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• "Tree House: A Place For Families" Becoming a Reality

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  Apartments to serve families of hospitalized infants and children

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  CONTACT:
  Todd Kelley (253) 403-1716
  
  

  (TACOMA) – "Tree House: A Place For Families" is about to be a reality and will provide much-needed housing near Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital for parents of hospitalized infants and children.

  Currently, there are only 12 units nearby for parents and families, with demand far outstripping the availability. With "Tree House," there will eventually be 42 parent apartment units available.

  Major funding for "Tree House" has been provided by the Mary Bridge Festival of Trees volunteers, patrons, attendees and its sponsor businesses over a three year period, raising more than $3 million for the cause.

  The area businesses that sponsored the Festival of Trees made the "Tree House" funding a success. These companies include Associated Petroleum Products, Rainier Pacific, TOTE, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians-Emerald Queen Hotel and Casinos, Propel Insurance and Unigard Insurance Group.

  "Despite the economic downturn, the Festival of Trees sponsor businesses stepped up this year to support this great cause," said Sara Long, Vice President of Philanthropy at MultiCare Health System, "These companies saw the importance and urgency of providing support for families of hospitalized children."

  "Tree House" units are private, with apartment amenities. The new facility will include private apartments equipped with two queen beds, a private bathroom, a television and a mini refrigerator.

  The facility will also include common living spaces, a quiet room, a multipurpose meeting room, an outdoor play area and laundry facilities. A communal kitchen will be available for families to prepare their own meals, as well as for volunteers from the community to provide meals for families. A playroom for siblings as well as a media room will invite social opportunities for families. Meeting rooms will be available to enable families to take advantage of services through the hospitals, such as the social work department. It is expected that the close connection will open up possibilities for support groups and counseling that are not currently available.

  "Tree House truly would not have been possible without the support of our community – and our sponsor businesses," Long added.

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  MultiCare is a leading-edge, integrated health organization made up of four hospitals, numerous primary care and urgent care clinics, multi-specialty centers, Hospice and Home Health services, and many other services. A not-for-profit organization based in Tacoma, Washington since 1882, MultiCare has grown over the years in response to community needs. Today we are the area's largest provider of health care services, serving patients at 93 locations in Pierce, South King, Kitsap and Thurston counties

  Posted on Dec 23, 2008 in