerism promotes good team-building skills.

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Your Gift Makes a DifferencePhilanthropy plays an important role in the growth and development of health care everywhere. Donor support helps develop and maintain many of the programs and services that save and change lives every day. Each and every gift provides crucial funding to support groundbreaking therapies and innovative research. Fundraising is a necessary and vital component in the continued delivery of specialized care at Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. We want you to know that as a donor you are an important member of our health care team. You are helping to save lives, restore health, inspire hope and provide comfort.

Every Gift Is HopeSpectrum Health is known for its high quality care, research and specialized services in several clinical specialties. Through

fundraising efforts, Spectrum Health continues to deliver vital programs, leading-edge research and education, advanced technology and state-of-the-art facilities. Philanthropy has made it possible for Spectrum Health to fulfill its mission of improving the health of the communities we serve.

As West Michigan’s only hospital dedicated solely to children, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital needs your support to provide hope and healing to every sick and injured child who comes to us, regardless of ability to pay. Pediatric care requires specialized knowledge, highly trained staff andunique medical equipment, which are all very costly.Additionally, pediatric care is reimbursed at a lower rate and, unfortunately, many important services, including child life, the center for child protection and the intensive feeding program at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, receive little or no reimbursement.

As a donor, you are an important member of our health care team. You are helping to save lives, restore health, inspire hope and provide comfort.

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Get InvolvedHelen DeVos Children’s Hospital cares for thousands of children every year and has touched the lives of millions … maybe even a child in your own school. What better way to show your support than planning your very own fundraising event at your school!

How to Get Started• Develop a Plan

Every great Caring Kids fundraiser starts with a great idea. Behind every great idea is a solid plan.

• Brainstorm Be creative! Get everyone involved in thinking and discussing ideas for your event. The more people participate now, the more commitment you will have later.

• Set a Goal Establish measurable, realistic goals that you will be able to track throughout your event. This will help you gain support and increase participation.

• Establish Details The type of event you choose should be relevant and realistic to the size, interest, talents, goals and time availability of your group. Think date, time, venue, anticipated guests and theme. Don’t forget to gather volunteers to help you pull off a successful event.

• Develop a Budget How much will it cost for supplies? Will there be a charge for the room, hall and/or event space? What supplies or services can be donated? These are just a few questions you will need to discuss while planning your event. By planning and identifying expenses and income sources in advance, you will maximize your donations by keeping costs down.

• Submit Your Event Once you have a plan and are ready to take the next step, submit your event online at give.helendevoschildrens.org/get-involved/caringkidsschoolprogram/signup. This way we know what fundraiser you are planning and will be able to support you along the way. Your event will be reviewed by the program coordinator and we will follow-up with you via email.

• Promote Your Event Involve community, family and friends in publicizing your event early. Use every resource available to you. TV, radio, newspaper and magazines often provide free public service time and ad space. Utilize your school’s website to promote your event along with social media sites like Facebook©, Twitter© and LinkedIn®. Of course, don’t forget flyers, posters, community bulletin boards, email and word of mouth.

Fun Ideas for All AgesHere are just a few of the many fun ideas available to support the program. Feel free to alter these ideas to fit your group, and create your own unique and exciting fundraiser. Keep in mind that any idea is welcome, and your students will learn generosity and kindness from this experience.

• 24-hour showcase sit-in • Athletic/community event• Auction new/used• Classroom coin competitions• Coin canister collections• Bake sale/candy fundraiser• Balloon lift-off• Battle of the bands• Book sale• Economics market• Fun sales• Guitar Hero/Rock Band competition• Lemonade stand• Mini-dance marathon• Pajama day/casual day• Paper icon sales• Senior premium parking contest• Spelling bee• Sponsored race/walk• Super Hero Day• Talent show/variety show• Trash and treasure sale

Tools to HelpWe would like to help you and your students make a difference in West Michigan. Below are some of the items that we can provide your organization to aid in your fundraising efforts.

• Brochures and fact sheets• Coin collection canisters• Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital rubber bracelets• Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital pencils • “I Support Kids” stickers • Online fundraising page• Patient miracle story bookmarks

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• Create Your Fundraising Page After your event has been approved, you can create a personal fundraising page through which family and friends will be able to securely donate to your event. This will also allow you to keep track of your donations along the way. Visit sphefo.convio.net to create your personal fundraising page.

