Hospital campaign: $1.2 million, so far

Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles’ need for a new seismically safe hospital is generating significant support from around La Cañada. That’s not surprising when you consider that 1,651 La Cañada children have visited Childrens Hospital as outpatients since 1999. Another 48 La Cañada youths received emergency room care and 61 children were inpatients at the hospital during that time.

But it’s not just La Cañada kids that are connected to the hospital. There are 23 Childrens Hospital doctors that live in this city.

La Cañada residents are showing their empathy for the hospital’s time of need during Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles’ Communities That Care campaign, to which local residents have donated almost $1.2 million for the hospital’s building fund since the city’s portion of the campaign began on July 1. La Cañada residents are being asked to continue to give generously to the campaign, which will continue until Dec. 31.

“So far, the campaign is going extremely well,” said Kristina Pipkin, associated director of Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles’ major and planned giving department. “The most caring and giving people I’ve had the pleasure of working with live in the La Cañada area,” Pipkin said. “For a small community, the people there are amazing.”

Donations have come from individuals as well businesses and neighborhoods. “Neighbor to neighbor is our best way of getting donations,” Pipkin said, adding that a number of individuals have held cocktail parties and dinner receptions to raise funds for the hospital.

Work on the new hospital structure already is underway. Steel frames are up on what previously was the visitor parking area of Childrens Hospital, adjacent to the current hospital structure. The new hospital structure should be completed by Feb. 16, 2010, said Steve Rutledge, a hospital spokesman.

The need for a new hospital became apparent after a state mandate required the hospital to either go out of business, retrofit the current structure — which was impractical as the hospital couldn’t stay open during the retrofit — or build a new hospital, Rutledge said.

The new structure will be built to exceed current earthquake standards. However, although the current hospital doesn’t meet the mandated standards, there’s no need to be concerned during the interim, Rutledge added. “The current hospital is still open and has functioned since 1901. This hospital has survived earthquakes since it was built without closing for a second.”

Support from the La Cañada community is part of about $118 million raised by donors from all over the Southland since fund-raising began in 2000. About $131 million is still needed for the project, according to construction data.

The La Cañada community already has raised enough money ($1 million or more) to be recognized with a Communities That Care plaque on the Anderson Building’s donor wall. However, Pipkin hopes even more La Cañadans will step forward to add dollars to the funds already raised here by a generous community.

“There are a number of people in discussion with us, and it’s kind of a wait and see time, but we’re hoping there is more money where that came from,” she said.

To donate, or request a group tour of the hospital, call Kristina Pipkin at (323) 361-1793.