Conference Cause 2008: San Francisco
UCSF Children’s Hospital – Child Life Program

The UCSF Medical Center system consistently ranks among the top ten hospital systems in the United States. According to US News and World Report, the Children’s Hospital is among the nation’s best hospitals for children’s health care, with a national reputation for transforming pediatric health care. With a 150-bed inpatient facility in San Francisco, and 60 outreach clinics across northern California, UCSF Children’s Hospital treats over 80,000 children a year and has distinguished itself as a pre-eminent leader in developing treatments and discovering cures that have improved and saved the lives of countless children around the globe.

Hospital stays are challenging for children and their families. The Child Life Program at UCSF supports the developmental and emotional needs of children and their families and minimizes the negative impact of illness, injury, and disability. Each year the Child Life Program typically supports 5,000 hospitalized children and another 5,500 children seen in clinics.

All donations via Conference Cause will go to support the
Child Life Program.

The Child Life Program provides a diversity of services for many ages and needs:

• The Playroom offers activities that allows children to feel as normal as possible while hospitalized. Art, toys, music, performers and celebrity visitors are regularly offered.
• The Family Resource Room keeps parents connected to their home community, work and family via free phone, computer access, medical books, and toiletries.
• The School Program and Classroom keeps children and teens engaged in academic pursuits to maintain a normal routine and keep up in school.
• The Teen Room specifically supports those with unique challenges, and connects them with peers for beneficial support.
• The All Stars Technology Room provides a positive distraction from the stress of hospitalization via the fun of technology such as computers, electronic gaming, video editing and more.

The Child Life Program also offers many forms of bedside support, such as psychological preparation for impending procedures or surgeries; academic tutoring; support for the unique needs of siblings; assistance for parents regarding the parenting of hospitalized children; pet assisted therapy; and visits from many different kinds of volunteers that help families in myriad ways.

More information can be found here: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/childrens/

Chapter Charity Grants and Volunteer Initiatives

The PLUS Foundation will make available up to $2,500 for each official PLUS Chapter to allocate to a non-profit charity in their region.

Also, up to $1,000 is available for each Chapter to coordinate a charity volunteer even.

Please work with your Chapter leadership and join us in:

• carrying out the philanthropic work of the Foundation
• promoting the good will of PLUS and the professional liability industry
• providing financial support to worthy causes across the county

The selection processes will be driven by the Chapter Steering Committee. Contact your local Chapter Chair or the Foundation for the details for your specific Chapter.

PLUS Foundation Conference Cause: Supporting local charities

Conference Cause is a philanthropic initiative of the PLUS Foundation designed to reflect the generosity of the PLUS membership, and to make a positive contribution to communities that host the Annual PLUS International Conference. 

• Identifying local charities in cities hosting the Annual PLUS International Conference
• Sponsoring fundraising and volunteer events to support the cause

Conference Cause 2007: Washington D.C. Walter Reed Society

48 PLUS Foundation volunteers hosted 250 recovering soldiers and family members for a dinner and entertainment at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

• The Foundation, PLUS and its members contributed $52,000 to the charity.
  
  

Conference Cause 2006: Special Olympics Chicago

Twenty one PLUS Foundation volunteers helped with the Special Olympics Chicago Soccer Tournament.

• The Foundation, PLUS and its members contributed over $20,000 to the charity.
  
  

Conference Cause 2005: Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations of Boston

Twenty PLUS Foundation volunteers hosted 100 kids and their mentors for an afternoon of bowling, food and refreshments.

• The Foundation, PLUS and its members contributed $28,000 to the charity.

 

Conference Cause 2004: Armed Services YMCA of San Diego

Twenty PLUS volunteers fed and entertained over 800 servicemen and women from the USS Boxer

• PLUS and it's members contributed over $30,000 to the ASYMCA
• Click here to see event photos

PLUS Foundation 9/11 Victims Campaign: Serving our own

• This was a call to action for the PLUS Foundation, serving as the conduit for member support to families of the victims
• Raised over $200,000 for families of PLUS members lost in the tragedy
• Granted $5,000 each to the FDNY and NYPD