The Madigan Foundation began 16 years ago because some wives with children had no strollers.

"They had come to Madigan, but they didn't have strollers," Dr. Robert Whitney, DVM, RADM, USPHS (Ret) and president of the Madigan Foundation, explained.

"We went out and purchased some strollers, and we grew from there."

The Madigan Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that supports military families (active and retired) and the Madigan Army Medical Center through programs designed to enhance the quality of care and quality of life of patients, their families and their health care providers.

The organization puts over 97 percent of its funding back into its programs.  A partial look at what the Foundation provided for patients and families is instructive.

• Paid for over 800 hours of childcare for families with behavioral health appointments.

• Purchased 58 eyeglasses and 30 car seats and strollers.

• Provided nearly 1500 meals for nursing mothers hospitalized at Madigan and 300 meals for patients in the Emergency Room for observation.

• Provided $3600 in gift cards for families staying at the Fisher House and holiday cards for families needing help.

• Provided $4000 for therapy toys could be purchased for the Joint Base Lewis-McChord - Main schools' program.  

• Supported the annual Young Heroes program that recognizes medically challenged children and their families.

• Provided $3500 to transport 24 wounded Soldiers and their families to Operation Purple Healing Adventures.

While the Madigan Foundation made an impact on patients and their families, it also provided time and money to the Madigan medical staff.

• Sponsored the annual graduation of interns, residents and fellows.

• Provided a $500 award for the best research project by a graduating resident or fellow.

• Sponsored by the Madigan Organization Day, Nursing Excellence Conference and Nurses Week Activities and TBI (traumatic brain injury) Conference, to name a few.

"We do all of this with literally no overhead," Whitney continued.  "And we intend to keep it this way."

The Madigan Foundation's Combined Federal Campaign donation number is 92486.

For more information, visit www.madiganfoundation.org.