Children's Hospital and Research Center Foundation

We raise funds for Children's Hospital and Research Center, which provides extraordinary children's care regardless of ability to pay.  We also fund world-class research.

How do you help people in my community?

Children's Hospital & Research Center Foundation raises funds for one of the oldest, largest, busiest and most comprehensive pediatric medical and research centers on the west coast. The Foundation helps provide the best possible medical care for every child regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

We see approximately 250,000 patient cases each year, and we refuse to let any child fall through the cracks simply because their family cannot afford to pay or does not have private health insurance.

Every day, babies are born who need our expert care—babies like Travis. Travis was born at just 23 weeks—almost four months too early. Weighing less than two pounds at birth and suffering from acute respiratory distress, Travis was airlifted with his mom Chelsea to Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Travis’ father, who was stationed in Iraq at the time, was only given two weeks emergency leave. Chelsea stayed by herself at Travis’ bedside in Children’s NICU for the first five months of his life until he was strong enough to go home.

At Children’s, our specialists not only take care of fragile infants like Travis, we also take care of parents like Chelsea. Our infant development specialist taught Chelsea how to massage Travis’ tiny feet, legs and hands, helping him to relax and even increasing his oxygen saturation levels.

From the children rushed to us suffering traumatic injuries … to premature newborns who are airlifted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit … to children facing life-threatening conditions like cancer – families are relying on the state-of-the-art, compassionate care they find at our hospital and research center.

Why do you need my support?

It is difficult to think about dollar signs when faced with the suffering of a child.

That is why we are committed to providing advanced, specialized pediatric care to children regardless of whether their family has private insurance or can afford to pay.  So the Foundation turns to friends like you to help ensure that our hospital and research center will always be here for all children.

Your charitable contributions will help save lives. If you agree that every day or every child’s life is precious…if you agree that access to healthcare is the birthright of every child…then please support Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Children’s Hospital & Research Center Foundation goes through a rigorous financial audit each year.  During our most recent audit the Foundation spent 15.6 percent of its total support and revenue on administrative and fundraising expenses, significantly less than the IRS suggested best practice of 25 percent or less. Children’s management pays close attention to controlling costs and making sure your donations are put to the best use – caring for kids.

The Board of Directors, with the chief executive officer, set the strategic direction of the medical and research center and the Foundation. Board members’ backgrounds and areas of expertise include finance, medical practice, health policy, corporate management, nonprofit management, government and law.

Children’s current board chair Jim Keefe, is owner and founder of Mercantile Capital Corporation and has worked in finance his entire adult life.

“There’s a finance concept I keep in mind as I serve this hospital: leverage,” said Mr. Keefe, an active trustee since 2003. “I believe it’s important to find opportunities to leverage your skills in favor of a good cause. I’m lucky to be able to leverage my skills at this incredible institution with dedicated people serving a critical population—children. In my view, that is pretty close to as good as it gets.”

Can I Volunteer? How?

Children’s volunteers serve in 59 areas of the hospital and research center offering clerical and office support and assisting staff in the hospital's School Program, Family Resource & Information Center, Intensive Care Nursery, Emergency Department, Children's Surgical Center, teen program, Gift Shop, and even with morning and evening coffee cart duty. Children’s volunteers speak 57 of the 60 languages spoken at Children’s.

Jimmy Wang is one of more than 1,000 volunteers donating their time each year at Children’s. That’s nearly 42,000 hours of service, or the equivalent of 20 full time employees.

Jimmy has already logged more than 700 hours at Children’s. He started volunteering just after graduating in 2004 and has been a weekly presence in the hospital’s teen lounge ever since. He’s also volunteered at Children’s asthma clinic, overnight asthma camp and in Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) holding babies.

“I love working with kids, there’s a spark and energy with them,” Jimmy said. “Kids in the hospital are being poked and prodded, and they just want to be normal again. My job is to just hang out with them. It’s simple, but means a lot. Ten minutes of playing a game can make a difference in a kid’s day.”

To learn more about our volunteer program, call the hospital's volunteer office at (510) 428-3471 or visit www.childrenshospitaloakland.org/join/volunteer_steps.asp.