• Conduct Your Fundraiser Now it’s time for all your hard work to pay off! It’s time for you to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Remember to have fun yourself. You’ve earned it!

• Event Wrap-Up Collect funds for the event and send one check made payable to Spectrum Health Foundation, within 30 days of your event. If you receive individual checks from your participants, please send them as well. Please do not send cash. Also, remember that we will be unable to reimburse any expenses.

All proceeds can be mailed to:Spectrum Health FoundationHelen DeVos Children’s Hospital FoundationAttention: Caring Kids Program100 Michigan Street NE | MC004Grand Rapids, MI 49503

All individual checks made payable to Spectrum Health Foundation or Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation may receive a tax receipt and acknowledgement in accordance with Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations.

• Give Thanks It is important to recognize and acknowledge everyone who participated in your event. Let them know how much money they raised along with lots of cheer and appreciation!

• Consider Making Your Fundraiser Annual Organize a follow-up meeting with your group to discuss and evaluate your event. Consider making this an annual event that will benefit Spectrum Health or Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for years to come!

• Themed paper icons

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Helen DeVos Children’s HospitalHelen DeVos Children’s Hospital was created in 1993 to fill a critical gap in West Michigan health care—a hospital devoted to infants, children and adolescents. Nearly 15 years later, it has become a referral center and established leader dedicated to improving the health and lives of children and families. Our clinical teams of respected physicians, specially trained nurses and caring support staff also include the pediatricians of tomorrow—medical students and residents in our physician training program. To our communities and our region, we are a vital resource, providing exceptional care to every child who comes to us, regardless of ability to pay.

What Makes Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Special?

Kids are not little adults. Most arrive here with complex conditions that demand specialized knowledge, highly trained staff and unique medical equipment.

One example is our blood pressure cuffs. We have more than a dozen sizes for children—from 1-pound preemies to 200-pound linebackers and all the children in between!

Children require more personalized care and a higher nurse-to-patient ratio. Similarly, many kids are too young to

express themselves. Our staff is specially trained to care for and communicate with children. They understand the ways children act when they are in pain or distress. In addition, our child life staff helps ease anxiety and stress for kids in the hospital facing an illness or injury.

Vital Programs Supported by Philanthropy

• Bereavement services• Cardiovascular program• Child Life Services• Infant Nutrition Support Services• Injury Prevention Program• Oral Cleft Program• Pastoral Care• Pediatric Oncology Resource Team• Psychiatry Program Support• Science of Healing Scholarships• Simulation Training• Visually Impaired Sports Day

Ava Siciliano

Pediatric Cancer Care and P.O.R.T.

When Ava Siciliano was 2 years old, she was diagnosed with a form of soft tissue cancer. Ava began treatment immediately as part of a clinical trial. She is now 6 years old and cancer free.

Fortunately for children like Ava, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital offers leading-edge treatments and groundbreaking therapies through its pediatric cancer and blood disorder services. More than 600 patients visit our clinic each month for care. In addition, we offer the only pediatric bone marrow and stem cell transplant program in West Michigan.

Support is critical for children and their families battling cancer over several months or years. The Pediatric Oncology Resource Team (P.O.R.T.) is a group of volunteer families who serve other families as their children battle cancer and life-threatening blood disorders.

P.O.R.T. offers sources of information regarding cancer and blood disorders diagnoses, treatments, coping skills and parenting methods. The group relies entirely on philanthropic support to continue its mission of helping families during their children’s cancer treatment.

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Spectrum Health Spectrum Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in West Michigan, with 14 hospitals, more than 64,000 in-patient admissions and 170+ service sites. We have the largest adult open heart program in the state. We are the largest regional provider of cancer care and have one of the top joint replacement programs in the nation. Our service area covers all of Michigan, with 540,000 Priority Health plan members and more than 12,000 employers through Priority Health.

What Makes Spectrum Health Special?

Spectrum Health has an ambitious vision—to be the national leader for health by 2020. As an integrated health system, we bring together the essential elements of the health care continuum, including a health plan, a medical group and physicians, a hospital group, and continuing care and outpatient services. This collaborative approach results in comprehensive and coordinated care for patients and families. We call this the Spectrum Health experience.

