PIH Health Downey Hospital Receives Nearly $47,000 Grant Award From Downey Kiwanis Foundation
Downey, Calif. (July 2, 2026) — PIH Health Downey Hospital has received a nearly $47,000 grant from Downey Kiwanis Foundation to enhance the care experience for children and adolescents treated in the Emergency Department through pediatric care kits and therapeutic technology. Each year, thousands of young patients from the surrounding community turn to the hospital for emergent medical care.
For many children and their families, an unexpected visit to the Emergency Department can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. Bright lights, unfamiliar equipment, medical procedures, and wait times can heighten anxiety for both patients and their caregivers. Through this one-year grant, PIH Health Downey Hospital will provide an estimated 3,200 pediatric care kits to help comfort, engage, and support young patients throughout their visit. The kits will contain items such as age-appropriate items such as sensory toys, books, stuffed animals, games, coloring books, crayons, puzzle books, stickers, and pre-loaded iPads.
“We are grateful to the Downey Kiwanis Foundation for supporting the well-being of our young patients,” said PIH Health Foundation Vice President Amy Fitzgerald. “These kits will provide comfort, engagement, and age-appropriate resources that help create a welcoming environment for children and families while they receive care.”
“Supporting the health and well-being of children in our community is at the heart of Downey Kiwanis Foundation’s mission,” said Carmen Vasquez Ondrusek, Kiwanis Foundation President. “We are honored to partner with PIH Health Downey Hospital to help create a more comforting and positive experience for young patients and their families during Emergency Department visits.”
For more information on emergency care at PIH Health, please visit PIHHealth.org/ED. To make a donation to PIH Health Foundation or to learn more, call 562.967.2745 or visit PIHHealth.org/Foundation.
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About PIH Health
PIH Health is a nonprofit, regional healthcare network that serves approximately 3 million residents in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The fully integrated network is comprised of PIH Health Downey Hospital, PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, PIH Health Whittier Hospital, 37 outpatient medical office buildings, a multispecialty medical (physician) group, home healthcare services and hospice care, as well as heart, cancer, digestive health, orthopedics, women’s health, urgent care, and emergency services. The organization is nationally recognized for excellence in patient care and patient experience, and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has identified PIH Health as one of the nation’s top hospital systems for best practices, cutting-edge advancements, quality of care and healthcare technology. For more information, visit PIHHealth.org or follow us on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
About the Downey Kawanis Foundation
Kiwanis empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children. Kiwanis strives to be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.
