UPDATE: The final tally for this year’s one-time-only digital edition of Kids Day is $178,540, the hospital announced Monday.
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There were no volunteers in orange vests selling Kids Day papers on street corners this year, but the annual fundraiser for Valley Children’s Healthcare still brought in at least $127,955.
The donations pushed the fundraiser past the $10 million mark since it started in 1987.
The event typically sends nearly 8,000 volunteers to street corners across the central San Joaquin Valley to sell a special edition of The Fresno Bee. But it was pulled last week out of caution over the novel coronavirus.
Instead, donations were accepted digitally.
To contribute, residents can text GEORGE to 20222 to make an automatic $10 donation. Another option is to visit valleychildrens.org/kidsday and choose to give any amount, starting at $1.
The $127,955 total was as of 4:15 p.m. Tuesday and a final total is expected to be tallied next week.
“Traditions are important in this Valley and it is clear, from the overwhelming support and encouragement we have received from across our communities that our Kids Day tradition is important to the children we care for,” Todd Suntrapak, Valley Children’s President and CEO, said in a statement Monday announcing the changes to this year’s fundraising effort.
The online options to donate to the hospital are available each year during the street fundraising efforts. Special Kids Day stories produced this year by reporters will be at fresnobee.com and at abc30.com.
Sponsored by The Fresno Bee and ABC30, Kids Day has raised more than $9.8 million since 1987. Over $634,000 of that was raised last year.
Before canceling the in-person fundraising event, Valley Children’s officials also reported changes to visitation and operations at their facilities. That included an evaluation of events sponsored by the hospital.
Health officials have encouraged residents to maintain safe distances from others and take steps to prevent flu-like symptoms that are associated with the virus. The coronavirus has been deadly for more than 3,000 people globally. Outbreaks have been reported in different parts of the country.
In 2019, the Valley Children’s Healthcare System fielded 305,725 outpatient visits, 108,335 emergency room visits and performed 21,781 surgeries.
For several years in a row, Valley Children’s Hospital has ranked as one of the best children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Five departments were recognized for their outstanding care: pediatric diabetes and endocrinology, pediatric gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, pediatric orthopedics, and urology.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 7:29 PM.
