Look How Much Iowa Communities Care About Kids
When it came time to build a "new" Blank Children's Hospital in 2001, more than 1,100 individual donors rallied to support the renovation. Together, they raised $8.5 million toward the $15.4 million renovation and expansion of Blank Children's Hospital. The remainder of the project was funded by Iowa Health System, of which Blank Children's Hospital is an affiliate.
Today, more than than $2 million is raised each year in support of programs and services at Blank Children's Hospital.
For information about contributing to Blank Children's Hospital, please call (515) 241-8171 or use our online donation form.
Information on Getting Involved
We are so grateful to the community for supporting and getting involved at Blank Children's Hospital. Learn more about how you can get involved below:
Volunteer Guidelines
Ideas for Group Projects
Group Project Form
Child Life Wish List
Pediatric Therapy Wish List
Whether it's a company doing a toy drive or a child donating his/her birthday presents to Blank Children's Hospital, we welcome in-kind donations throughout the year. The wish lists below outline needed items for two very important programs at Blank Children's - Child Life and Pediatric Therapy. Due to infection control policies, we are unable to accept stuffed animals, plush toys of any kind or used toys. If you have used toys we encourage you to donate them to The Not New Shop located at 705 East University Ave. in Des Moines, (515) 266-7610. The Not New Shop proceeds benefit Iowa Lutheran Hospital. The hours are:
Monday: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Profiles
Myron & Jacqueline Blank: A Family's Commitment to Blank Children's Hospital Spans Generations
From creating the original Raymond Blank Memorial Hospital for Children in 1944, seeing it renovated in 1981, and now creating an entirely new, expanded, family-centered hospital for Iowa's children, the Blank family has always led the way.
A.H. and Anna Blank built the original Blank Children's Hospital in honor of their son Raymond, who cared deeply about improving children's medicine and who died at an early age. Myron and Jackie Blank, who were the first to step forward with a donation for the "new" Blank Children's Hospital, now continue their family's legacy of caring.
LaVerne & Blaine Briggs: Gratitude Extends Across the Miles
It was after LaVerne and Blaine Briggs' teenage son, Jim, died of leukemia in 1968 that the Briggs family turned their charitable attention toward Blank Children's Hospital. Even after relocating to California, the Briggs' affection for Blank Children's endured.
When the hospital announced its plans to renovate and expand, the miles between the Briggses and Blank Children's seemed to disappear. LaVerne and Blaine Briggs sent a gift in honor of the many children who, like their son, need the specialized care that only a children's hospital can provide.
Variety - The Children's Charity: A Proud Supporter of Blank Children's Hospital for 30 Years
Since its first telethon was held in 1975, Variety - The Children's Charity has been one of Blank Children's Hospitals most ardent supporters. Variety's first gift to Blank Children's created the Variety Club Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery, which provided specialized, lifesaving care to thousands of premature and critically ill newborns. To help build a "new" Intensive Care Nursery, Variety again responded with a significant gift.
Through the years, contributions made through Variety have supported numerous projects throughout Blank Children's, including the John R. Grubb/Variety Club Children's Health Center, the Variety Club Pediatric Therapy Department and the Variety Club Pediatric Emergency Department.
