MeadWestvaco announces challenge grant

Dayton Children’s is pleased to announce a generous grant from the MeadWestvaco Foundation, that has offered to match one dollar for every two dollars raised – up to $225,000. Funds will be used to complete the renovation and expansion of the Soin Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Center.

“The MeadWestvaco Foundation often is asked to provide a gift at the beginning of a community project; rarely are we asked to help finish one. We hope this challenge grant helps bring additional funds for this life-saving project,” says Neil McLachlan, first vice chair of the board of trustees at Dayton Children’s and president of MeadWestvaco, Consumer & Office Products.

Led by chair, Patti Schear of Oakwood, a committee of nine volunteers has been working to raise funds for the past two and a half years. The volunteer committee has already raised $4.8 million toward the minimum project goal of $5.3 million. If fully matched, the challenge grant will put Dayton Children’s over the top of the goal.

The Soin Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Center is named for the lead donors to the project, Raj and Indu Soin, who generously announced their transformational donation in September 2009 when the renovation began. Other major donors to the project include the TWIGS Auxiliary, Linda Black-Kurek and James Kurek, Dr. and Mrs. G. Frank Johnson, Dr. and Mrs. Mason Jones, and Lee and Patti Schear. A total of 130 donors have contributed to the project to date.

In the past year, Dayton Children’s has treated over 66,000 patients in the emergency department with everything from earaches to life-threatening injuries. The increasing needs of the community have resulted in growing emergency volumes.

Renovations are currently underway to expand the trauma and emergency center to meet the increase in demand. The new space will improve patient care, reduce wait times and create a better experience overall for patients and families. The project will double the size of the center, add a family-friendly waiting room with amenities and distraction therapy, add trauma suites and establish a fast-track triage area for noncritical patients. The first phase of the project opened last May. The full project is scheduled to be finished by June 2011.

If interested in participating in the challenge grant, please call Dayton Children’s development office at (937) 641-3405.

For more information, contact: 

Marketing Communications Department 

Phone: 937-641-3666 

marketing@childrensdayton.org