61st Annual Free Care Fund Benefit Show on KDKA Showcases More Than $2.1 Million Raised for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation

December 19, 2014

PITTSBURGH, PA - December 19, 2014 - Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation announced during the 61st Annual Free Care Fund Benefit Show that it raised more than $2.1 million in donations and pledges in 2014. The live broadcast was held on Thursday, Dec. 18, at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and at PPG Wintergarden in downtown Pittsburgh. The show was broadcast on KDKA-TV and on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA.

"The Free Care Fund Benefit Show highlights the support Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation receives from local groups, organizations, corporations, and community members who help fundraise on behalf of the Free Care Fund. The audience will hear firsthand the impact of their giving as patients and families sharing their inspiring stories." said Greg Barrett, president, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. "We want to thank the entire Pittsburgh community for coming together again this year to help insure the continued health and well-being of children who are facing disability, disease, or chronic conditions."

The Free Care Fund provides free and uncompensated care to children in the region who need the expert and compassionate care of Children's, but whose family cannot afford it because of lack of health insurance, a child who has an illness that exceeds what insurance will pay, has a chronic illness, or needs experimental treatment.

In 2013, Children's provided $12.5 million in free and uncompensated care to children in the region.

The top three corporate donors to this year's 2014 Free Care Fund Benefit Show were Howard Hanna, Eat'n Park, and McKamish. The top school donor was Avonworth Middle/High School.

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.

Andrea Kunicky, 412-692-6254, andrea.kunicky@chp.edu  

Marc Lukasiak, 412-692-7919, marc.lukasiak@chp.edu