Employees Community Fund Of Boeing St. Louis Grants $15,000 To Variety The Children’s Charity Of St. Louis
| Posted in Philanthropy on Sep 30, 2010 |
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The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing St. Louis has approved a grant of $15,000 to Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, designated to fund essential medical equipment for children with disabilities in 2010.
From wheelchairs to augmentative speech devices, leg braces to hearing aids, prostheses to van lifts, Variety’s “Kids On The Go” program serves approximately 1,350 families throughout the St. Louis metro area by providing specialized medical equipment that allows children with disabilities to be physically independent. All equipment provided by Variety is done so free of charge.
“Variety families, when faced with the challenge of helping their child simply be an active boy or girl, are often faced with thousands upon thousands of dollars in medical bills that are not covered by insurance,” said Jan Albus, executive director of Variety the Children’s Charity. “From infancy until the age of 21, every time they need assistance, Variety helps those children gain independence and self-confidence through adaptive legs, voices and ears.”
“Promoting the economic well-being and health of our community’s most vulnerable residents, including those with physical disabilities, is a core focus of Boeing’s Global Corporate Citizenship Function,” said Angela Most, Boeing ECF Secretary/Treasurer. “For this reason, Boeing is proud to support Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis. Without Variety, thousands of children in St. Louis would be without any means to obtain the medical equipment so vital to not just their physical well-being, but emotional and mental health, as well.”
While manual and power wheelchairs (and repairs/adaptations thereof) are the most common request received by Variety, equipment covered under the ECF grant also includes:
• Augmentative Speech Devices
• Back and other bracing
• Bath chairs
• Bath lifts
• Car seats
• Ear molds
• Helmets
• Hearing aids
• Hospital beds
• Hoyer Lifts
• Lifts for vans
• Leg braces
• Ramps for vans
• Portable ramps
• Prostheses
• Scalimobile
• Shower chairs
• Special needs stroller
• Standers
• Therapeutic trikes
• Treadmills
• Van Ramps
• Walkers
How Variety’s “Kids On The Go” Program Works:
- All families with a household income of less than $65,000 are automatically eligible to receive assistance from Variety. If a family's income is more than $65,000, the family is asked to write a letter to Variety, which will review the case based on factors such as whether one or both parents are employed, the number of children in the family, other financial obligations, and the severity of the child’s diagnosis.
- For each piece of equipment Variety purchases, a prescription, letter of necessity and estimate of cost are required. The request is submitted to the insurance company, and Variety then pays what is denied by insurance. If the total amount is denied, Variety will pay the entire amount.
- Beyond the initial purchase of equipment, Variety will also maintain and repair equipment if the family cannot afford to do so.
- Variety also utilizes its equipment pool whenever possible, arranging for pick-up of donated equipment from Variety families and storing the equipment free of charge. Before giving the equipment to another child, United Seating & Mobility will make sure each piece of equipment is in perfect working condition. Variety will only accept medical equipment in excellent/good condition less than four years old.
For more than 75 years, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis has helped thousands of children with disabilities say “I can” by providing them with vital medical equipment, as well as educational, therapeutic and recreational programs such as the annual Variety Adventure Camp and Children’s Theatre. An international leader in fundraising, Variety the Children’s Charity also distributes grants to more than 80 qualified agencies throughout the St. Louis area to fund programs and/or services that directly impact the lives of children with physical and mental disabilities. For more information on Variety, including upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, visit www.varietystl.org.
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Boeing St. Louis Employees Community Fund Variety the Childrens Charity of St. Louis Variety Adventure Camp
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