Friends of YNHCH Ball The Friends are a volunteer organization that’s mission is to support the clinical care and educational and outreach programs necessary to improve the health and well-being of children and their families at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital.
Recently, the Friends of Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital allocated funds to help renovate the hospital’s Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, which cares for children who require hospitalization for a wide range of behavioral and mental health issues. The Friends have formed a special bond with the unit, providing funds over the years for therapeutic yoga classes, supplementary clothing, and other resources.
In 2013, the Friends launched a new fundraiser, called Mustaches for Kids, and had a great time while raising funds to help families in need purchase iPads and special software for their children with communications disorders. The iPads have, in many cases, opened up a new world for these children, allowing them to communicate their wishes and needs to their families for the first time. The Friends’ Junior Board was also involved in this project, raising funds for iTunes cards to help families pay for the necessary software.
Additional areas of support from the Friends include funding for specialized goggles that allow young patients to watch videos while undergoing MRI scans, new DVD players and movies for inpatient units, a vein-finder device that allows quicker and more accurate blood draws in the Emergency Department, several Young Investigator Grants to support research by physicians early in their careers, and the hospital’s Supportive Care program, which helps children and families fighting cancer.
Learn More About the Friends of Yale New Haven Children's Hospital Here