Excerpt from blog originally on Why Platinum?
Farmers Insurance, and the Platinum Elite Group, have been long time supporters of the March of Dimes, a leading charity in the fight against the effects of premature birth.
Every year the Platinum Elite holds fundraisers in an effort to raise money to contribute towards this battle. See our article about our upcoming Platinum Elite Golf Tournament on July 22nd, 2011, at Riverwalk Golf Club.Luis Carbajal of the Platinum Elite is helping organize a joint fundraiser for the Ramona Pony Baseball League and March of Dimes set for June 4th, 2011. See his blog article.
Last year the Platinum Elite even visited a local San Diego Children's Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to gain a better perspective on what families face when the have a premature newborn child, and why the money raised is so needed, and how much good it can do. The heart-tugging visit was arranged by Donald Swanson, Farmers district Manager and Platinum Elite Founder.
In honor of National Volunteer Week (4/10 to 4/16/11 as proclaimed by President Obama), we'd like to re-run some great stories of those who volunteer very valuable time to these same local children's hospitals. These 'preemies' are often in the hospital for the first several months of their lives. The families would hold them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if they could, but obviously that's not possible. They have jobs and other children they have to care for too. The nurse have other obligations as well. This is where "volunteer cuddlers" come in.
Click here to view an NBC report title, "Volunteer Cuddlers", about volunteers at the Rady Children's Hospital.
For a second NBC report titled, "Oh, Baby", click here. It features volunteers at the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest and it's "Cuddler" program.
Preemie newborns grow stronger, faster as the amount of human contact and warmth increases helping them go home to their families sooner.
