Variety Compassion Fund

Monday, November 20, 2023

Variety raises funds each year in December to refill the Compassion Fund at local hospitals. Caring for a critically ill child is difficult - mentally, emotionally, and financially. The Compassion Fund allows front line social workers to identify needs and distribute funds immediately, providing much-needed relief for families like Jovie's.

"At six weeks old, Jovie had a very high fever, so we went to the Emergency Room right away. The ER couldn’t figure out what was going on after the blood work and spinal tap, so we were sent to the pediatric unit at the hospital to do more testing – that’s when we found out she had bacterial meningitis that had been missed from my pregnancy. We were looking at a 15 day stay in the hospital for IV meds and monitoring her. I’m a stay-at-home mom to three other little girls, so figuring out who could take care of them while my husband and I were with Jovie in the hospital was our biggest challenge. When the nurses came to tell us we were able to receive funds from the Variety Compassion Fund, it was a godsend. We used the funds for grocery pickup to make it easier for our family who came down to help with our other children. When you’re in such a low point of not knowing the outcome of the health of your baby, help like this is amazing. It just took that burden and stress away from our family and the other caregivers in our life. You always make do and figure it out, but this took some of that worry away from us. Today Jovie is healthy and meeting her milestones - I can’t thank you all enough for that extra support we received from the Variety Compassion Fund." - Katelynn, Jovie's mom

Variety partners with Blank Children's Hospital, Broadlawns Medical Center, ChildServe, Mary Greeley Medical Center, and MercyOne Des Moines in central Iowa, and Mercy Medical Center and UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital in eastern Iowa to help families with children who are critically ill or are receiving specialized medical treatment. Tune in to 92.5 KJJY in central Iowa and 104.5 KDAT in eastern Iowa during Variety's Two Days of Compassion on December 12 & 13 and donate now to help children like Jovie!

Leave Your Comments

We welcome your comments. Please leave your ideas and opinions below.