Valley Children's Healthcare Foundation and the patients and families we serve extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support of Kids Day. This year marked a significant milestone as we returned to offering the special Kids Day newspaper through more than 4,000 volunteers on the streets from Bakersfield to Modesto. Our goal in the foundation has been to get Kids Day back to its pre-Covid-19 vitality, and we are thrilled that it has happened so fast. Your invaluable support has played a pivotal role in making this year's Kids Day truly extraordinary. 

Rain or shine, Kids Day happens, and the smiles on the faces of our volunteers and supporters that rainy March early morning said it all - there is no stopping Kids Day. Check out this highlight reel featuring just some of our amazing teams. And congratulations to our highest fundraisers of all - two high school students, Sofia Hein and Dallas Renteria. Together they raised $15,998!

From our wonderful sponsors and media partners to the passionate support of school districts, businesses, universities, clubs, teams, and individuals, we raised $480,000 at this year's Kids Day. In honor of the 2,859 blood disorder patients like our Kids Day Ambassador, Jeremy, every dollar that was raised will go to Valley Children's hematology department. As one of only 140 Hemophilia Treatment Centers in the nation, Valley Children's has the only federally-funded center in the Central Valley and is highly regarded for providing comprehensive care to individuals with bleeding and clotting problems as well as the management of conditions such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. Our program is also the only one in the Central Valley to implement red blood cell apheresis, which uses centrifuge to separate blood into its components by density to assist in treatment.

More than the dollar amount raised and the rain that showered our volunteers, what poured out in abundance on Kids Day was love. Love for Kids Day, for the patients, for the community, and for the mission was tangible, and we are still basking in the glow of it. On behalf of all the hematology patients with futures worth fighting for, we thank you for your love and support. 

A tiny sampling of the buzz from March 12!

Many thanks to our incredible sponsors!

Valley Children’s has been recognized as a National Alliance for Sickle Cell Disease Center of Excellence. This is the highest designation possible for sickle cell treatment programs that successfully demonstrate having all of the essential elements and capabilities needed to provide the highest level of care from clinical trials, protocols and treatments, to diagnostics, personnel and linked partnerships.

“We are honored to achieve this designation which reinforces our dedication to helping kids with sickle cell disease (SCD) and that our program is equipped with the foundational components that create a landscape essential to providing the most advanced care,” explained Dr. Bindu Sathi, Valley Children’s pediatric oncologist/hematologist and Sickle Cell Disease Program director. As a designated center of excellence, Valley Children’s SCD program can participate in newly approved therapies and clinical trials only available to those centers who have the fundamental elements that support these therapies.

Valley Children’s is the only pediatric National Alliance Sickle Cell Disease Center of Excellence in the Central Valley, and just 1 of 4 in California. Each year, more than 2000 children are born with sickle cell disease. We are proud to support the extraordinary work of this part of the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center through your generous donations to Kids Day 2024.

For more about the impact of our Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, find their 2023 Annual Report here.

Just Porch It (ongoing campaign)

Turn your old clothes into proceeds to benefit Valley Children's Hospital. Schedule a free home pickup at www.justporchit.com or call 1-800-965-6519. Select Valley Children's Hospital in the "Who are you supporting" section.