May Start Gets a Boost with Junior League of Charlottesville (JLC) Grant

Infant Car Seat Program a Little Closer to this Year's Goal IHS was selected as a recipient of a Spring 2013 Community Grant from the Junior League of Charlottesville (JLC) in the amount of $750.00 to support our Baby Fund which is dedicated to indigent UVA Medical Center pediatric patients needs.  Specifically, these funds will be used to purchase infant car seats. Hillary Dack, the 2012-2013 JLC Vice Chair, said in her letter to IHS, "We received a large number of excellent grant applications for this funding cycle, but your outstanding dedications to strengthening our community through the organization's efforts was evident through your application. We are proud to support your vital work in our community." The JLC Community Celebration to highlight the Junior League's partner agencies this year was hosted on May 1, 2013 at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia in Charlottesville. IHS Board member, Sam McLawhorn,  attended and personally received the grant  from Margaret Bolton Baudinet, JLC's Community Vice President. Comments from Sam The IHS Baby Program's primary objective is to provide the infant car seats through UVA Office of Social Work for indigent families who simply cannot afford to purchase this "must have" safety device when an infant is released from the Hospital. The car seats must be new, and three different sizes are requested based on the size of the child upon release. IHS has been actively providing the infant car seats for two years. The first year projection was for thirty (30) seats for all UVA pediatric clinics; however, the end result was forty-four(44) seats. Our expectation over the next year is for no less than fifty (50) seats. This JLC grant will be so helpful in reaching that goal.  Thank you ... Junior League of Charlottesville! A Note from UVA Social Worker Vikki Bravo who is retiring May 10th Hi to the Board of the Volunteer Army of I H S, I love you guys! I have been at U VA 15 years  and a social worker 36 years. It  has been a privilege to do this work. I see the best of the human spirit. People in very difficult circumstances find that they have strength they didn't know they had. And I H S has given them the extra help to receive medical care with dignity. It has been a joy working with you all, and I look forward to continuing in the Volunteer Army.  Love,  Vikki