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Archive for the ‘Sharing Care events’ Category

Sharing Care Puts on the Kilometers

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Baby Steps 3k

On a sunny morning June 1^st, the Children’s Hospital put on another successful Baby Steps 3k at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. This annual walk, which benefits the neonatal program at Children’s (including the neonatal intensive care unit, infant care center, special care nursery, and more), gives participants the change to mingle with Children’s caregivers, neonatal grads and families at the after party.

Five PHS volunteers helped make sure walkers stayed on track throughout the route, cheering them on as crowds of bright team t-shirts and strollers marched past. And these walkers made a difference – a total of 127 teams showed up (a record for the 3k) and raised $105,000.

That kind of success deserves a party – and they were prepared to throw one! Walkers finished their trek to be greeted by Radio Disney, bounce houses, face painting, photo booths, and more – our volunteers even caught up with Victor, the Vikings mascot. We can’t wait to join again next year!

HopeKids 5k

The following Saturday, seven PHS volunteers showed up for the 5^th Annual HopeKids Suburban Walk and Run – but this time to participate as walkers rather than traffic directors. This event is the largest fundraising event for HopeKids, raising a significant percentage of the money needed each year for them to provide all of the events that families involved in this organization enjoy.

The event brings distances for all types of athletes, including a Kids Fun Run, 5k walk, 5k run and 10k run. The morning attracted 150 runners, about 300 walkers and another 100 people as activities coordinators and volunteers to the neighborhood in Lakeville, and HopeKids President, Josh Taylor, was thrilled with the turnout.

“Huge thanks to all our HopeKids families for raising money and all the corporate sponsors that gave so generously,” he said.

Our team participated in the 5k walk (we weren’t sure we could keep up with those 10k runners) and enjoyed the company, conversation and scenery that this event brought together.

After the Kids Fun Run ended, the post-race entertainment kicked right in. There was everything from mascot football and dog agility demonstrations to face painting and sports available – truly an event for any age. We were happy to see so many participants show up and support this amazing organization – they provide families with a medically-complex child an outlet of fun and entertainment during what can otherwise prove to be a stressful time, and we know that helps kids thrive.

Tags: baby steps, hope kids, Mnnesota Childrens hospital, pediatric home service, PHS, PHS Kids Thrive, Sharing Care
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Pitching and Planting with Sharing Care

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Every Child Deserves A Chance to Play Baseball.

And that’s why there’s West Metro Miracle League. WMML is a non-profit organization run by volunteers which gives children between the ages of 3 and 19 with any cognitive and/or physical challenges the great opportunity to play baseball. Last year in the west metro, 12 teams – comprised of 132 players – hit the diamonds at Bennett Family Park in Minnetonka to play ball! There are also leagues in the north, east and south metro areas – visit the Miracle League page to get more details on these opportunities.

PHS brought in the first real days of spring by teaming up with the Pirates from West Metro Miracle League for a fun game of baseball on May 7 (see more pictures from the night here). After lacing up our shoes and practicing our swing, we had a great evening of batting, running, catching and cheering each other on. It was a perfect evening for it, and the St. Paul Saints were there to provide some entertainment to boot! Everyone was a winner that night, and the energy that the players brought to the field was enough to remind every buddy, coach, and spectator why programs like this are so important.

A Place Where Hope Grows.

Each spring, PHS employees look for forward to one event that happens rain or shine (or sleet) – the annual Spring Clean-Up for Faith’s Lodge.

On May 10, 26 volunteers drove to Danbury, Wisconsin for another fun and productive weekend of cleaning and landscaping at the lodge. Last year, we were there for their Tree Planting Day to revive the land after a storm knocked a huge number of the trees down in 2011. This year, we went there with a mission to plant more trees (80, to be exact), stain their playground and benches, lay grass seed, and plant flowers. Although the sleet and temperatures didn’t scream spring, we know the sunshine and warm weather is on its way and wanted to do whatever we could to ensure families will be able to enjoy the amazing surroundings, resources and reflection space that Faith’s Lodge provides.

If you’re the parent of a medically-complex or seriously ill child, it’s not too late to join other families at Faith’s Lodge for the week of June 25-30. If you’re interested, please contact PHS clinician at 651-642-1825. If you or someone you know could benefit from Faith’s Lodge this week or any other time of year, please visit their website to learn more.

To keep up with what PHS is doing in the community, like us on Facebook – we love to hear from you!

Tags: faith's lodge, miracle league, pediatric home service, PHS, PHS Kids Thrive, Sharing Care
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PHS Lends a Helping Hand All Year

Monday, April 29th, 2013

As organizations around the nation recognized the amazing efforts and opportunities that volunteers bring last week during National Volunteer Week, we couldn’t help but think back on our past year and the time, energy and dedication our staff brought to events that PHS’s community program, Sharing Care, participated in. From Ronald McDonald House to Faith’s Lodge and many in between, PHS was out getting involved and helping in the community of families that we take care of every day.

Sharing Care was created in 2008 to expand how we define taking care of the child, and is designed to:

Take our charitable giving one step further

Encourage generosity

Align our charitable giving with our mission to take care of the child, and

Provide PHS employees with the opportunity to donate time to programs and events in the community that are directly associated with serving medically-complex and underprivileged children and adolescents.

The numbers speak for themselves – throughout the past year, nearly 100 PHS staff have donated over 350 hours of personal time doing activities like donating blood, planting trees, donning bald caps, answering phones, pedaling, donating toys, being buddies in baseball and basketball, or cooking dinners for families. So while we remembered the importance of volunteering throughout last week, it’s also something that is in our minds year-round. Philanthropy has been in PHS’s culture since its doors opened over two decades ago, and continues to prove important to those who work here today.

With another year full of volunteer opportunities ahead, we’re looking forward to the ways we can give to others and continue taking care of the child in as many ways as possible! Do you have any upcoming volunteer activities you’re participating in? We always love to see members of the community helping out.

Tags: national volunteer week, pediatric home service, PHS, Sharing Care
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Sharing Care makes baskets with iCAN hoop

Friday, April 19th, 2013

Many children grow up attending various camps, clinics and games specific to the sport that they’re involved in. This serves as a great tool for them to improve their skills, build relationships and learn how to follow instructions.

However, when Julie Hagen started looking for basketball camps for her son Lucas, who has Down syndrome, she soon realized there weren’t the same opportunities for physically or cognitively impaired children. Once she started talking to parents of children in a similar situation, she quickly realized there was a lot of interest in creating a clinic for them and soon, iCAN hoop was created through West Metro Miracle Athletics (WMMA) and more than 50 kids participated the first season. This past season, the basketball clinic held 12 clinics (six for ages 5-9 and six for ages 10-19) and runs with each player being paired with a buddy as they work through circuits such as ball handling, dribbling, passing and shooting – giving them the chance to gain the same meaningful lessons and experiences other clinics bring.

14 Sharing Care volunteers brushed up on their basketball techniques to be buddies with participants in one of the clinics held last Sunday, April 14^thin Chanhassen. The players and buddies alike had a great time moving up and down the court, learning basketball skills and making friends! You can see the clinics in action and hear more of the iCAN hoop story here – it’s one that we strongly believe in, as the players get out in their community and involved in activities that allow them to learn, achieve and thrive. We were so amazed by all of the participants and look forward to participating in the WMMA’s baseball league this spring and summer!

Thanks to programs such as iCAN hoop, kids of all abilities and skill sets can get involved in the activities they love – and that is something that we love!

Tags: ican hoop, pediatric home service, PHS, Sharing Care, west metro miracle athletics
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From a gala to the kitchen, Sharing Care is everywhere

Monday, February 4th, 2013

Children’s Lighthouse Homerun Gala

PHS has partnered with Children’s Lighthouse of MN for the past 3 years. We’ve sponsored their annual festival, participated in NovemBEAR and helped to spread the word of their amazing cause. So when we were approached to participate in their first Gala, we jumped at the opportunity. The event took place on January 18, 2013 at the McNamera Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota Campus. The event was MC’d by Brian “BT” Turner of K-TWIN radio (96.3) and there were performances of some scenes from the Ashland Productions “Damn Yankees” that is currently performing at the Maplewood Community Center as well as great jazz music performed by The Reid Kennedy Trio.

The big announcement of the evening was the partnership between The Harmon Killebrew Hospice Home for Kids Fund and Children’s Lighthouse. The late Harmon Killebrew had a passion for children, working with organizations such as the Miracle League, where he was able to share his love of baseball with medically-complex children. In addition to his passion for children, Harmon and his wife Nita felt strongly about the need for hospice care for all ages. Currently, there is no hospice home in the Midwest that focuses on children. Nita sees the Harmon Killebrew Hospice Home for Kids Fund as a way to extend Harmon’s passion for hospice and children by donating to Children’s Lighthouse of MN.

PHS was proud to be a sponsor of the evening and is excited to see the continued success of Children’s Lighthouse of MN and looks forward to the day when the home is built and can open its doors to a community that truly needs this resource.

Cook for Kids at Ronald McDonald House Minneapolis

What to eat for dinner is quite possibly the last thing on your mind when you have a sick child in the hospital. For that very reason PHS has been partnering with Ronald McDonald House to purchase food, prepare and serve dinner to the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Minneapolis- inside Children’s Hospital. On January 25th ten PHS volunteers had a great time serving breakfast for dinner again at the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis on January 25th. Over 60 mom’s, dad’s, brother’s, sister’s and grandma’ and grandpa’s filled up their plates with pancakes, fruit salad, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. We made sure no one went hungry and look forward to our next time at RMHC in March.

