(Madera, California) – The 36th Annual Kids Day benefiting Valley Children’s Hospital is Tuesday, March 7, and for the first time in three years, volunteers – more than 2,000 – will hit the streets from Porterville to Modesto from 6 a.m. to early afternoon to help raise funds for vital patient services and programs.
Since 1988, Kids Day has raised more than $10.7 million for the “Children’s Fund,” which goes to meet the most immediate needs at Valley Children’s. Last year, donations helped Valley Children’s once again rank as one of the best children’s hospitals in the country in six pediatric specialties; expand our precision medicine, pediatric plastic surgery and neuro-oncology programs; and fund programs and initiatives that promote the health and well-being of our patients and families, including child life, adaptive sports and spiritual support services.
“We are so thrilled that Kids Day volunteers have responded so enthusiastically to the opportunity to hit the streets for the first time since before the pandemic,” said Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation President Rob Saroyan. “On behalf of the patients and families we serve, we are so grateful to both the volunteers who will be raising funds on Kids Day and the tens of thousands of Valley residents who will generously help kids by supporting Valley Children’s.”
To donate during this year’s Kids Day:
- Volunteers will be on the streets throughout the Central Valley offering Kids Day postcards for a suggested donation of $1.
- Visit valleychildrens.org/kidsday to make a gift by credit or debit card in any amount.
- Text “GEORGE” to 20222 to make an automatic $10 donation.
- Create a personal fundraising page online that can be shared with friends, family and members of the community to collect donations in support of Kids Day. Please visit valleychildrens.blackbaud-sites.com for more information.
This year’s Kids Day Ambassador is 11-year-old Connor. Born at 24.5 weeks gestation, Connor weighed 1 pound, 13 ounces, and was in need of specialized care at Valley Children’s Level IV NICU. Today, Connor is thriving, moving around with his walker and adaptive bike. He enjoys playing with friends, gaming at home and participating in kayaking and basketball through Valley Children’s Adaptive Sports Program.
“Connor had excellent care from the time he was admitted to the NICU to today,” says Connor’s grandmother, Susan. “We are grateful for the doctors and care teams at Valley Children’s who have been wonderful to Connor and our family.”