2025 Projects:

• NICU room enhancements
• NICU isolette
• Personalized NICU admission books for families
• NICU family dinners 2026
• Art therapy supplies
• Books for Reach Out and Read programs at Bronson LakeView and South Haven
• Stuffed animals for pediatric surgery patients
• Children's hospital Room of Magic refresh

Through the Years

2016 (raised $11,710)

• NICU Cameras: New technology with a camera and secure web-based software were installed in each NICU room in January 2017. Parents and families now have the capability to look in on their newborn baby from any location, at any time.

2017 (raised $23,260)

• Pediatric Family Kitchen & Lounge: This lounge heavily used by family members during an extended stay at Bronson Children's Hospital received an upgrade. The lounge provides a space for families to gather, have a meal together and do their laundry. It is also a warm, inviting and practical space for siblings to do their homework.

2018 (raised $53,776)

• Bronson Children's Hospital Pediatric Playroom: This 

2019 (raised $84,624)

• Communication Boards for NICU patient rooms: These beautifully designed boards allow families to communicate with their child's providers in passing. They are used to set daily and weekly goals for their babies. The power of knowledge is critical as these families manage their daily lives with their NICU baby.
• Pediatric Family Food Pantry: For parents that cannot get away from the unit or for those that do not have food resources, this pantry gives sustainable food options to ensure families eat while they care for their child.
• NICU Family Dinners: Families in the NICU live day-by-day, goal-by-goal. There are setbacks and successes. Having a support group to rely on is important. NICU dinners are held twice a month and offer parents currently in the NICU with a nearby space to take a break, eat a nutritional meal and connect with other families for support during their NICU journey.

2020 (raised $25,745)

Due to the Pandemic, we held a virtual event, which impacted the amount raised significantly, but we were still able to fundraise to support Music Therapy Services provided to pediatric patients throughout Bronson Children’s Hospital

• These services are provided to patients at no cost.
• Music Therapy promotes brain and sensory development, reduces stress and promotes healing

2022 (raised $138,236)

• Bronson LakeView Pediatric and Bronson LakeView Family Medicine Pediatric Enhancements: Providing a child friendly space for patients to receive care plays a key role in their comfort level. They funded 5 Seek & Find boards and fun pediatric exam tables to 5 patient rooms at BLH Pediatrics and Mirrors for the exam tables at BLH Family Medicine. 
• NICU Family Dinners: Families in the NICU live day-by-day, goal-by-goal. There are setbacks and successes. Having a support group to rely on is important. NICU dinners are held twice a month and offer parents currently in the NICU with a nearby space to take a break, eat a nutritional meal and connect with other families for support during their NICU journey.
• Transport Ventilator & Neonatal Software: This special ventilator is used to transport babies under 11lbs throughout the hospital.  There are times when ventilated babies within our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit need to be transported to different areas of the hospital for specialized care.  In situations, if the infant is under 11lbs manual ventilation is required by transport team as our current transport ventilators cannot accommodate babies under 11lbs. In addition to the ventilator,this funding provided 3 neonatal software programs that will be in install on this new vent as well as 2 existing vents.  The neonatal software will allow the ventilators to operate in a way that is specific to the needs tiny lungs.

2023 (raised $170,363)

• Littmann Stethoscopes for NICU: Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit cares for infants as young as 22 weeks gestation. These high-quality stethoscopes allow our NICU care teams to hear the tiniest sounds inside our smallest patients, such as heart murmurs, lung sounds, and bowel sounds.
• NICU Celebrations: NICU families have a long journey, and celebrating milestones along the way helps support them on difficult days. Celebrations include 100-day milestones, Kangaroo-a-Thon (promoting skin-to-skin contact), NICU graduations, and other events as identified by the care teams.
• Life Jacket Loaner Stations throughout South Haven: Drowning is one of the top five causes of unintentional death in children ages 0-19, and the leading cause of unintentional injury in children ages 5-15. In addition to educating our communities, we’ve added 13 life jacket stations throughout our South Haven beaches, 8 of which were funded by the 2023 Carlson Farm Event. These stations ensure that all visitors have access to life-saving devices while enjoying Lake Michigan in the South Haven area.
• Artwork for South Haven Family Practice and Bangor Family Practice: Our Bronson Blue Star Highway and Bronson LakeView Family Care in Bangor were in need of an artwork facelift. Artwork can completely transform an environment, offering a calming and welcoming space to receive care. In 2023, both practices received facility improvements, but artwork wasn’t included. Thanks to the 2023 Carlson Event, new artwork was added throughout these practices, which serve both pediatric and adult patients.
• High-Frequency Jet Ventilator: These specialty ventilators provide more effective respiratory support for our smallest and sickest babies in the NICU. Neonates as early as 22 weeks gestation are being resuscitated, but due to the underdevelopment of their lungs, it’s challenging to safely and adequately ventilate these extremely premature patients. With these specialty ventilators, we can provide smaller, more frequent, and gentler puffs of oxygen to their underdeveloped lungs, reducing the risk of long-term effects.
• Reach Out & Read for Bronson LakeView and Bronson South Haven Pediatrics: This program provides every child, from infancy to 5 years old, with a new book at each well-child visit. These books aren’t just handed out; our care teams take the time to read the books with the child and their family to ensure they are appropriate for the child’s reading level and language. This program supports literacy development in our rural health communities.
• Children's Hospital Campaign:  The Bronson Children’s Hospital Campaign supported several important projects maintained by the Children’s Hospital Fund. These include child life, art, and music therapy programs, as well as child advocacy efforts. The campaign also provided resources for genetic testing, mental health screenings, and diabetes kits. Additionally, the fund supports the provision of stuffed animals for pediatric surgery, a NICU parent liaison, and various NICU celebrations.

2024 (Raised $209,697)

• Pediatric Subspecialty Suite Expansion: The funds helped expand the Pediatric Subspecialty suite, providing even more specialized care to young patients in need.
• Updated Cameras in the NICU: New cameras are being installed in each room of the Bronson Children’s Hospital NICU. This allows families to see their little ones even when they can’t be at the bedside, providing comfort during difficult times.
• Heartbeat-Recording Stuffed Animals: Families of NICU babies can now take home stuffed animals that contain a recording of their baby’s heartbeat. These animals provide a sense of connection and comfort during their time in the hospital.
• Cotton Swaddles for Newborns: When babies are ready to go home, they each receive a cotton swaddle. These swaddles help with temperature regulation, comfort, and safe sleep, ensuring a smoother transition for families.
• Fetal Echo Machine for Early Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Defects: With your help, a new fetal echo machine is now on order. This will allow for early diagnosis of congenital heart defects, ensuring better outcomes for newborns.
• Stuffed Animals for Surgery Patients: Children undergoing surgery at Bronson are receiving stuffed animals to help comfort them before, during, and after their procedures.
• Reach Out & Read Program: Young patients at Bronson practices throughout VanBuren County are receiving new books through the Reach Out & Read program. This initiative promotes early literacy and helps foster a connection between children, families, and their care teams.