Vital Programs Supported by Philanthropy

• Fredrik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute • Renucci Hospitality House• Spectrum Health Cancer Program• Spectrum Health Hospice and Palliative Care • Spectrum Health Neurosciences

Clinical Trial Provides Lifesaving Procedure

When Janice Suess, 72, began having fainting and falling episodes she was referred to a local cardiologist. It was determined that she had a severely narrowed aortic valve and needed a new heart valve. However, after several tests, surgeons determined Janice was at extreme risk for complications with traditional open-heart surgery.

Fortunately for Janice there was an alternative. Spectrum Health Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute is participating in a clinical trial that replaces diseased aortic valves with artificial valves using a minimally invasive procedure. Spectrum Health is one of four sites in Michigan and one of 45 sites in the U.S. selected to participate in the clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Medtronic CoreValve® Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) System.

“Previously, patients like Janice who could not have surgery would be offered medications and their prognosis was poor,” said John Heiser, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon. “This clinical trial makes it possible for patients who otherwise would not be able to receive a new valve to have this less invasive procedure and significantly improve their condition. We’re lucky to have this option here in West Michigan for our patients.”

Since surgery Janice has been able to breathe and sleep better, and her overall quality of life has drastically improved. “We just feel blessed that Spectrum Health does this and it’s so close to home,” said Janice.

Janice Suess

Caring Kids Honor Roll

Students from the following schools came together to support the patients and families at Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Our many thanks to them!

Spectrum Health FoundationHelen DeVos Children’s Hospital FoundationAttention: Caring Kids Program100 Michigan Street NE | MC004Grand Rapids, MI 49503Phone: 616.391.2000give.spectrumhealth.orggive.helendevoschildrens.org

Creating Greater Possibilities Through Philanthropy

Ada Christian SchoolAda Elementary SchoolBauer Elementary SchoolBig Rapids Public SchoolsBreton Downs Elementary SchoolByron Center High SchoolCaledonia High SchoolCalhoun Intermediate School DistrictCalvin Christian High SchoolCampau Park Elementary SchoolChallenger ElementaryChandler Woods Charter AcademyChrist Lutheran PreschoolCollins Elementary SchoolComstock Park High SchoolCoopersville High SchoolCreative Technologies AcademyCrestwood Middle SchoolEast Grand Rapids High SchoolEast Grand Rapids Middle SchoolEdgewood Elementary SchoolFerris State UniversityForest Hills Northern High SchoolFruitport Community SchoolsFruitport High SchoolGeorgetown Elementary SchoolGodfrey-Lee High SchoolGodwin Heights High SchoolGrace PreschoolGrand Haven High SchoolGrand Rapids Christian High SchoolGrand Rapids West Catholic High School

Grand Valley State UniversityGrandville Public SchoolsGreenville High SchoolHamilton Middle SchoolHesperia High SchoolHolland Christian High SchoolHoly Spirit SchoolHope CollegeHopkins High SchoolHudsonville Christian SchoolHudsonville High SchoolImmanuel St. James Lutheran SchoolIonia Middle SchoolJackson Park Middle SchoolJeffers Elementary SchoolJenison High SchoolJenison Public SchoolsKenowa Hills IntermediateKettle Lake Elementary SchoolLakeside Elementary SchoolLakeview High SchoolLeland High SchoolLowell Area SchoolsMacatawa Bay Middle SchoolMarshall Public SchoolsMeadow Brook Elementary SchoolMona Shores High SchoolMuskegon Area Intermediate School DistrictNorth Elementary SchoolNorth Pointe Christian High SchoolNorthview High School

Northview Public SchoolsOrchard View Elementary SchoolOttawa Hills High SchoolParis Ridge Elementary SchoolParkside Elementary SchoolPaw Paw Public SchoolsPine Ridge Elementary SchoolPine River Area SchoolsPlymouth Christian High SchoolReed City Public SchoolsRockford High SchoolSaugatuck Middle SchoolSouth Elementary SchoolSouthwest Community Campus SchoolSpring Lake Public SchoolsSt. Mary’s Visitation SchoolSt. Stanislaus Catholic SchoolThornapple Kellogg SchoolsTri-County Middle SchoolVanguard Charter AcademyWalden Green MontessoriWaukazoo ElementaryWayland High SchoolWealthy Elementary SchoolWest Elementary SchoolWest Oakview Elementary SchoolWest Ottawa Public SchoolsWhite Cloud Junior High SchoolWolverine Community SchoolsWyoming Park High SchoolZeeland East High SchoolZeeland West High School