Costco was selling hoodies to support BCCH Foundation, I bought one for J. He was three days old when he first went to BCCH; S spent his first day in the NICU there.

From what I am told, the NICU does not receive donations from the BCCHF unless the person who is donating specifically specifies that their donation goes to the NICU.

I know there has been some controversy in the past with BCCHF using NICU photos/stories to gain more donations. The NICU is actually part of the Woman’s Hospital, which (unfortunately) is a separate entity from BCCH. Woman’s does not receive funding from the BCCHF 🙁 which I think is a shame.

Tyler: Wow, that is a shame… and it is inappropriate for them to use NICU stories if the money doesn’t actually go there.

In fact, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has supported the needs of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for years. This happens both through donations received by the foundation that are designated to the NICU as well as through the foundation’s commitment to meeting annual NICU funding requirements (ie. for equipment such as ventilators) that are included in BC Children’s Hospital’s annual grant request to the foundation. Funding for the latter is provided in the form of undesignated funds received by BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Undesignated funds are gifts made by donors who do not specify an intention for their gift beyond supporting the work of BC Children’s Hospital. Over the years, funding from BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has had a significant impact on various aspects of care provided in the NICU, as well as on research efforts aimed at ensuring, for example, that the requirements for neonatal brain development are better understood and supported. Finally, the foundation does not use NICU in its efforts to raise money for BC Children’s Hospital even though many staff who work in NICU are employees of BC Children’s Hospital. I hope this clears up the apparent confusion.
Stephen Forgacs
Director, Communications
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation