Compassion Fund

Compassion Fund

Funder: Variety – the Children's Charity of Iowa

Geographic Scope: Central Iowa and Eastern Iowa

Program Overview

Variety partners with Iowa hospitals to help critically ill children and their families by providing comfort, care, and fulfilling immediate needs. The Compassion Fund allows frontline social workers to identify needs and distribute funds immediately, providing much-needed relief for families.

Eligible Locations

Central Iowa:

Blank Children's Hospital

ChildServe

Mary Greeley Medical Center

MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center

Eastern Iowa:

Mercy Medical Center

UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Hospital

Types of Support Provided

• Gas cards for frequent travel to appointments
• Meals for parents spending weeks at the hospital
• Payment of immediate bills (phone, heat, electricity)
• Birthday cakes for children spending special days in hospital beds
• Care for siblings when parents need to stay with their ill child
• Sleepsacks for newborns at partner hospitals

Sleepsacks Program

Variety provides Sleepsacks for newborns as a safer alternative to loose blankets:

Help reduce risk of suffocation

Keep babies at comfortable temperature

Provide sense of security and comfort

Help lower risk of SIDS

Support safe sleep practice modeling for parents

How to Access

Families experiencing long hospital stays with critically ill children should reach out to their social worker or nurse to access the Compassion Fund.

Contact Information

Variety – the Children's Charity of Iowa

Address: 505 5th Avenue Suite 310, Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 243-4660

Website: varietyiowa.com

Special Events

Two Days of Compassion Radiothon: December 11 & 12

Presented by Hy-Vee

Newsradio 1040 WHO

106.3 KXNO on Iowa Sports Radio Network

KDAT in eastern Iowa