LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville has received nearly $600,000 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.
The Crusade has provided $594,165 this year to support programs throughout the university. The Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center (WCEC) has received funding for treating children with autism, for treating patients in the WHAS Crusade for Children Learning Disorder Clinic and for purchasing equipment required for studying the structure of chromosomes.
“The WHAS Crusade for Children has been very generous to the University of Louisville, giving more than $19 million to the university since the Crusade was founded in 1954,” said UofL President James R. Ramsey. “Their support helps make it possible for us to provide the care for our patients with special needs. We cannot express our thanks to the Crusade often enough.”
“The people of Kentuckiana are who make it possible for the WHAS Crusade for Children to provide area agencies with funds to help children who have special needs and we thank each and every person who makes a donation,” said Dawn Lee, president and CEO of the Crusade. “And all of us in Kentuckiana have to recognize what a jewel we have in the University of Louisville, especially in its efforts to meet the needs of the children we serve.”
“Putting children first is job one for the UofL Department of Pediatrics,” said Gerard Rabalais, M.D., chairman of the UofL Department of Pediatrics. “The generosity of the WHAS Crusade for Children makes it possible to aggressively pursue that goal. We are so grateful to them.
Nearly half of the funding received helps support the Weisskopf Center. At the WCEC, children with developmental, learning and behavioral disorders like autism receive diagnostic and intervention services. Genetic evaluation and counseling also are provided to children and adults who have or are at risk of having a birth defect or genetic disorder.
In addition to direct patient services, WCEC also provides training to professionals and community advocates. Throughout the year, professionals from many different areas rotate through the center, providing them a hands-on experience with a special-needs population. The center also collaborates with professionals in the community to better serve children with special needs and their families. Other support from the Crusade for Children will help the university faculty and staff evaluate eye disorders in children, provide services in pediatric neurology and evaluate new fetuses as they develop. Additionally, the UofL College of Education and Human Development received funding to support undergraduate and graduate scholarships for special education teacher training, modify a play area for children with sensory processing disorders. The UofL School of Music received funding to renovate an area to be used for music therapy. The UofL Pediatric Medical-Dental Clinic at Kosair Charities campus also received funds to support equipment needs for this new endeavor.
In 2010, UofL formally launched the Charting our Course comprehensive campaign. With an initial goal of $750 million, the university stretched that philanthropic target to $1 billion by the end of June 2014. Funds raised are designated for academic support, scholarships and programs for students; faculty recruitment, research and professional development; infrastructure enhancements and upkeep of athletic facilities; and support of the university’s academic units and libraries. To date, more than 65,000 people and organizations have contributed more than $724 million total so UofL can continue its journey to becoming a premiere metropolitan research university and enhancing the lives of the people of Kentucky and beyond.