by CAROL LABBE

For the Sequim Gazette

The Sequim Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital: Who we are and what we do …

Even though our guild was established back in the 1970s by Sherry Phillips and a handful of Sequim women, there is still some confusion as to just who the Sequim Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital is.

We are one of more than 500 guilds in Washington who help children in need of medical care in the Northwest Region including Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

We are not associated with the Olympic Memorial Hospital in Port Angeles or the Guild Thrift Store at Second Avenue and Bell Street.

The following annual report by Seattle Children’s Guild Association representing how much the Sequim Guild alone helped in uncompensated care dollars, prompted me to write this article for the residents of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley to review. Our Sequim Guild has grown to more 85 members who have given of their time and love to help children in need. We are very proud of our members and the Sequim Community for their support.

• Guild Project Total: $26,344

(This total includes net revenue from events such as bunco parties, holiday dazaar, garage sale, etc., and in kind donations)

• Retail Donations: $10,896.

(This total includes donations to all Children’s Retail Outlets made by our guild members and friends)

• Dues paid by our Guild Members: $2,640.

• Annual Giving Total: $4,715 (This total includes memorials, Purchase a Miracle and other gifts)

• Major and Other Gift Total: $47,910 (This total includes major and planned giving)

• Grand Total: $92,505

Since 1907, it has been the policy of Seattle Children’s Hospital to never turn away a child in need of medical attention regardless of the family’s ability to pay. This last year, Seattle Children’s Hospital treated more than 1,800 children from Clallam County alone and absorbed over $800,000 in uncompensated care for those Clallam County children.

About the Sequim Guild

The Sequim Guild of Clallam County is a member of Seattle Children’s Guild Association, the largest support group of any hospital in the nation. The association has been vital to the success of Seattle Children’s Hospital for more than 100 years.

Throughout the years, our members and friends of the guild have pooled their creativity, hard work and desire to assist children in need of medical care.

Sequim Guild helps Seattle Children’s Hospital in three ways:

• First, by providing financial assistance, the guild provides funds to offset the hospital’s costs for uncompensated care.

• Secondly, by making and buying various items for patients and their families, the guild assists in making the hospital a patient-friendly facility, offering every comfort possible to children and their families.

• Finally, the time spent by members on Guild activities helps the hospital as it applies for grants from foundations and governmental entities. This past year, the Sequim Guild reported 7,840 volunteer hours by its guild members.

About Seattle Children’s

Ranked as one of the best children’s hospitals in the country by both U.S. News & World Report and Child magazines, Seattle Children’s serves as the pediatric referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Seattle Children’s Hospital was ahead of its time at the turn of the 20th century and the same is true today.

The Sequim Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital meets on the second Wednesday of each month, with the exception of July and August, at The Lodge, 660 Evergreen Farm Way (off Fifth Avenue), starting at 1 p.m.

For more information, find us on the web at sequimguild.org.

Thank you for reading … and for caring.

Carol Labbe is a Sequim Guild Member.