Los Angeles County / USC Medical Auxiliary - Also known as CARES, Center Auxiliary for Recruitment, Education, and Service, is the auxiliary of the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center.
CARES, a California nonprofit corporation, provides financial support and volunteer services. Its primary mission is to benefit the patients by adding comfort to their hospital stay and providing services which help the patients and their families access quality healthcare.
CARES, a California nonprofit corporation, provides financial support and volunteer services. Its primary mission is to benefit the patients by adding comfort to their hospital stay and providing services which help the patients and their families access quality healthcare.
The Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center is a major metropolitan hospital. Treatment is available to every member of the community. The sheer number of patients strain all available resources, for as many as 800,000 patients are seen annually in the Emergency and Outpatient areas.
General Hospital, an icon recognized around the world since 1932, moved to this state-of-the-art facility in 2008. By Richard Dominguez, Medical Photography
General Hospital, an icon recognized around the world since 1932, moved to this state-of-the-art facility in 2008. By Richard Dominguez, Medical Photography
CARES Child and Family Program - A key focus of CARES is the Child and Family Program that operates two Child Care Centers. Thousands of people from the community enter the hospital each day either to receive treatment or to visit family members who are acutely ill. The CARES Child and Family Program is a vital and necessary resource to these people. Due to lack of financial and child care resources, many patients and visitors bring their children with them
In 1969, CARES was founded by Betty Ann Hibbard (Mrs. Lester Hibbard) and Maria Cole (Mrs. Nat “King” Cole) at the request of the Dean of the USC Medical School and the Administrator of the Medical Center. As a result, CARES has since been able to provide a safe and comforting haven for over a million child visits while family members receive necessary medical care. Parents, who may be struggling with anxiety and fear, gain comfort and relief knowing that in the midst of a medical crisis, their children will receive quality care.
In 1969, CARES was founded by Betty Ann Hibbard (Mrs. Lester Hibbard) and Maria Cole (Mrs. Nat “King” Cole) at the request of the Dean of the USC Medical School and the Administrator of the Medical Center. As a result, CARES has since been able to provide a safe and comforting haven for over a million child visits while family members receive necessary medical care. Parents, who may be struggling with anxiety and fear, gain comfort and relief knowing that in the midst of a medical crisis, their children will receive quality care.
CARES Child Care Center offers a broad range of services free of charge:
• A literature-based curriculum including math, science, art, language, and plenty of play
• Healthy meals and snacks for the nutritional needs of the children
• Parent education and psychological support to the children and their families in a culturally sensitive environment
• Referrals for vision, speech, hearing, and immunization services when necessary
• Many of the very needy families receive holiday gifts, school supplies, food, and clothing
• A literature-based curriculum including math, science, art, language, and plenty of play
• Healthy meals and snacks for the nutritional needs of the children
• Parent education and psychological support to the children and their families in a culturally sensitive environment
• Referrals for vision, speech, hearing, and immunization services when necessary
• Many of the very needy families receive holiday gifts, school supplies, food, and clothing
Pediatric Reading Program and Lending Library- The program provides books and magazines for the benefit of children who are both inpatients and outpatients at the hospital. The English and Spanish materials are selected with the interests and needs of the children in mind and are available on the inpatient pediatric floor as well as in waiting areas throughout the hospital. Children are encouraged to enjoy the books and magazines by browsing, by having someone read aloud to them, or by reading themselves. The program provides a welcome distraction for the patients during their hospital stay.
Patient Relations Visitor - Volunteers who visit at the bedside of patients and provide them with complimentary personal hygiene items, reading/craft materials, and other gifts.
Help CARES Make a Difference at LAC+USC Medical Center!
• Work with children in Child Care Centers
• Assist in grant writing or other fund raising projects that support programs for patients
• Become a Patient Relations Visitor
• Read to pediatric patients
• Shop in the CARES Shops
• Assist in the CARES Gift and Thrift Shops with pricing items, waiting on customers, and doing inventory
• Donate or procure items for the Thrift Shop and the Patient Visitor Program or books for the Pediatric Reading Program
• Offer public relations and computer expertise
• Plan and/or participate in special events
Help CARES Make a Difference at LAC+USC Medical Center!
• Work with children in Child Care Centers
• Assist in grant writing or other fund raising projects that support programs for patients
• Become a Patient Relations Visitor
• Read to pediatric patients
• Shop in the CARES Shops
• Assist in the CARES Gift and Thrift Shops with pricing items, waiting on customers, and doing inventory
• Donate or procure items for the Thrift Shop and the Patient Visitor Program or books for the Pediatric Reading Program
• Offer public relations and computer expertise
• Plan and/or participate in special events
CARES Awards and Achievements
• In January 2000, the LAC+USC Healthcare Network received the Foster B. McGaw prize from the American Hospital Association in Washington D.C. with the CARES Child & Family Program listed as one of the five outstanding community service programs for which the Foster McGaw Award was given.
• Public Service Excellence Award for meeting whole family needs when adults face health care needs
• California Association of Public Hospitals Innovators Award · National Association of Counties Achievement Award
• International Hospital Federations’ Arthur Anderson/Dr. Ed Crosby International Award for Managerial Innovation
• Commendations from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
• Winner of the 17th Annual Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence
• Archdiocese of Los Angeles Youth Employment Programs Award of Excellence
• In January 2000, the LAC+USC Healthcare Network received the Foster B. McGaw prize from the American Hospital Association in Washington D.C. with the CARES Child & Family Program listed as one of the five outstanding community service programs for which the Foster McGaw Award was given.
• Public Service Excellence Award for meeting whole family needs when adults face health care needs
• California Association of Public Hospitals Innovators Award · National Association of Counties Achievement Award
• International Hospital Federations’ Arthur Anderson/Dr. Ed Crosby International Award for Managerial Innovation
• Commendations from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
• Winner of the 17th Annual Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence
• Archdiocese of Los Angeles Youth Employment Programs Award of Excellence
CARES operates two Gift Shops with health food sections and a Thrift Shop. All profits from these shops, as well as a portion of profits from the CARES Coffee Bar, are dedicated to programs that benefit patients at the LAC+USC Medical Center.
CARES Supports the Community
While participating in work study/training programs, adults and teens have the opportunity to explore career interests and pursue academic goals.
CARES provides work site training to:
• High School and College Students
• Cal-Works participants
• City and County Summer Youth and After School Employment Programs
• Senior Employment Training Program
CARES Supports the Community
While participating in work study/training programs, adults and teens have the opportunity to explore career interests and pursue academic goals.
CARES provides work site training to:
• High School and College Students
• Cal-Works participants
• City and County Summer Youth and After School Employment Programs
• Senior Employment Training Program
All donations to CARES are tax deductible and may be made by check,
cash or credit card. They also may be made online by clicking here.
cash or credit card. They also may be made online by clicking here.