Our Beneficiary: The Center for Medically Fragile Children

Our Past
When the Sisters of Providence opened the doors of Providence Child Center in 1945 as Our Lady of Providence Nursery, they envisioned a place where some of the most vulnerable children in our society would be welcomed with open arms and loving care. The Sisters began their service to children and families with an orphanage, but in time they realized that no other organization in the region was equipped or willing to serve children with severe disabilities and complex medical needs. When orphanages were replaced by foster care by the mid-1960s, the Sisters began caring almost exclusively for medically fragile children from throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Our Present
Today, the Center for Medically Fragile Children at Providence Child Center is the Northwest’s only 24-hour skilled nursing facility dedicated to children with complex medical needs and profound disabilities who need long-term, short-stay or end-of-life care. Focused on every aspect of a medically fragile child’s life, this 58-bed facility provides medical care, developmental and educational guidance, and an enriching environment filled with activities that help each child reach his or her full potential. The center allows these extraordinary children to move beyond their limitations and experience life to its fullest.

Our Future
Through our current $14 million fund-raising campaign, we envision endowing all 58 of our residential beds in the Center for Medically Fragile Children at Providence Child Center, which would help fulfill the vision that the Sisters of Providence began 63 years ago. With an endowment in place that will ensure our ability to provide excellent care in perpetuity, we can then begin to address additional needs.

These additional needs will allow Providence Child Center to expand our much-needed outreach services for families with special-needs children through our resource center and our neurodevelopmental services program. We will also add more respite care and introduce specialty medical and dental clinics.

Our Caring Hearts Challenge
Providence Child Center has received an anonymous $500,000 gift, that will match all gifts of $10,000 or more, up to $500,000. At the Heart of Gold Dinner you will have the opportunity to help us match this generous gift and endow two beds. With your support, we can move another step closer to meeting our $14 million goal. 

We at Providence Child Center seek to fulfill our commitment to some of the most vulnerable children in our communities and to do all we can to ensure each child has the richest childhood possible. Together, we can help even the most medically fragile children experience life to its fullest.