The Kiwanis Foundation’s Sustained Giving Program provides critical funding for children’s hospitals in the Capital District. By making regular donations, you can ensure these hospitals have the resources to provide excellent care for sick and injured children.

The Need for Sustained Support

In 2021, the Foundation established the Sustained Giving Program to fund important programs serving children over the long term. Hiawatha Nicely was the first to pledge a monthly donation, challenging others to join.

• Become a Sustained Giver by donating $120/year or more through monthly or quarterly charges.
• Donate whatever you feel this important cause is worth to you. Every amount makes a difference!
• Donations are tax deductible and processed securely through Bloomerang.

One Family’s Story

Nancy Simonelli’s nephew and his wife had a baby boy (Finn) on May 3, 2023. Unfortunately the pregnancy wasn’t always a joyous time because they found out through testing that their baby had Tetralogy of Fallot. Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is a rare congenital heart condition that is present at birth. A baby born with the condition may have four different heart problems. The condition causes altered blood flow through the heart and to the rest of the body which causes low oxygen levels so babies with ToF often have blue or gray skin color. Babies diagnosed with ToF need surgery to fix the heart.

On July 6, 2023 Finn (2 months old) had open heart surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital to repair 2 different heart issues. Again this was a very stressful time for his parents. My nephew is a paramedic, EMT and fireman; his wife is a RN with 4+ years experience working in the ER at a local hospital so they understood what the doctors and nurses were telling them. But it was their baby going through this at 2 months old. Finn remained in the hospital for 9 days and then went home with blood pressure medication and a list of instructions. Finn has monthly follow up visits at Boston Children’s Hospital and is doing well.

The Impact of Your Sustained Gifts

While Finn was treated in Boston, the children’s hospitals supported by the Foundation provide the same expert care here in our community. Your donations ensure they can:

• Provide counseling and support services to help families through difficult treatments
• Offer affordable lodging so parents can remain close to hospitalized children
• Supply spiritual care and patient advocates to meet each child’s needs
• Purchase vital medical equipment and fund critical programs

By becoming a Sustained Giver, you empower these hospitals to save children’s lives when they need it most. Every regular contribution makes a lasting difference.

Give the Gift of Children’s Health

With Hiawatha’s challenge, we can ensure children like Finn receive the best possible care for years to come. Click here to get started contributing to this meaningful giving opportunity.