We are partnering with the Washington University Medical Center (WUMC) to aid in stabilizing the neighborhoods surrounding the Washington University Medical Campus.

The Holiday Outreach Program, also known as Adopt-a-Family, is an annual community outreach initiative coordinated by the Washington University Medical Center Redevelopment Corporation (WUMCRC) which creates meaningful opportunities for departments at WashU, BJC, and SLCH to help stabilize neighborhoods surrounding the medical campus by assisting families in need.

This year, we have adopted three local families with a goal of raising $10,000 to assist them with utilities, groceries, and more. The last day to donate is Sunday, December 11!

Families participating in this program reside primarily in the Forest Park Southeast and Central West End neighborhoods, and 100% of all donations given through this program will go towards assisting participating families.

goal tracker
As of Dec. 2, 2022

Meet the Families

graphic of family

Family A

Family A consists of a single mother of four children (ages 3 mo, 12, 18, 20). She writes that times have been tough, especially with the birth of her new grandson, and money has been hard to keep. She would appreciate any help with groceries, household items & cleaning supplies, funds for medicine, gasoline, and clothes for her children.

graphic of famliy

Family B

Family B consists of a disabled single mother caring for six children under the age of 18. She writes that she recently lost her daughter to COVID and is caring for her children & for the children of a neighborhood friend who also passed from COVID. She writes that she wants these kids to have a great Christmas and experience a moment of happiness amidst the pain of trauma. She would appreciate any help with groceries, clothing for her children, household items & cleaning supplies, gasoline, and medicine.

graphic of family

Family C

Family C consists of two adults and five children, ages 2, 3, 13, 14, and 22. The mother recently lost her sister in July 2022 and used her savings to pay for the funeral and burial. She took on her three children & three kittens, and writes that she would be grateful for any help this holiday season due to a tight budget. They would appreciate any help with groceries, clothing for their children, household items & cleaning supplies, gasoline, and medicine.

  1. Make a donation through the WUMCRC’s secure portal and be sure to identify the Family Fund #8 in the Family Number Field. The Department of Anesthesiology is sponsoring three families this year and by entering Family Fund #8, funds raised will be equitably divided among our three families to provide groceries, clothing, and other needed supplies.

    Prefer to donate via check or cash? No problem! Please visit (or inter-office mail) your donation to Leigh Ann Zupan, located in the Northwest Tower offices, Suite 1270. For those who prefer to write a check, please make it out to WashU Medical Center and write Adopt-a-Family and “Family Fund #8” in the memo line.

Other Ways to Help

  1. Tell your friends! Share a reminder at your next team meeting or print and post this handy flyer in your local break room.
  2. Check back for updates! We will be posting the Department’s progress toward our goal of $10,000 periodically.

Our 2021 Impact

Thanks to your generous support, last year we achieved our initial goal of $10,000 and ended up raising a total of $10,834! These funds allowed us to purchase everything on the wish lists for both families, in addition to gift cards to help pay for groceries!

Without your donations, these families would have had remarkably different holidays.

$10,834

Anesthesiology Raised

$64,092.21

Total Raised by WUMCRC

“I called to tell her the bill was paid in full, and she cried. She was very thankful!”

WUMCRC representative

Combined, the WUMCRC Holiday Outreach Program raised $64,092.21 to assist 73 local families and 80 low-income senior citizens.

FAQs

How are families selected for this program?

Families participating in this program reside primarily in the Forest Park Southeast and Central West End Neighborhoods. Each year, the WUMCRC reaches out to neighborhood stakeholders (example: elementary school teachers) to identify local families in need and provide them with applications.

How much of my donation goes to support the families?

100%!

How will funds be dispersed among these three families?

When filling out the donation form, be sure to enter “Family Fund #8″ in the Family Number Field. The Department of Anesthesiology is sponsoring three families this year and once we’ve ensured each family is warm and safe, funds raised will be equitably divided among our three families to provide groceries, clothing, and other needed supplies.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes!

Can the department review the donations given?

No. The WUMCRC will not disclose individual charitable donation information to the department. Instead, the department will be periodically given updates on the total amount and count of donors.