The Markie Foundation Partners with UC Davis Medical Center

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The Markie Foundation Surpasses $100,000 in Funds Raised for Children's Hospice

More than $85,000 disbursed to increase services for families with terminally ill children

ROCKLIN, CA, March 31, 2004--Contributions from many generous individual and corporate donors have helped The Markie Foundation raise more than $100,000 since its establishment.

"We are extremely proud of this milestone and excited to share the success with all donors," says Co-Founder Janis Wuelfing.

To date, the Foundation has disbursed $86,800 towards children’s hospice programs—in its ongoing mission to make a difference in the lives of terminally ill children and their families.

In January 2004, the Foundation donated $20,000 to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento to sponsor a children’s hospice conference that brought together approximately 100 doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, and other care providers to discuss the importance and need for specific pediatric hospice services in Northern California. The conference, which featured presentations by some of the nation’s most highly regarded pediatric hospice experts—including a sibling bereavement keynote—was a huge step towards increasing community and professional awareness of this specialized area of care.

Through this increased awareness and the development of additional children’s hospice services, The Markie Foundation is helping to 1) improve the patient referral system, making it easier for families to access and utilize children’s hospice services, and 2) provide a broader range of high quality, specialized services to meet the unique needs of families caring for terminally ill children. The Foundation will continue to partner with UCDMC to expand pediatric hospice services throughout the region.

In May 2003, the Foundation donated $15,000 to George Mark Children’s House in San Leandro California, the first freestanding pediatric hospice and respite care facility in the United States. The beautiful 15,000 square-foot house, which opened its doors last month, will serve up to 200 families per year with 24-hour respite (round-the clock), transitional (between hospital and home) and end-of-life care in a comfortable, home-like environment.

Over the past three years, The Markie Foundation has also donated to: Roman Perkins & Family ($1,300) for a bone marrow drive; Comfort for Kids ($50,000) for an additional pediatric hospice nurse; and The Leo Brien Foundation ($500) for Camp Okizu, a free camp for children with cancer and their families.

With its remaining and future funds, The Markie Foundation will continue to address additional children’s hospice needs in the areas of nursing resources, equipment, facilities, research, literature, and other family support programs.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS SPECIAL CAUSE!