A record number of more than 5,000 volunteers raised at least $435,000! Many people got up before dawn and braved the elements to sell a special $1 Kids Day edition of The Fresno Bee to support Children’s Hospital Central California on March 9, 2010.
Since its beginning in 1988, the Kids Day campaign has raised more than $3.75 million for Children’s Hospital. Each year The Fresno Bee donates the proceeds of the Kids Day edition to help support care for kids at Children’s. Kids Day is a joint project between The Fresno Bee, ABC 30 and Children’s Hospital.
There were 31 sites throughout 10 counties in the Central Valley – at fire stations, schools, local businesses and private residences – that distributed the special $1 Kids Day edition.
The 23rd annual Kids Day section of The Fresno Bee featured stories on 
the Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a surgery patient, an oncology patient, how Children’s is using social media to reach our patient families, the Hospital’s 60,000 square-foot expansion and the importance of Kids Day from the perspective of the executive leaders of The Fresno Bee, ABC 30 and Children’s.
A host of community partners with a heart for kids donated their time and money for this year’s Kids Day, including:
- Dibuduo & DeFendis Insurance
- Dumont Printing
- Educational Employees Credit Union
- Fogg, Maxwell, Lanier & Remington EyeCare
- Fresno Trade Bindery and Mailing
- Health Net
- Pacific Service Credit Union
- Pelco by Schneider Electric
- Resource Lenders
- Table Mountain Casino & Rancheria
- The Brownie Baker
- Val-Pak
- Wells Fargo
- Wow Productions
Five-year-old Alyssa Dalleske, our 2010 Kids Day Ambassador, also helped raised support for the annual fundraiser. When she was about 2 ½ years old, Alyssa began limping, her little fingers and legs would become swollen and she had no energy. She was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Because of the care Alyssa received at Children’s, her arthritis has gone into remission and she is skipping, running and jumping today. Alyssa is just one example of the many children who count on the Hospital for care.
Children’s would like to sincerely thank the volunteers, community business partners, generous sponsors and everyone who purchased a newspaper – for making this year’s Kids Day a success. This feat would not be possible without your dedication and determination, we greatly appreciate your continued support.