Tags: Children's hospitals and clinics MN, childrens lighthouse of mn, cook for kids, end-of-life care, homecare, hospice, NICU, pediatric home service, PHS, ronald mcdonald house, thrive
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The adventures of Harold, PHS’s NovemBEAR

Friday, December 7th, 2012

ohs, pediatric home service, novemBEAR, thrive, childrens lighthouse of MN, respite home, charity, sharing care

Harold's many adventures

PHS had the honor of supporting one local charity throughout the month of November by participating in NovemBEAR. Beginning November 1st PHS employees brought our bear, Harold, on different adventures throughout the Twin Cities. The bear is a symbol of support recognizing families of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. It is also meant to spark conversation and bring awareness to Children’s Lighthouse of MN. When anyone would ask us why, as grown adults, we were carrying a teddy bear, we were able to share information about the need for a hospice home directly focused on children in the Twin Cities. In fact, there are currently not any children’s respite home in the Midwest and only three the United States. Children’s Lighthouse of Minnesota is dedicated changing that and building an independent home that will provide short respite breaks for children with life-limiting conditions and families, and an option beyond the hospital or home environment for compassionate hospice care at the end of life.

PHS employees had a great time raising awareness and toting Harold around with us for such a great cause. Harold’s social life could have rivaled that of any celebrity with the number of events we had him going to. He went to a waterpark, a cystic fibrosis conference, volunteered at the Hunger Mission for Union Gospel Mission, a hockey tournament in Brainerd, sledding up in East Bethel, raised money for cancer research on Be Bold, Be Bald day, played on an ATV, dressed up as a super hero for Halloween, and pedaled for almost 10 hours straight to raise money for Spare Key. I’d say he’s the most philanthropic teddy bear around, wouldn’t you?

Did you carry a bear? If so, what was your experience? We’d love to hear from you. So would Harold.

Tags: childrens lighthouse of mn, homecare, nonprofit, NovemBEAR, pediatric home service, PHS, respite home, thrive
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Music, fun and more, all in the name of kids

Friday, October 5th, 2012

Hope Rocks: The Anti-Gala

PHS volunteers had a blast last Friday, September 28 at Aria at the Jeune Lune celebrating Faith’s Lodge. The event marked the 5th year of rocking out for a good cause. With performances by Eric Hutchinson and Martin Zeller, guests enjoyed food from Crave, henna tattoos and rockin’ hair do’s from the stylists at Simonson’s.

Faith’s Lodge provides a place where parents and families facing the serious illness or loss of a child can retreat to reflect on the past, renew strength for the present and build hope for the future.

phs, pediatric home service, sharing care, volunteer, faith's lodge, hope rocks 5, eric hutchinson, martin zeller,

The PHS volunteers enjoying the night raising money and rocking out to Eric Hutchinson and Martin Zeller.

Children’s Lighthouse Music Festival

Another great event from last weekend was the Children’s Music Festival put on by Children’s Lighthouse of MN, an organization raising money to build the first children’s hospice home in Minnesota.

Families had fun at this free event taking pictures in the photo booth, getting full face painting, crazy hair do’s and playing with different musical instruments from around the globe. In addition to the fun stations the entertainment couldn’t be beat, Beachcomber Bob, a performance from Circus Manduhai, muscial group Bazillions and Okee Dokee Brothers.

Tags: childrens lighthouse, chronically ill, end of life, faith's lodge, hope, hospice, medically-fragile, pediatric home service, PHS, Sharing Care, support for families with sick kids, thive
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Hope Rocks (the anti-gala) and Children’s Lighthouse of MN Music Festival

Monday, September 24th, 2012

PHS’s Sharing Care program is sponsoring two fantastic events this weekend that we wanted to be sure all of our patients, families and health care professionals were aware of as they’re sure to be lots of fun!

5 Years of Rocking for a Cause- Hope Rocks 2012

On the evening of Friday, September 28 from 6:30pm-close is Faith’s Lodge self professed “anti-gala” Hope Rocks. This is the 5th year of Rocking for a Cause, and PHS is excited to be a part for the 4th year in a row. So many PHS families have benefited from the amazing mission and services provided by Faith’s Lodge and we’re happy to show our support at such a great event! Check out the invite below and be sure to contact Faith’s Lodge if you have any questions about purchasing tickets! We hope to see many of you there!

Children’s Lighthouse Music Festival

Sunday, September 30 from 11am- 2:30pm will bring lots of fun for the whole family at the Children’s Music Festival Presented by Children’s Lighthouse of Minnesota. See the invitation below for all of the details.