64th Annual Free Care Fund Benefit Show on KDKA Raises Over $1.7 Million for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation announced during the 64th Annual Free Care Fund Benefit Show that it raised over $1.7 million in donations and pledges in 2017 to support the Free Care Fund at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

The live broadcast was held on Thursday, Dec. 14, at Children’s Hospital and at PPG Wintergarden in downtown Pittsburgh. The show was broadcast on KDKA-TV and on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA.

This year’s event included two junior hosts, both are patients at Children’s Hospital. The junior hosts hosted live segments with Ken Rice, Heather Abraham, Brenda Waters, Lynne Hayes Freeland, and Jon Burnett, anchors at KDKA-TV, and were interviewed on the NewsRadio 1020 KDKA broadcast, where they announced the final totals. At the end of the show, each of the kids received a patient champion medal for their participation.

"I am so proud and honored to have been a part of something so special,” said Elexa White, a Heart Institute patient and junior host of the event. “This cause is extremely close to my heart and words truly can't describe how amazing it feels to know I have helped kids who are going through the same things I went through.”

In addition to the junior hosts, the Pittsburgh Steelers were involved in “Holiday Hug”, a monthly giving program in its second year. The Steelers players will deliver a teddy bear to patients in the hospital for each donor who gave a monthly gift of $20 or more. Arthur Moats and Charlie Batch supported the Free Care Fund Benefit Show by answering phones during the live broadcast.

“Year after year, the Free Care Fund Benefit Show brings the community together to provide support and contributions to make sure that families can get the care they need regardless of their ability to pay,” said Greg Barrett, president, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. “Gifts both big and small help us to continue to provide exceptional care to every child that walks through our hospital doors. We also want to give a big thanks to KDKA and the entire staff for their long history of caring for children and dedication to this mission.”

In 2016, more than 34,000 children benefited from the Free Care Fund at Children’s, totaling more than $12.5 million in free and uncompensated care provided.

The top corporate donors to this year’s 2017 Free Care Fund Benefit Show were Eat’n Park and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.

For more information about the Free Care Fund or to make a donation, visit Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation’s website at www.givetochildrens.org, or call 412-692-3900 or 1-877-CHP-GIVE.