Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As UVA Children’s celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Cares for Kids Radiothon, Associate Director of Development Erin Chandler joined Morning News to emphasize the critical role community support plays in delivering care to families across Virginia. “Community support is a huge piece of the pie,” Chandler said, explaining how donations fund non-billable services like accommodations, food, and gas cards for families traveling long distances for treatment. She stressed the importance of these services, especially as many families stay for extended periods: “We have community members and just a really strong foundation of philanthropy in this community that does everything from supplying a full home for a family to live in for months on end.” 

Chandler introduced the “Miracle Maker” program, where donors give $12/month to help sustain these vital efforts. “Your contribution is making miracles happen in our health system,” she said. Donations also support tools like “buzzy bees,” which reduce pain and stress for children receiving injections. “They’re also like $60 apiece, and we’re seeing across the UVA Peds network, 131,000 patients a year,” Chandler noted, highlighting the ongoing need for philanthropic funding to support a growing patient population. 

The urgency is especially felt in the hospital’s neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, which are often at or over capacity. “Our NICU operates between probably 97 and 105% on a daily basis,” Chandler explained, citing both rising demand and UVA’s unique ability to care for the most medically fragile infants. Plans are underway to expand from 60 to 100 NICU beds as part of a major tower expansion, a project Chandler says will only be possible with continued community support. “We’re more than thrilled,” she added. “The support of the community and philanthropic dollars are what are going to fill the pie and help us get there faster.” 

Listen to the full conversation here: