POMPANO BEACH FL (8-4-06) – A new Health Foundation of South Florida information technology grant will provide Broward Children’s Center with ground-breaking tools to serve some of the most medically fragile and at–risk children in the nation.

Broward Children’s Center will use the $29,930 grant for microwave transmission technologies that will rapidly transfer encrypted data between its 12 different facilities and recognize staff hand prints through biometric technologies. The initiative will also protect data against natural disasters.

Center CEO, Marjorie Evans said the Health Foundation of South Florida grant ensured the Center can maintain its 36 year tradition of investing in leading edge technologies to benefit children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities.

“Effective medical care today relies on fast, efficient, and secure information exchange,” said Evans. “This grant will ensure we can confidently and effectively share vital data between separate medical educational and residential facilities that serve more than 1000 children and families each year.”

Initiative director, Thor Barraclough said the investment promised to ensure staff had more time to devote to core program activities resulting in healthier happier children with special health care needs.

“This kind of program is often overlooked by many funders who don’t see the immediate connection between information technology and improved outcomes for a nonprofit’s target population. We’re very grateful that the Health Foundation continues to strengthen nonprofit infrastructure through forward-thinking grants such as this.”

“Supporting the essential efforts of nonprofits working to improve the health of underserved individuals and families in South Florida is at the core of our mission” said Health Foundation Chairman Sheldon D. Dagen, CPA. He added, “We are proud to partner with grantees in addressing community needs and ensuring that residents have opportunities for better health.”

Health Foundation of South Florida, a not-for-profit grantmaking foundation, is dedicated to expanding access to affordable, quality health care and providing funding that directly benefits the health and well being of underserved individuals in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $67 million in grants to direct program support.

For more than 35 years, Broward Children’s Center has been providing medical, educational, and advocacy services to infants, children, and young adults with special needs.

Contact: Thor Barraclough
954.410.4410 thorb@bcckids.org