American Family Children’s Hospital “tops out” and “tops off”

CONTACT:  Toni Morrissey, (608) 263-3223, (608) 576-6456, [email protected]

MADISON-Patients, families and staff at American Family Children’s Hospital today celebrated the “topping out” of a hospital expansion project and the “topping off” of a three-month fundraising blitz to make the expansion possible.

A 10-foot-long steel beam that contains the signatures of patients and staff at American Family Children’s Hospital was hoisted by crane to the top of the two-floor expansion.  The “topping out” marks a milestone in the construction that is scheduled to be completed next year.

As part of the ceremony, UW Hospital President and CEO Donna Katen-Bahensky also announced the “topping off” of a three-month fundraising blitz as part of the “Sick Kids Can’t Wait” campaign.  From December 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013, every dollar donated to the effort was matched by a group of children’s hospital supporters, including UW Credit Union, who pledged a total of more than $1 million. Katen-Bahensky said that just under $1.05 million was raised during that time.  With the matching funds from hospital donors, the total impact was about $2.09 million toward the children’s hospital expansion.

The “Sick Kids Can’t Wait” campaign is a combination of a $15.6 million hospital investment and a private $16.4 million fundraising effort.  The money is being used to build two additional floors on to American Family Children’s Hospital and to add 26 new critical care beds.  The plans include 14 beds in a high-acuity surgical neonatal intensive care unit and 12 beds for pediatric intensive care patients.  The expansion also includes a new cardiac catheterization and interventional radiology suite and two additional pediatric operating rooms.

For more information on American Family Children’s Hospital and the “Sick Kids Can’t Wait” Campaign, go to www.uwhealthkids.org

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