Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund

Description

The Fund advocates on behalf of families with legislators and creditors, supplies information to families about available resources, and helps families in crisis by providing financial awards to assist with the devastating side effects of serious childhood illness, such as decreased income or lost jobs caused by time spent caring for the child; increased child-care costs for well siblings; paring and transportation expenses for visits to doctors' offices and hospitals; utility bills for children using ventilators and monitors, and funeral expenses. Requests, which are submitted by healthcare professionals from a network of more than 100 hospitals, medical facilities, and social service agencies on behalf of families, are usually processed within three days to avoid interruption of services and are paid directly to vendors to prevent misappropriation of funds. Special efforts include a Holiday Adopt-a-Family Program, where volunteers provide items on family wish lists, and Family Fun Day Cruise on the Spirit of Philadelphia, featuring an afternoon of respite and relaxation for 450 patients, siblings, and parents/guardians.