LOUISVILLE, Ky. –. The University of Louisville has received $523,198 in grant funding this year from the WHAS Crusade for Children. The awards announced today help fund direct patient care as well as much-needed equipment purchases so UofL can continue providing the best possible care to children who have special needs.
“We cannot overstate what a valuable and precious resource the Crusade is to our community and to the University of Louisville as we try to meet the needs of these children,” said Dr. James Ramsey, president of UofL.
UofL programs supported by the Crusade this year include several offered at the Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center. The Weisskopf staff works in teams that include developmental pediatricians, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, nurses and geneticists to assess the medical and therapeutic needs of each child who is seen. Also, this year’s funds will help UofL purchase equipment used in craniofacial surgical repairs, ultrasound equipment, eye examination devices and more.
“The people of Kentuckiana make it possible for the WHAS Crusade for Children to provide agencies and organizations with funds to help children throughout the region,” said Dawn Lee, executive director of the Crusade. “We are extremely proud that 100 percent of the funds donated to the Crusade help children with special needs. Our ability to continue to help fund projects like the ones at the University of Louisville demonstrates that people see the need for these programs and want to help.”
Since its inception in 1954, the WHAS Crusade for Children has raised more than $133 million to assist children with special needs. In that time, UofL has received more than $18 million to help fund its work for these children.
“Over the years, funding from the Crusade for Children has enabled us to enhance the care we provide to this very special group of children,” said Dr. Larry Cook, executive vice president for health affairs at UofL. “This year’s grant continues that tradition. We are able to continue to provide services through the Weisskopf Center and the Children and Youth project because of the people of Kentuckiana and the Crusade for Children.”
The Children and Youth Project primarily provides comprehensive care to children from birth through 17 years old who fall 200 percent below the federal poverty line. Medical, dental, nursing, nutrition, speech, social work, laboratory, home health and early developmental intervention services are provided in a coordinated manner. Project services include home health and early intervention with nursing, speech and social service staff actively involved. Early literacy is also a key focus of well-child visits. The Project is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty and low literacy prevalent in our patient population.
“The children of Kentuckiana receive better health care services because of the Crusade for Children,” said Dr. Gerard Rabalais, chairman of the department of pediatrics at UofL. “The equipment and programs funded might not be available if it were not for these resources.”