The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Commits $1.5 Million to Phoenix Children's Hospital

PHOENIX, Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has committed $1.5 million to the Crews'n Healthmobile community outreach program at Phoenix Children's Hospital. The gift will support the purchase of a second Crews'n Healthmobile vehicle and provide operational support for the program for four years.

The Crews'n Healthmobile, Phoenix Children's mobile medical unit, is essentially a doctor's office on wheels that goes into underprivileged neighborhoods to bring free, comprehensive healthcare to homeless and at-risk children and teens.

The vehicle is fully-equipped with exam rooms, a waiting area, a nurse's station, and space for preventative and interventional medical procedures. The Healthmobile also provides vision and dental screenings, immunizations, financial advocacy and Medicaid enrollment.  The mobile medicine program offers medical subspecialty and psychosocial referrals in partnership with community organizations like Children's Health Fund, HomeBase Youth Services, Healthcare for the Homeless, and Children First Academy. The Crews'n staff also manages the UMOM Wellness Center on the campus of UMOM New Day Family Shelter, a non-profit organization which has also received significant support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

"Renee and I believe that every child, regardless of background, is entitled to the medical care he or she needs," said entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons. "The Crews'n Healthmobile helps to resolve one of the most basic challenges homeless and at-risk youth face … access. By bringing the Hospital's services to the areas and organizations where these kids live, go to school or spend their time, more children will receive the care they so desperately deserve."

The new Healthmobile should be fully operational and on local streets treating children by June of 2014. It will take approximately six months to outfit and deliver the new vehicle, which will be designed for young patients who need specialized medical care.

"We are so grateful for the incredibly generous gift from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, which will allow us to double our program's capacity and perform more than 4,000 additional patient visits each year," said Randal Christensen, MD, Medical Director of the Crews'n Healthmobile and Chief of General Pediatrics at Phoenix Children's Hospital.

The operational support provided by The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will allow for the addition of qualified staff and underwrite the purchase of medicine and medical supplies to ensure that care is available to all children in need. The grant will also help fund aspects of the Crews'n program's new clinic at Children's First Academy and support ongoing research to better understand and serve homeless adolescents.

"The idea of a child living on the streets, in a shelter or in poverty is heart breaking," said Renee Parsons. "Add limited or no access to the healthcare they need and the situation becomes devastating. Bob and I are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Phoenix Children's Hospital and assist them in their mission to bring thousands of at-risk children in our community hope for a healthier future."

About Phoenix Children's Hospital
Phoenix Children's Hospital, ranked in U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals, is Arizona's only licensed children's hospital, providing world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children's hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children's provides care across more than 70 pediatric specialties. The Hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information about the Hospital, visit www.phoenixchildrens.org.

About The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation inspires hope by providing critical funding at critical times to communities striving to make a difference. The Foundation primarily focuses on issues in the greater Phoenix area. The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation believes every person is entitled to an education, good nutrition, medical care, a stress-free, happy environment and the hope that they too, will share in the American Dream. The Foundation provides funding to non-profit organizations that are successfully addressing these essential needs. The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is also committed to the children of Haiti, helping to grow and improve schools, medical services and overall well-being for communities in rural Haiti through the Hope for Haiti organization.

SOURCE Phoenix Children's Hospital